Top 10 betting sites in South Africa

Online sports betting is fully legal in South Africa as long as you use operators licensed by the National Gambling Board. Choosing a licensed site guarantees a safe and secure betting experience.

That said, not all licensed betting sites are equal, so it’s important to do some research to find the right one.

If you’re unsure where to start or need reliable recommendations, we’ve got you covered.

The key is to choose a licensed betting site with a strong reputation. Since you’ll be depositing real money, it’s crucial to feel secure. Larger, well-established betting sites are typically the safest, as they prioritize security to protect their reputation. Among these, Betway stands out as South Africa’s top betting site, offering unmatched security and an excellent user experience.

Top 10 Betting Sites in South Africa Every Bettor Should Know in 2024

1. Betway: The most complete betting site in South Africa, offering a vast range of markets and advanced features like live streaming, bet builders, multi-bets, and the unique "Bet My Way," which suggests bets based on your betting history.

2. Easybet: Boasts a user-friendly, data-free betting app for iOS and Android devices.

3. Sportingbet: One of South Africa's largest sportsbooks, featuring 37 sports and delivering an excellent live betting experience with live streaming and auto cash-out.

4. Betfred: Ideal for soccer betting, featuring an extensive range of markets and frequent price boosts.

5. Hollywoodbets: The top choice for horse racing in South Africa, offering unique markets and the free Punters Challenge horse racing game.

6. Supabets: Fantastic welcome bonus, including a free bet, matched deposits, and free spins.

7. Gbets: Known for some of South Africa's best betting promotions and extensive e-sports markets.

8. PlayTSOGO: Features a simple, user-friendly interface and a great selection of casino games, including slots, table games, and live casino options.

9. PlayaBets: Offers a wide range of sports and betting markets.

10. 10Bet: Great loyalty club.

While all licensed betting sites in South Africa offer a secure experience, some betting sites are better than others. The best site for you depends on your betting style and priorities. A great way to find your perfect match is to experiment with different platforms. Plus, you’ll get to claim multiple welcome bonuses—a win-win!

Here are some tips to help you find the best betting sites in South Africa:

CHECK FOR A VALID LICENSE

Ensure the betting site is licensed by one of South Africa’s nine provincial gambling boards. Licensing details are usually displayed in the footer of the website.

The specific province that issues the license doesn’t matter—if the site is licensed in South Africa, it's credible and safe.

IDENTIFY YOUR PRIORITIES

Think about what matters most to you:

• Competitive odds.

• A wide range of betting markets.

• Niche sports.

• A user-friendly app.

• Generous welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions.

• Advanced betting features like live streaming, bet builder, and cash-out.

• Good live betting experience.

• Fast and reliable payments for deposits and withdrawals.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Once you've identified your priorities, look for South African bookmakers that specialise in those areas. 

For a shortcut, explore our list of top-rated South African betting sites, curated to match various needs and preferences.

Welcome bonuses in South Africa typically come in form of free bets or a matched first deposit bonus, giving you the chance to try out the site’s features and interface. Some bookmakers even offer a combination of both, which is a favourite among our team.

While high-value bonuses can be really tempting, it's crucial to review the fine print and choose the bonus with fair wagering requirements. Aim for bonuses with low rollover and minimum odds requirements, as well as a long validity period—this will maximise your chances of converting the bonus into real cash.

For instance, Hollywoodbets, Supabets, Gbets, and EasyBet offer free bet welcome bonuses, while Betway features a matched deposit bonus with only a 3x turnover, the lowest we found in South Africa.

You already know just about everything there is to know about online sports betting in South Africa — all you need now is an account to get started.

If you’re a newbie, this step may seem daunting, but in reality, it’s a piece of cake and should take no longer than ten minutes to complete.

Follow our guide if needed; this is the common procedure used by the online bookies we’ve recommended in South Africa:

1. Decide on your bookmaker. Click on their site and start the process of opening an account.
2. Enter your personal details into the on-screen registration form. This will typically include:
   - Your name, date of birth, mobile number, and a valid email address.
   - A username and password unique to you, as well as a security question and answer.
3. Most likely, you’ll need to activate your account. This is done by accessing the email sent to your registered email address by the betting company. Simply click on the email verification link, and your account setup should be complete.

An example of how to set up an account with Betway South Africa.

While a wide variety of betting markets and features are essential, the ability to deposit money is the most critical factor to start betting. If a betting site lacks certain payment methods, you won’t be able to place bets or access any of the features offered by a betting site

In South Africa, the main payment methods are:

• OZOW iPay
• Kazang
• 1 Voucher
• OTTVoucher

OZOW iPay

OZOW is a fast and secure Instant EFT payment method widely used by South African betting sites. It supports deposits from all six major banks: ABSA, FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Capitec, and Investec. 

Here is a video from Betway explaining how to use OZOW for deposits at Betway.

Kazang Voucher

Kazang is a prepaid voucher, popular across a lot of African nations, that can be redeemed at betting sites. But you have to buy the prepaid voucher beforehand at a Kazang Vendor. For example, you can purchase a Betway voucher if you want to play at Betway.

1 Voucher

Similar to Kazang, 1 Voucher is a voucher. Visit a FLASH trader or PEP store to get a 1 Voucher. Then use the code to deposit money at the betting sites that allow you to redeem 1 Vouchers.

OTTVoucher

There are over 20,000 outlets where you can purchase your OTT voucher. Then use it the same way as explained for the previous vouchers. Enter the code and your account will be funded with the value of the voucher.

Online sports betting is fully permitted under the law, provided it is with a bookmaker that has been granted a license to operate in the country, a system that is difficult to bypass.

The governing body is the National Gambling Board, which issues licenses to approved applicants.

At the time of writing, 46 licenses have been issued in South Africa for sports betting operations.

FICA

The Financial Intelligence Centre Act, or FICA, was implemented in 2003, and sought to minimise financial crime in South Africa, by making organisations (betting sites) validate the identity of customers (players).

In order to complete your sign up process with a betting company you need to upload FICA documentation.

• A valid, South African ID
• Proof of a residential address (bank statement, phone bill with your address)

It is always good to have these documents digitally and easily accessible.