South Africans love to bet on sport. But which are the six best South African betting sites? We answer this question – and more – in this in-depth guide.
- Best South African Betting Sites
- Best South African Betting Sites – Ranked
- Online Sports Betting in South Africa
- South Africa Sports Betting Sites – Best for Cricket
- South Africa Sports Betting Sites – Best for Rugby Union
- Live Betting in South Africa
- Other Country Betting Guides – Click Each Flag to Learn More
- Other Country Betting Guides - Click Each Flag To Learn More
- Best South African Betting Sites FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
Online Sports Betting in South Africa
Online sports betting has soared in South Africa in recent years, resulting in a wealth of excellent sportsbooks to choose from. Rugby Union is the national sport in the country, although cricket and football holds sway too.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in South Africa?
Sports betting in South Africa is legal, providing you gamble with a licensed operator.
In the past, sports betting in South Africa was frowned upon, and the government fostered a rather conservative attitude towards it. However, after repealing a blanket ban on all gambling-related activity in 1994, the National Gambling Act was passed two years later.
The National Gambling Act enabled provinces and states to license land-based casinos and sportsbooks. The laws were then further revised in the updated National Gambling Act of 2004 by the South African government.
Sports betting in South Africa became a murky subject, and gambling was dragged through the courts in 2010.
Currently, anyone with a South African IP address can only bet at a licensed sports betting site such as Sportingbet or Dafabet; otherwise, it is an illegal form of activity. Casinos, meanwhile, face fines of up to 10 million Rand or 10 years in prison if they permit online gambling.
South Africa Sports Betting Sites – Best for Cricket
South Africa has a rich heritage when it comes to cricket. After being reinstated by the ICC in 1991, the Proteas have had mixed fortunes down the years. Recently, though, they have been trying to mount a comeback and work their way back to the top of the Test rankings.
If you are a big cricket fan, there are a plethora of great sports betting sites in South Africa serving up the game in all forms, whether it be Test, ODIs or T20s. Dafabet, which has been included on our list of great South Africa sports betting sites, is a good starting point. Here, you will find daily coupons for popular cricket tournaments as well as international cricket. There are also great outright markets, along with odds for T20 World Cups and the Ashes series.
Alternatively, if you prefer to focus solely on something like the Indian Premier League, then Marshalls World of Sport will serve you well. There are some great promotions too, such as an R200 First Deposit Match and an R30 Free bet.
South Africa Sports Betting Sites – Best for Rugby Union
Rugby Union is held in high regard in South Africa, with the so-called Springboks widely acknowledged as one of the best teams on the planet. Their most recent World Cup triumph came in 2019, when they beat England 32-12 in the Final.
When it comes to rugby union, there are some fabulous sites worth checking out. One of our favourites is Marshalls World of Sport. Here, you will be able to select ‘Moneyline’ markets for the English Premiership or even handicap and ‘First Team to Score’ markets for Australian Super rugby.
South African Sports Betting Customers and Popular Payment Methods
With VISA, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill and NETELLER so ubiquitous nowadays, it is quite common to come across these payment methods at South African sports betting sites. However, sites such as Bet.co.za utilise localised payment providers such as Peach Payments – as well as other payment platforms such as Zapper – to process deposits and withdrawals. Usually, transactions are subject to verification procedures, and it can take up to 5 business days to process withdrawals.
On other sites that accept British pounds (GBP) as a currency, such as Dafabet, deposits are processed instantly. The minimum deposit amount is £10, while the maximum amount is £3,000.
The Rand, which is South Africa’s currency, is widely accepted at most sports betting sites. Be aware that some sites may charge a deposit or withdrawal fee for using other currencies, so always make sure you read the terms and conditions in full first before proceeding.
All information regarding deposits and withdrawals will be found in the payments section of your chosen South African sports betting site.
Live Betting in South Africa
At the time of writing, live betting in South Africa works in the same way as it does in the United Kingdom. The live betting markets found on some of the South African sports betting sites we researched were very extensive.
Naturally, on some sites, there will be football markets (such as Over/Under Corners) that may be suspended in the second halves of games. However, other markets such as Correct Score, as well as Team to Score the Fourth Goal if there have been three goals in a game, will still be available.
South African sports betting sites are sticklers for attention to detail and keeping punters updated throughout games. Sites such as Dafabet and Sportingbet excel in this regard.
Other Country Betting Guides – Click Each Flag to Learn More
Click on the list of countries which we have provided reviews for to learn more about their individual sports betting regulations, and which bookies to go for.
Best South African Betting Sites FAQs
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There are several great sports betting sites in South Africa, but Dafabet and Sportingbet are among the best.
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Online sports betting is legal in South Africa, provided the bookmaker is fully licensed (all the ones provided here hold legitimate credentials and are safe for punters to register with).
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Visa, PayPal and NETELLER are some of the most popular payment methods for online betting in South Africa.
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While the South African Rand is accepted by most bookmakers, many of these sites are very flexible and accept other currencies.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
As we have seen, online sports betting in South Africa is extremely popular, and they bear similar hallmarks to their counterparts in the United Kingdom.
Keep what you have read in this guide at the forefront of your mind, as this will help you find a sportsbook that best suits your needs.
If you want to learn more about betting in different parts of the world, check out our detailed country betting guides.