South Africa is a country of lush forests, high mountains, 11 official languages, 59 million inhabitants and the Jabulani. South Africa's diversity helps the fact that many sports have a massive following – which is why sports betting is so popular in this country. When it comes to South African betting sites, which are best for this sporting nation? We answer this question – and more – in our in-depth guide.
- Best South African Betting Sites
- Online Sports Betting in South Africa
- Is Online Sports Betting Legal in South Africa?
- Is Sports Betting Popular in South Africa?
- Popular South African Payment Methods
- Live Betting in South Africa
- How to bet online in South Africa
- Other Country Betting Guides - Click Each Flag To Learn More
- Best South African Betting Sites FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
|
#1
Sportingbet
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ | New players only | Available until 23:59 GMT 31.12.2025 Each challenge has its own TCs. Eligible Bets must be placed for each respective Challenge during the Promotional Period including the following: ACCA, Football, In-Play, and Casino. Each challenge has its own set of TCs and can only be completed 1x. Available to claim: 20 Free Spins, £10 Free Bet, 50% Back up Free Bet up to £20, £10 Casino Bonus when you wager £50+. If all are completed you will receive Max £20 Free Bet to be used on any sport. Gamble Responsibly. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#2
Hollywoodbets
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
|
|||
|
#3
Supabets
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
|
|||
We have listed the top 3 South Africa sports betting sites above. These bookmakers are highly regarded, and they will provide a great betting experience for South African residents or tourists.
Online Sports Betting in South Africa
Sports betting in South Africa has an interesting past. They were banned for a long time during the country's colonial period – with the democratic revolution of 1994, sports betting became legal in the country for the first time. Unlike horse racing and casinos, which had been legal since the 1970s.
After 1994, many new casinos came to South Africa, but there wasn't much interest in sports betting at that time. As there wasn't much support, there still aren't many brick and mortar sports betting outlets in South Africa, but nowadays online sports betting controls a large part of the market.
Today, about half of all gambling revenue is generated through online sports betting as more and more young people enter the exciting world of betting. The most popular sport in South Africa is Rugby Union, but surprisingly it's not the most popular sport to bet on, but it's football. South Africans mainly bet on the Premier League, LaLiga and other major European competitions.
With such a large population, there are other popular betting options for South African punters, some of the other most popular sports are cricket, horse racing and hockey.
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 Hollywoodbets; 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.
Betting Tax in South Africa
Figuring out if you need to pay tax on your winnings can be a tricky subject. The South African Revenue Services (SARS) consider two main types of punters – the first is a casual player who wins and loses money mostly for fun, and the second is a professional bettor who makes the majority of his income from betting.
Besides this, there is a 6% tax on all winnings made on any horse racing bets. Many companies will do this automatically once you’ve won.
Is Sports Betting Popular in South Africa?
Sports betting is massive in South Africa, and their diverse culture allows them to have many popular sports in the country. Here are a few of the most popular sports and what they enjoy betting on most.
Throw in the fact that many international bookies already have massive markets in elite leagues, and you’ve got yourself a perfect match for sports betting fans. The 2010 World Cup, held in South Africa, made a huge impact on this and football has been on the rise ever since.
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.
Alternatively, if you prefer to focus solely on something like the Indian Premier League, all the top bookies will be able to provide in depth betting markets.
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.
Popular South African 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, some sites may 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, deposits are processed instantly. The minimum deposit amount can vary from one payment method to another, and will most likely be different across betting sites.
- 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 Sportingbet excel in this regard.
Live Streaming
Live Streaming is available with many South African betting sites. However, operators' offerings may vary wildly depending on several factors – not least of which is broadcasting rights. Some bookies may also focus on a particular sport meaning that they’ll offer live streaming on that rather than other sports.
We suggest doing some research on what your desired betting company offers with regards to live streaming a particular sport or event.
How to bet online in South Africa
Betting online in South Africa is just as simple as betting in the United Kingdom. First off, to start betting you’ll need to register an account – most bookies follow a similar procedure as to what you’ll likely be used to. Below is an example of SUPABETS’ registration process.
If you’re planning on continuing to use your own personal account with a bookie who isn’t on this list, we suggest checking out if they are registered in South Africa, and it’s also wise to make sure that it is a VPN friendly betting site.
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.
Australia
Brazil
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Hong Kong
India
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Nigeria
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Ukraine
UK
USA
Best South African Betting Sites FAQs
-
There are several great sports betting sites in South Africa, but Sportingbet, Hollywoodbets and SUPABETS are among the best.
-
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).
-
Visa, PayPal and NETELLER are some of the most popular payment methods for online betting in South Africa.
-
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.
Jeremy is a die hard Evertonian and a massive sports fan. If he’s not watching Everton, he’s either playing football or watching whatever sport he can find on TV. With a keen interest in sports betting, sports writing is a match made in heaven.
