South Africa's diversity is a big part of why many sports (and sports betting itself) have a massive following. In our detailed guide below, we list the best South Africa betting sites, any relevant legislation that punters should be aware of, tax laws, and more!
- 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
Best South African Betting Sites
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Online Sports Betting in South Africa
Sports betting in South Africa has an interesting past. Although it was banned for a long time during the country's colonial period, the democratic revolution of 1994 saw it become legalised in the country for the first time. However, horse racing and casinos 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 a result, there still aren't many brick-and mortar sports betting outlets in the country; even so, sports betting dominates a large part of the overall gambling market, responsible for generating about half the revenue within the local sector.
The most popular sport in South Africa is Rugby Union, but surprisingly football betting sites are what punters are drawn to most, especially for tournaments such as the Premier League, La Liga and other major European competitions. Other favourites are cricket, horse racing and hockey.
South African hockey teams are particularly strong, with both the men's and women's national teams having won every single Hockey Africa Cup of Nations since 1993.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in South Africa?
Sports betting in South Africa is overall quite restricted. While residents or tourists do have options, these are limited to a handful of operators. How did this situation come to be?
Well, 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.
This new law enabled provinces and states to license land-based casinos and operators, and was then further revised in the updated National Gambling Act of 2004.
Over time, however, sports betting in South Africa became a murkier subject, with gambling subsequently 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. Online casinos, meanwhile, face fines of up to 10 million rand or 10 years in prison if they facilitate any services or process any payments related to online gambling.
Betting Tax in South Africa
The South African Revenue Services (SARS) consider two main types of punters: the first are casual bettors for whom gambling is a fun pastime, while the second are high rollers or so-called ‘professional' gamblers whose winnings form a major part of their income.
Both casual and professional punters need to declare their gambling winnings and losses to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). However, SARS treats winnings of casual punters similarly to those of lottery and bingo players, and thus does not impose any tax. On the other hand, professional punters are subject to a tax that is based on the amount won and lost.
Besides this, there is a 6% tax on all winnings made on any horse racing bets. Many companies will take care of this automatically once you’ve won.
Is Sports Betting Popular in South Africa?
With a rich sporting culture, South Africa has not only produced world-class athletes across a variety of disciplines, but also hosted a number of major international sporting events, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
Here are a few of the most popular sports and what they enjoy betting on most.
Betting on Football
It may not be the most popular sport in South Africa, but it certainly is the most popular one to bet on. This was especially in part to the 2010 World Cup having been hosted in the country, with many South African punters today avid followers and supports of European tournaments, particularly the Premier League and La Liga.
Betting on Cricket
South Africa has a rich heritage when it comes to cricket. Nevertheless, after being reinstated by the ICC in 1991, the Proteas have had mixed fortunes throughout the years. Recently, though, they have been trying to mount a comeback and work their way back to the top of the Test rankings.South Africans enjoy betting in the sport in all forms, whether it be Test, ODIs, T20s, or even the Indian Premier League.
Betting on 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. The current World Champions are considered 4th-placed favourites to win the 2023 tournament taking place in France.When it comes to betting on Rugby Union, our favourite site would have to be Marshalls World of Sport. Here, you will also be able to find ‘Moneyline’ markets for the English Premiership, as well as handicap and ‘First Team to Score’ markets for the Super Rugby competition.
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 utilise localised payment providers such as Peach Payments – as well as other payment platforms like 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 different betting sites as well.
- 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
Live betting, also known as in-play betting, is a popular form of sports betting in South Africa. Its main draw is that it allows you to place bets on an event while it is in progress, giving you the opportunity to react and adjust your bets accordingly in real time.
At the time of writing, live betting in South Africa works in the same way as it does in the United Kingdom, with very extensive live betting markets available for football, rugby, cricket, and basketball.
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, with sites such as Sportingbet excelling in this regard.
Livestreaming
A useful tool for bettors (particularly those who enjoy live betting) livestreaming is available for South African punters, though it is not yet a widespread feature as such. This is due to several factors, not least of which is broadcasting rights. Some bookies may also give this focus to a particular sport, meaning that they’ll only offer livestreaming for that rather than a wide range of other markets.
To avoid disappointment later on, we suggest checking whether any site that you'd like to register with offers livestreaming before you sign up.
How To Bet Online in South Africa
Betting online in South Africa is just as simple as betting in the UK. Of course, it goes without saying that, in order to start betting, you’ll need to sign up for an account with your chosen bookmaker.
Below is an example of what the registration form at SUPABETS looks like.
If you’re planning on visiting South Africa as a tourist and would like to continue using your usual bookie, we strongly recommend that you first check if the site is registered in the country. It’s also wise to make sure that it is VPN-friendly.
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
There are several great sports betting sites in South Africa, but Sportingbet, Hollywoodbets, and SUPABETS are among the very 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
In conclusion, online betting has become an increasingly popular form of entertainment for many South Africans. However, the South African government has put certain regulations in place that may seem overly restrictive to those who hail from more liberal countries. When all is said and done, though, these laws were drawn up to ensure safety and fairness for online gamblers, with all operators required to be licensed and regulated by the National Gambling Board.
To help you outline the best options that are secure from a legal point of view, we have listed the top three online betting sites in South Africa above for your reference. With each of these sites offering a convenient and exciting way to engage with your favourite sports and potentially win big, all that's left to do is pick one of these bookies and try things out for yourself!