The Best Betting Sites In South Africa December, 2024 – Ranked!

Betway Africa

- Licensing & Safety

Betway is recognised not only in South Africa but globally as one of the most trusted betting sites. It is one of the go-to online betting sites in the country and holds a license issued by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, a reputable gambling authority.

- Sports & Games

The site offers one of the strongest ranges of markets of any betting sites South Africa punters can use. It features markets across the world's most popular sports, including soccer, horse racing, rugby, cricket, golf, tennis, and more! 

- Unique Features

Bettors across the country can access this betting site from anywhere, thanks to its mobile compatibility and exclusive mobile app. Available to Android, iPhone and Huawei users, download the Betway app, keep up to date with your bets and place new bets on the go. This is especially helpful for taking advantage of the live betting features that are on offer across your favourite sports.

- Bonuses & Promotions

We all would not turn down a freebie or a bonus, which is why Betway is such a popular choice of betting site among South Africans. New customers can expect a valuable welcome offer, such as a deposit match or free bets, while existing customers can also benefit from ongoing, daily, and weekly promotions, such as weekly ‘Pick Your Promo’ offers and tickets to enter the site's monthly giveaway draws.

- Payment Options

Performing transactions at Betway is a really simple, quick, and easy process to follow in order to begin placing your bets. The site accepts many recognised payment methods, from Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards to vouchers. Customers can also expect to find plenty of everyday options such as Ozow, OTT Vouchers, Kazang, 1 ForYOU Voucher, FNB ATM, and FNB EFT.

- Customer Support

Betway also features great support channels for its customers should anyone need to reach out. Available 24/7, 365 days a year, the team can be contacted by live chat, phone, and via its social media channels.

Betfred ZA

- Licensing & Safety

As all betting sites in South Africa should be, Betfred is a licensed betting operator regulated by the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator. We recommend only legal and licensed online betting sites operated by a reputable gambling authority, which is why Betfred is up next.

- Sports & Games

Featuring one of the largest ranges of soccer betting markets in the country, bettors can find matches from leagues and competitions all over the world. Soccer is the site's most popular sport, alongside rugby and cricket, and plenty of betting markets await, whether local, national, or international.

- Unique Features

Plenty of opportunities arise to access unique and exclusive features when placing bets with Betfred. This includes live betting markets on local horse racing, enhanced odds on certain selections, and taking advantage of the fully mobile-compatible platform, accessing your bets on the go.

- Bonuses & Promotions

Betfred offers a strong range of customer bonuses, with something for everyone. These include new customer offers such as first deposit bonuses and free bets and existing customer offers, including in-play betting bonuses, soccer bet insurance, cashout, and multi-bet bonuses.

- Payment Options

One of the largest varieties of safe and secure payment methods is available at Betfred, so whether you use EFTs, card payments, or vouchers, everyone should have a preferred method available. Bettors can expect to be able to use Visa and Mastercard, Capitec Pay, Ozow, Snapscan, Zapper, 1Voucher, OTT Voucher, Blu Voucher, Nedbank Instant Cash, FNB, and more.

- Customer Support

The customer support options available at the best betting sites in South Africa must be suitable for customers' different preferences. Betfred offers various methods to get in touch, including a dedicated customer care email address and another specifically for payment queries. There is a phone and a physical address should anyone wish to get in touch in writing.

HollywoodBets ZA

- Licensing & Safety

HollywoodBets is one of the most reputable betting sites in South Africa and has several licences for its site and products. This includes licenses from the Gauteng Gambling Board, the Limpopo Gambling Board and the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator. Specific products are also licensed by the KwaZulu-Natal Gaming and Betting Board and the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board.

- Sports & Games

One of the country's favourite sports betting sites, HollywoodBets is the go to for sports fans and bettors. It is the best place for horse racing markets in particular, with a top selection on offer across many other sports, such as rugby, 

- Unique Features

The site is fully compatible with mobile devices, and a dedicated app is available for Android devices. Also available is an exclusive and free-to-play ‘Punters Challenge’ horse racing tipping competition where daily prizes can be won.

- Bonuses & Promotions

A dedicated section for promotions on the platform offers several opportunities to claim added bonuses and extras. New customers can claim first deposit bonuses and free bet offers right from signing up while returning customers can take advantage of refer-a-friend bonuses, money-back guarantees, enhanced odds, and more.

- Payment Options

The wide range of payment options available at HollywoodBets is not to be missed. Bettors can make deposits and withdrawals using Apple Pay, Cryptocurrency, Zapper, Ozow, PayFast, Peach Payments, and many more recognised South African payment methods.

- Customer Support

The range of support options available to HollywoodBets customers is one of the best around. Customers can reach out via telephone, email, social media channels and by post should they need any assistance at the site or have any suggestions or recommendations.

Lulabet

- Licensing & Safety

Another one of the best betting sites South Africa punters can enjoy, knowing it is a safe and trusted place to bet, is Lulabets. Licensed and regulated by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, this shows bettors its commitment to being a reputable sports betting brand.

- Sports & Games

Offering a diverse range of sports betting markets, Lulabet covers all of the top sports in South Africa, including plenty of odds on soccer, rugby, and cricket, ensuring it caters to many different bettors.

- Unique Features - e.g. mobile app, live betting or enhanced odds for South African sports Lulabet offers lots

- Bonuses & Promotions - First deposit bonuses, ongoing promos etc

From welcome bonuses on your first deposit, refer-a-friend offers, bet builders promotions, and multi-bet bonuses, there is a huge selection of valuable offers available to every kind of bettor at Lulabet.

- Payment Options

Lulabets accepts many recognised South African payment methods, including a range of vouchers such as OTT Voucher and Blu Voucher, as well as Visa and Mastercard debit and Peach Payments.

- Customer Support 

Contacting when you need assistance with your sports betting could not be more thorough than at Lulabet. The site's support team is responsive and available 24/7 via email, live chat and phone, and it also provides a postal address for written communications.

Supabet

- Licensing & Safety

Completing the best betting sites South Africa list is Supabet, a reputable betting brand regulated by the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator, ensuring its customers a fair experience when placing bets and the site. 

- Sports & Games

Supabet features a good variety of sports for punters to explore and place bets on. From the biggest soccer leagues to cricket matches, rugby games, and more, there is something available for every sports fan.

- Unique Features 

Live betting is a particularly strong feature at Supabets, with odds across various sports, including soccer, cricket and horse racing. The site is also fully compatible with mobile devices, allowing you to easily bet on the go from wherever you are.

- Bonuses & Promotions

Customers at Supabet can expect various bonuses and ongoing promotions right from sign-up. A strong welcome offer of free bets can be claimed when registering for an account, alongside regular enhanced odds and price boost offers for returning customers.

- Payment Options

Supabets accepts a wide range of South African payment methods that customers are likely to be used to. These include debit cards, e-wallets, OTT, 1Voucher, Blu, and Kazang vouchers, and there is a selection available to suit everyone's payment preferences.

- Customer Support

 The support available to customers at Supabets can be found on a fantastic ‘help centre’ page. It includes FAQs, video guides, and ‘How To’s’ and is one of the strongest support offerings around. Customers can request a callback, call the customer support phone line, send an email, and even see live response time expectations!

Ranking Bookmakers in South Africa

The team at Livescore are experienced and well-equipped when it comes to reviewing bookmakers. It is a lengthy process, but worth it if we are able to recommend trustworthy betting sites that work well for you. Before we give a betting site it’s overall rating, we take various factors into consideration, such as betting markets, global rating, and customer service. (including operating hours, live chat availability and telephonic support)

Below is a more detailed explanation of the features we look for when reviewing online bookmakers and the features we recommend that you look for, too. 

What to Look for in the Best Betting Sites

In order to help you choose the best betting sites, below we will be providing some top tips on how to evaluate each site and select the best one for you.

Licensing and Regulation

It is vital that before playing at any betting site, users check on the licenses that are in place and that a site has one issued by a reputable authority. 

This ensures the safety and security of customers' personal and financial information, ensures that sites are fair and legal, and provides the necessary responsible gambling tools. Look out for sites that have a license issued by a reputable gambling authority, such as the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board and the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator. Also, it is important to check that a site complies with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) regulations to ensure safe and secure transactions.

Bonuses and Promotions

We are all after the occasional freebie or added extra, which is why checking what a site has on offer in terms of bonuses and promotional offers is key. 

Ensure to check for a new customer or welcome bonus when you first sign up. These are often of high value and can contain free bets. Beyond this, check for offers available to existing customers to make sure you can continue to benefit after you sign up. Some offers to look out for are free bets, deposit matches, enhanced odds, cashout, and cashback offers alongside in-play betting offers. All promotions are 

Betting Markets and Odds

If you know what you like when it comes to betting markets and odds, or if you want a selection to choose from, its important to check a site has a range suitable for you before signing up to ensure for a better overall experience. 

This should include a range of available sports and events, worldwide and locally too. This includes the top leagues and competitions in soccer, rugby, cricket and horse racing. Odds on the Premier League are a must, similarly odds on the latest action in South African cricket test matches, T20 and ODIs. Rugby fans and bettors will look for odds on the Six Nations, the World Cups, as well as competitions exclusive to ZA, such as the Currie Cup and the United Rugby Championship that features South Africa. 

Payment Methods

Before signing up for any betting sites it is important to check that it accepts a range of payment methods that ensure safe and secure transactions for customers. In addition, the payment methods should be fast and simple to use.

The methods of payment should be accessible and recognised, ones that bettors will know they can trust and ones they use every day. This should include debit card payments such as Visa and Mastercard, alongside local options such as EFT, PayFast, OTT Voucher, 1Voucher, Zapper, OZOW, and more.

User Experience

Next you will want to check out the site enough to determine whether or not it provides a good user experience that is suitable for you.

Is everything easy to find and load without any issues? Can you locate what you want? The site's layout and design should be user-friendly and tailored to sports fans. If you prefer placing bets on your phone, you will need to check if any of the betting sites you are considering registering with are compatible with mobile devices. Alternatively, check whether there is a dedicated mobile betting app available to download to your device. 

Customer Support

A requirement of all betting sites in South Africa is that each provides good customer support options.

All of the best betting sites offer multiple ways for customers to reach out should they have any queries or concerns while placing bets. This service is often available 24/7, 365 days a year, and a team of responsive support agents will be on hand via multiple channels. The team can be reached at most betting sites by live chat, email, and telephone, where responses are received quickly and issues are resolved quickly.

Legal Landscape of Betting in South Africa

The National Gambling Board of South Africa (NGB) oversees and regulates online betting sites in South Africa. Tasked with preserving South Africa's integrity, it leads the regulation of the gambling industry in fulfilment of the National Gambling Act 2004 (NGA). Its intent is to position South Africa as a country with an exemplary and effective industry where all betting sites operate under and within the same rules.

Betting is only legal when placing bets with a licensed South African bookmaker, such as the sites we have recommended in this article. Ensuring your betting activity is being performed at a licensed and regulated site is vital in keeping your information safe and your transactions protected. All sites licensed by reputable authorities such as the NGB will assure customers of fair odds and responsible gambling features in place to assure safety during the time spent at the site.

How to Get Started with Online Betting in South Africa

If you are new to the online betting world in South Africa and want to find out how to get started, we have included a simple guide below for you to follow and you’ll be ready to go in no time!

1. The first step in starting your betting journey is to choose a betting site. Explore top sports betting sites with welcome bonus offers and compare. Also, look at the odds, user interfaces, and range of markets.

2. Once you have found the right site for you, sign up and create your account. Don’t forget to claim your sign-up offer! 

3. Check for any verification requirements and upload the relevant documentation.

4. Once you have completed the above steps, it is time to add funds to your account so you can start betting! Do so using your preferred payment method.

5. Now, head to the match or event that you wish to bet on and check out the available odds.

6. Choose your odds carefully. When you are happy with your selections, add them to your bet slip, confirm, and place your bets.

7. Always remember to gamble responsibly and check out all of the great responsible gambling features that can be applied to your account should you feel you could benefit from them. Real winners know when to stop.

Best Bookmakers in South Africa Per Sport

Depending on what your favourite sport to bet on is, will depend on which bookmaker is the best for you to use. Some betting sites are better than others when it comes to popular sports in South Africa, and below, we have included some more on the best places to bet on what sport.

Soccer

• Betway - A trusted bookmaker by lots of soccer fans worldwide, Betway provides in-depth market coverage of the top leagues, competitions and tournaments. From the RSA Betway Premiership to the Premier League, Bundesliga and Serie A, it has everything a football fan and punter could want!

• Betfred - With over 1300 markets, Betfred’s soccer betting selection is one of the best at sports betting South Africa sites. It is the biggest market available at the bookmaker by far, and there are lots of regular promotions available.

• 10Bet - A top soccer betting site, customers at 10Bet can find plenty of betting markets across the most popular leagues and competitions with super competitive odds and offers to enhance the betting experience.

Rugby

• HollywoodBets - Offering a wide selection of betting markets for rugby, place outrights and get involved with match betting on the English Premiership, international friendlies, world cups, six nations, and the United Rugby Championship, which includes the Springboks.

• Betway - Available at Betway, customers can place bets on live matches, upcoming matches, outrights, and more. Keen rugby bettors can expect to find the latest odds across rugby union, including the United Rugby Championship and the Currie Cup.

• Supabet - A good range of rugby betting markets are available at Supabet with plenty of opportunities to claim competitive odds and place bets on the live action.

Cricket

• Betway - Cricket bettors will find everything they are looking for at Betway, from competitive odds across the top tournaments, leagues and test series home and away.

• Betfred - Betfred offers a wide range of cricket betting markets, from test cricket to the shorter formats of the game. A strong live betting section is available, too, so you can really get involved in each match.

• 10Bet - Priding itself on offering betting markets on a wide range of cricket worldwide,  10Bet has all of the latest odds across all formats of the game. Explore pre-match, live betting and outright options.

Horse Racing

• Hollywoodbets - A wealth of horse racing betting markets awaits punters at Hollywoodbets, including an exclusive ‘Punters Challenge’ contest. Find races from across the globe available to bet on, as well as local ones.

• Betway - With something for all horse racing fans and punters, find the latest updates and odds from races as they happen. Claim exclusive bonuses on horse racing every day with Betway Mane Million.

• Lulabet - Featuring all of the local races and ones around the globe, find race countdowns, schedules, past results and competitive odds aplenty at Lulabet. Place futures and live bets on any race from anywhere.

UFC

• Betway - Betway has all of the latest odds on UFC for fans and bettors across South Africa. Enjoy a wide range of betting options, detailed updates and plenty for new and experienced bettors.

• Hollywoodbets - Punters at Hollywoodbets can find competitive odds across the latest and upcoming events in UFC, with various promotions up for grabs in the build-up to each fight.

Diverse Betting Markets

There are plenty of common betting markets that people across South Africa bet on every day, but in this section, we will draw your attention to some unique and diverse betting markets that you can bet on at the best betting sites in South Africa. 

Many online betting sites offer diverse betting markets such as esports betting, entertainment betting and politics betting. eSports betting, in particular, is becoming increasingly popular due to its dynamic and exciting nature and the growth of competitive gamers. As for alternative betting markets, like politics betting and entertainment betting, many South African players are opting to bet on the results of elections and their favourite TV shows. Betting on these markets allows bettors to get a different and more interesting experience than betting on conventional markets. 

Betting Sites with Welcome Bonus

If you are looking for betting sites with welcome bonuses, we are pleased to say there are plenty! Below we have discussed some examples of the most popular welcome bonuses you can expect to come across.

Betting Welcome Bonuses

A welcome bonus is an exclusive special offer that you receive when first signing up to betting sites. The bonus tends to be in the form of free bets or a deposit match offer in order to encourage bettors to explore and try out a new site for free or a smaller-than-usual charge. The purpose is to attract new users to sign up over competitor sites and is a sites way of saying thank you.

How to Claim Betting Welcome Bonuses

Signing up to betting sites with sign up bonus offers is really simple, just follow the steps below to get started and claim yours.

1. Head to the sign-up page of your selected sports betting South Africa site.

2. Register your details including your full name, address, date of birth, ID number, your income source and some other details requested by the site.

3. If you are using a mobile, you must sign up for an account using your browser before downloading the app in order to claim your bonus.

4. Once complete, verify your account and depending on the type of bonus you are claiming, add funds to your account (deposit bonus), or enter a promo code if required when prompted (free bets).

5. Go ahead and start placing your bets and using your welcome bonus!

Free Bets

A free bet bonus is when betting sites essentially give customers an amount of money, for free, in the form of bet credits to use to bet without requiring any money to be spent from them first. Free bets are one of the most popular bonuses available at South African betting sites and attract users. Simply sign up and claim the offer to use as you please, and place bets, win or lose, for no financial cost or risk to you. 

Deposit Bonuses

Another popular welcome betting bonus available to new customers is deposit bonuses. In most cases, betting sites offer a first deposit match bonus in which new sign-ups can receive a percentage of their first deposit back in the form of bet credits. These can then be used to place more bets at a site for no extra charge than the initial deposit made. Enjoy more bets for less with deposit welcome bonuses.

Guide to Betting Payment Methods

So, is there any type of payment method you should use or look out for at betting sites? Most of the best betting sites will accept a variety of brands that are recognised around the world, as well as some accepted methods that are exclusive to South African betting sites' customers. We recommend opting for a method that you know, trust and have used before or regularly. Check the accepted payment methods before signing up to make sure there is one you want to use. We have included some of the most popular payment methods for South African players below:

• Debit/credit cards (Visa/Mastercard)

• EFT

• eWallets (OZOW, Zapper)

• Vouchers (OTT Voucher, 1Voucher, Blu Voucher)

• Mobile Payments (SnapScan)

• Apple Pay

Our Top Tips for Betting Online in South Africa

- Choose Licensed Betting Sites

First of all, you must ensure that you are signing up to betting sites that are licensed. This must be issued from a reputable gambling authority in order to be legal, fair, and safe for all of your betting activities.

- Take Advantage of Bonuses (But Read the Fine Print)

Look out for any bonuses that you can claim and take advantage of. For example, compare various betting sites with welcome bonus offers and check for bonuses available beyond sign-up for returning customers. It is always important to keep in mind the terms and conditions of all offers prior to claiming. Ensure you have read and understand the fine print first.

- Stick to Local Payment Methods

When performing transactions at a site, it is important to stick to local payment methods that you know and trust. Check that a method you prefer is available, as well as alternatives, should there be any issues with your desired payment method.

- Stay Informed on South African Sports

Keep up to date with the latest news and events in South African sports, check team and player form, injuries, changes, news, and any other factors that could have an effect on the outcome of a game.

- Set a Budget and Stick to it

Work out what you can afford to spend on your betting activities and set yourself a budget to keep your spending activity under control. You can also take advantage of the responsible gambling tool and set limits for your account to keep track of your deposits.

- Explore Live Betting

In-play betting allows bettors to place wagers during a live match. A great opportunity to claim enhanced odds based on the real-time developments of the game or match you are following.

- Learn About Odds

Different betting sites will offer different odds across the same matches and events. It is important to understand the odds you could be wagering on to ensure you are getting the best value. Shop around different betting sites before committing to any set odds.

Responsible Gambling

Whilst one of the aims of this article is to recommend the best betting sites for you to choose from, it is also to encourage responsible gambling. It is extremely important to practice responsible gambling and to take a step back from betting if you feel it is becoming too much. We understand that gambling can be a fun and enjoyable experience but it is important to keep it that way. If you feel that your gambling time is becoming more frequent, then you may benefit from using one of the following resources.

• https://responsiblegambling.org.za/

• https://www.ggb.org.za/responsible-gambling-2/ 

• https://www.ngb.org.za/home/

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is online betting legal in South Africa?

Yes, it is legal to place bets online in South Africa at licensed bookmakers.

How do I know a South African betting site is safe?

Betting sites in South Africa must be licensed in order to be a safe betting site.

Can I get free bets from betting sites in South Africa?

Yes! There are opportunities to claim free bet offers from South African betting sites especially as a new customer signing up.

Can I bet using my mobile phone?

Punters in South Africa are able to use betting sites on their phones.

What is live betting and how does it work?

Live betting involves placing bets on live sporting action as it happens.

What should I do if I encounter a problem with a betting site?

Reach out to the site's customer support team via any of the contact methods available should you encounter any issues during your time.