From big rugby clashes to engrossing Test cricket and top soccer competitions from around the world, sports betting markets keep a tab on all of it. Here, we introduce our informative guide to sports betting in South Africa.
The realm of betting in South Africa is ever-evolving, with more operators and more options than ever. The arrival of popular eSports markets and new features like bet builders highlights some of the latest modern developments. Regardless of the sport in focus, choosing only quality betting sites is crucial, and here we’ll show discerning enthusiasts just what they offer.
Before exploring the many nuances of online sports betting, here are some recommended platforms to check out if you’re a punter based in South Africa:
The origin of Hollywoodbets goes back to 2000, when they went online, but they also still maintain many physical branches across South Africa. Since its launch, Hollywoodbets has had tremendous soccer betting coverage from the likes of the South Africa PSL, English Premier League and UEFA Champions League. Their same-match Bet Builder can be found on many of the listed fixtures, which on average have more than 130 markets available.
There’s also a good live in-play section that runs quickly and features many sports, and users can configure the homepage just the way they want it.
There is a secure site at GBets, which has around 20 years of experience under its belt. The sports betting options available for South African players are excellent as the GBets sportsbook is packed with 20+ sports, including cricket, soccer, tennis, F1, basketball, and more.
They also boast superb sports betting features like Boosted Odds, Bet Builder and Share Your Bet. The GBets platform is simple to use and should be a good destination for players new to online betting. They also provide deposit options through various top-up vouchers.
The layout of the Supabets site is great, with easy navigation that allows quick access to the many markets. South African players can collect a welcome bonus and gain access to a massive sportsbook with more than 20 sports listed.
There are great price boost options running throughout the extensive sportsbook. The in-play section offers tremendous variety, and Supabets boast the largest selection of live cricket markets in South Africa. Sports betting promotions like a Losing Leg Refund and Multi Boost add even more.
Now that we’ve discussed three of our favorite betting sites, in the upcoming sections, we will jump into some of the features that make the best betting sites the cream of the crop. Statistics and results are good features of betting sites in South Africa. But some other common features are also worth exploring, as they can expand the overall online experience.
Live sports betting is hugely popular, and many of the best sports betting sites have a live-streaming feature, with soccer, tennis, and basketball among the sports that can be accessed. This form of online gambling is popular because it allows bettors the chance to assess the state of play. The in-play markets reflect that state of play. It’s common to find live in-play markets that aren’t available pre-match, and integrated stats accompany most live listings.
You will usually see a selection of the latest live betting fixtures when you visit the homepage of a betting site. Live markets can be found for any sport, but the types of markets will vary between the different sports.
Live soccer is one of the biggest areas of live betting sites in South Africa. After the kick-off of a match, the markets go into live mode. Main events, like a goal being scored, will drastically change the live odds. But all the while, even if a fixture was still at 0-0, the prices constantly update because of the time passing on the clock. If a game is 0-0 at 75 minutes, the home team favorites will likely push the hardest for the winning goal, affecting the odds.
One of the premium tools at online betting sites is cashout. This is where a bet can be settled early, and goes hand-in-hand with live betting due to constantly fluctuating game dynamics, especially the odds.
The best sports betting sites in South Africa provide the option to change the displayed odds format to your personal preference, whether that’s decimal, fractional or American.
Though the most common format used at betting sites in South Africa is decimal odds. It is arguably the most user-friendly, as the potential return is quickly calculated by multiplying your stake by the decimal odds. Still, if you are ever unsure about the value of the odds or want to try out the other formats, use a betting calculator, which can be found on most betting sites.
Some betting sites have expert opinions about upcoming sports events, betting tips, and general sports news in a featured blog or on social media. This is usually a helpful resource to keep all your betting moves well-informed both before, during and after any key matches.
Another of the big features of online gambling in South Africa is mobile betting. Most modern sites are fully optimized for the smaller screen, which means that the services can be accessed on any device.
That adds a huge layer of convenience to your regular sports betting. It becomes possible to check the latest markets wherever you are without downloading anything to your phone or tablet.
The alternative to opening a betting site on a mobile browser is downloading an app. These are generally lightweight and can be a bit more data-efficient than mobile websites.
Mobile apps are also specifically designed to be on a platform, either iOS or Android, so they can offer improved functionality and responsiveness when using a mobile browser. The best betting apps in South Africa are secure and should be considered for betting on-the-go.
South African betting bonuses are a big part of sports betting sites, as they are in other regions of the world. The initial one is a welcome bonus offer, an incentive you collect for registering a new account. You are not obligated to take any betting offer; it’s your choice.
Welcome bonus offers usually match the value of your initial deposit or credit-free bets when a first bet is settled. These come in all shapes and sizes, with various terms and conditions. Always check the T&Cs so you are clear on what you need to fulfill the bonus.
The bigger scope of betting bonuses can be found for existing customers. These long-standing types of offers can provide ongoing coverage of your betting experience. Here are some of the best types of sport betting offers:
Online gambling in South Africa is safe when you register only with trusted sites, which will readily have their licence viewable on site to show the public that they have followed the guidelines to protect players.
In line with safety, payment transactions between the customer and the betting site should also be encrypted and secure. When on a betting site, check your browser bar for the padlock icon indicating you are on a secure connection.
As a given, choosing a secure site for online betting is just part of the equation, but there are still simple common sense rules to follow, like never sharing your payment or sports betting account details with anyone. Use a strong password for log-in credentials and stay off unsecured Wi-Fi connections.
Visit any of the best sports betting sites in South Africa, and you will see many sports listed. It will all be there, from soccer to tennis, golf, cricket, and horse racing, and that is because finding good variety in a sportsbook is important.
It is nice to have options, whether you predominantly stick to one sport or not. Even the newest South African betting sites don’t come up short in variety, and a good average number of sports to find on any given site, new or old, is at least 20.
Naturally, some sports, like soccer and rugby, will play more of a leading role in a sportsbook than others. That’s just because of the popular fan base due to how mainstream particular sports are. Of course, the most popular markets for sports betting online go far beyond those two:
There is a lot to absorb in online gambling, especially for newer players. Here are some top expert betting tips to keep in mind while on your online betting journey:
For responsible gaming, set yourself a budget and stick with it.
Become an expert in one soccer league and one or two betting markets first. Don’t try to do too much with a scattered approach.
Keep a betting journal on a spreadsheet or notebook to see which bets perform for you.
Read reviews of the best betting sites to help with your selection.
Online betting doesn’t have to be complicated. As a beginner, avoid more complicated multi-leg bets.
There is a never-ending journey of learning opportunities, from odds to markets and statistical insights. Get your head in the game!
Always have a betting strategy for sports betting online, including stake, odds, and market. This helps to avoid unplanned wagers.
A common approach to sports betting is to focus on statistics and analysis. That can provide a sound footing and give insights about which markets and bets to consider. It’s an engaging part of the process and a great skill to learn.
The analytics—looking at league tables, scanning head-to-head records, and reading current forms—can give you a lot of information. Fortunately, many of the best sports betting sites have links to statistics on their platforms.
So, if you want to do research or even have a refresher on some aspect of a game, you can quickly get to the required data. Live in-play betting also comes with statistics like shots on target while the action rolls along.
Sports betting online is personal. You may look at the same betting tips as many others, watch the same games, and read the same match previews, but the final decisions over wagers are up to you.
There are several aspects to consider when picking the best betting sites suited to you, and our list of recommended operators is a good start. You’ll want to discover exactly what you are looking for, whether that is a mobile app, live betting, bonuses, or special odds formats. Wherever your preferences lie, our comprehensive sports betting guide has only taken you on your initial journey, and the rest is in your hands.
Yes, it is. Do things to protect yourself, like checking for licenses at betting sites and keeping account information to yourself. Licensed and regulated sites are safe.
These are bonus tokens credited to a player’s account for fulfilling a promotion. They can’t be withdrawn, and their value is not returned with winnings.
Yes, there are legal online betting sites in South Africa. Check out some of them on this page. Sports betting is overseen by the National Gambling Board (NGB).
You can bet on all mainstream sports, including rugby, soccer, and horse racing. Full variety will depend on the betting site.
Registration is straightforward. You will need personal contact details and an ID for verification.
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