South African Betting Sites You Should Explore

How many sports betting sites are there in South Africa? There are many - and their numbers are growing each year. From veterans around the corner to newcomers making their way to the top, South African punters have a great many betting sites to choose from. So many, in fact, that it may seem hard to choose which is the best for you, so, let us take a look at some of the things that set some of them apart.

South African Betting Sites We Recommend

Should I Stick To A Single Betting Site?

Betting sites in South Africa

Not necessarily. It largely depends on your betting habits. 

Are you a casual punter occasionally betting on soccer matches or the Springboks’ matches abroad? Then there’s no use for you to register at multiple betting sites. Are you a habitual bettor who closely follows the markets and the stats, and keeps an eye on the odds? In this case, having accounts at multiple betting sites has its benefits. 

Even if we don’t consider the various reload bonuses and similar benefits, you’ll benefit from the different odds at different bookmakers. Some of them may offer more favourable odds on soccer, while others may have a weak spot for rugby or tennis. Plus, you can make use of their “boosted odds” offers on different events. 

Licensed vs Offshore Betting Sites - Are They Legit?

Sports betting is legal and regulated in South Africa. The vast majority of betting sites you’ll come across operate under licenses issued by the National Gambling Board and/or one of the regional regulators. Most, but not all of them, though. Some offshore betting sites also target South African players, often with attractive bonuses and better odds. So, which one should you go with?

Locally Licensed Betting Sites

Betting sites with a South African license come with a series of benefits offshore operators can’t match:

EasyBet South Africa

4.8/5
R50 + 25 spins, no deposit

Betshezi

4.5/5
100% up to R2,000 + R25 free

Supabets

4.8/5
100 no-deposit free spins

Hollywoodbets

4.8/5
R25 free bet + 50 Free Spins

Gbets

4.3/5
R25 no-deposit free bet

YesPlay

4.6/5
100% up to R3,000

Playa Bets

4.8/5
100% up to R2,000

Offshore Betting Sites

These sites are not operating under South African legislation. This means that the local rules and regulations don’t apply to them. They also don’t usually support local payments, many of them don’t even accept rands, which leaves you with higher transfer fees and the cost of currency conversion. But they are not without their share of benefits:

The simple fact that a betting site is “offshore” doesn’t mean it’s unlicensed. Most major international bookmakers operate under licenses issued by respectable regulators like the MGA or the UKGC. If you stumble upon a betting site with no licensing and ownership information though, consider it a major red flag.

Sports Betting Bonuses - What Will You Get?

You shouldn’t decide which betting sites to choose based on the bonuses alone. Still, they are nice to have as they can help you bet more and maybe even win more. There are a few types of bonuses you’ll encounter at the majority of South African betting sites. Let’s take a look at them all.

Welcome Bonuses for Bettors

As their name suggests, these bonuses are those you get when you register at betting sites or deposit for the first time. They usually consist of:

Welcome bonuses come with strings attached - terms, conditions, and wagering requirements. You should read and understand them before redeeming any bonus.

Top Welcome Bonuses

EasyBet South Africa

4.8/5
R50 + 25 spins, no deposit

Betshezi

4.5/5
100% up to R2,000 + R25 free

Playa Bets

4.8/5
100% up to R2,000

No-deposit Bonuses

While it’s not exactly free money, a no-deposit bonus can jumpstart your time at a betting site. There are a few strings attached, though - conditions and wagering requirements. But even with these, no-deposit bonuses still remain the best to test-drive the betting site and give yourself the chance to start out with a win.

Reload Bonuses

Same as the above. Reload bonuses are less common at betting sites and are usually of a lower percentage compared to welcome bonuses. But they work the same: you deposit, you get a bonus, that’s it.

Cashbacks

These are there to make losing less painful. Cashbacks are a percentage of your net losses over some time - usually a week. In most cases, you get them as bonus funds or free bets. They are sort of a consolation prize offered by the bookmaker.

Terms, Conditions, and Wagering Requirements

Now we’re getting to the fine print. Make no mistake, every bonus has one that tells you what you need to do to get it and how you can turn it into cash. Here are the things you need to take a good look at:

Make sure to take a good look at the terms, conditions, and wagering requirements before you redeem a bonus to avoid any surprises later on.

Boosted Odds and Other Benefits

What are boosted odds? They are a kind of betting bonus where you can bet on a specific market on a specific event with odds that are better than they would normally be. Let’s look at an example:

The difference is not very big - in the case above, it’s R50 for an R1,000 bet - but it’s there. To really feel it, you need large bets and win. 

But not all benefits put money in your pocket:

Betting Sites with Added Benefits

Sports Covered - Mainstream to Obscure

Men playing rugby

South African betting sites focus especially on the sports that are most popular in the country - soccer, rugby, and cricket. They cover local sports and major international events, including Europe’s top-flight leagues, the African Cup of Nations, India’s cricket league, and the National Rugby League in Australia and New Zealand. Most of them don’t stop here, though. From the major tennis tournaments around the world to more niche disciplines like darts, table tennis, and badminton, you’ll find all types of sporting events covered.

Payment Methods - Show Me The Money

South Africa’s licensed sports betting operators will offer you countless ways to top up your account. EFTs are available pretty much everywhere, prepaid vouchers like 1Voucher and OTT are also widespread. Some betting sites have their own vouchers available at various vendors - think Betway and Hollywoodbets, for example. eWallets and card payments are also widespread. In some cases, you can even top up your account at the betting brands’ betting shops, but many of these are only available in larger cities and in certain provinces only.

The Best South African Betting Sites

Which betting site is the best for you? It would be the one which covers all the sports you love, gives you the most profitable bonuses, and offers you a secure way to bet responsibly. There are many contenders, which makes it hard to decide. Here are the ones we recommend:

EasyBet South Africa

4.8/5
  • High-quality games
  • EGT, Yggdrasil, Spinomenal games
  • Data-friendly apps and games
  • Decent bonus variety
  • Birthday Bonus
  • Friendly wagering requirements
  • No phone support
  • Some games are not easily accessible
  • R50k limit of winnings for single bets
R50 + 25 spins, no deposit
Play Now

Betshezi

4.5/5
  • A new licensed betting site
  • Casino welcome bonus
  • High-quality casino games
  • Useful casino game categories
  • AI betting assistant
  • Small game library
  • A small number of live casino tables
  • Confusing casino bonus terms
  • A limited number of withdrawal methods
100% up to R2,000 + R25 free
Play Now

Supabets

4.8/5
  • No-deposit free spins
  • Daily casino tournaments and promotions
  • 600+ games, many from less common providers
  • Fast payouts
  • 1Voucher withdrawals available
  • Deposit bonus requirements can’t be completed on casino games
  • Aviator is the only crash game available
  • Low number of live casino tables
100 no-deposit free spins
Play Now

Hollywoodbets

4.8/5
  • Large collection of “Spina Zonke” (slot machines)
  • Good variety of live casino games
  • Attractive casino tournaments and sweepstakes
  • No-deposit free spins
  • Licensed in all major jurisdictions
  • Exclusive slots, card games, and crash games, including Shova 52
  • No deposit matches listed
  • Focus on betting bonuses
  • No major progressive jackpot slots
  • Some responsible gaming tools are missing
  • No useful game categories
R25 free bet + 50 Free Spins
Play Now

Gbets

4.3/5
  • Reputable betting site
  • Fair terms
  • A wide range of payment methods
  • Good betting bonuses
  • Quality games
  • Large selection of live casino games
  • Responsible gambling tools available
  • 1Voucher withdrawal available
  • Very small number of slots available
  • No casino bonuses
R25 no-deposit free bet
Play Now

YesPlay

4.6/5
  • Top-rated slot machine providers
  • Useful game categories
  • Amazing live dealer games from top providers
  • Live games for every budget
  • Pragmatic Play network promotions
  • Cashbacks for Lucky Numbers
  • A limited number of slot machines
  • A low number of promotions
  • High wagering requirements for casino players
  • Welcome bonus favours sports betting
100% up to R3,000
Play Now

Playa Bets

4.8/5
  • Established, long-standing brand
  • High-quality games
  • Live dealer games
  • BetGames, Virtual Games
  • Aviator available
  • Downloadable Android app
  • Loyalty & VIP scheme
  • No RNG table games (only live dealer games)
  • A small number of games
  • Almost no casino bonuses
  • Welcome bonus for sports betting only
100% up to R2,000
Play Now

Betting Sites FAQ

  • Which betting site has a welcome bonus?

    All of them. Welcome bonuses are universal - all betting sites reward you for your first deposit.

  • Which betting site gives you a bonus without a deposit?

    No-deposit bonuses are not free money but they give you a chance to test-drive a betting site without taking any risks. There are many betting sites with no-deposit bonuses - you’ll find the best of them on this page.

  • Which betting site is the best?

    This is for you to decide. The best sites are licensed, cover all major sports, offer attractive bonuses and are safe, secure, and fair. You’ll find many of them right on this page.