Best South African Online Betting Sites 2023

South Africa and sport go hand in hand. The Rainbow Nation also has a long history with gambling, with betting sites in South Africa growing at a rapid rate. Whether you are looking to bet on the Springboks rugby team or the Kaiser Chiefs in the South African Premier League, the online betting sites on this page have all bases covered. South African betting sites include domestic betting companies and international betting sites in South Africa. This page will outline the best betting sites South Africa has to offer and you should look out for, along with popular sports markets and payment methods for punters to consider.

Best Betting Sites – A Closer Look at the South African Top Sites

We hope that we’ve whetted your appetite a little for all the best sports betting sites that South Africa has to offer, with the list above of what we think are the leading bookies you should consider. If you want to learn a little more about the best, then we are more than happy to provide details.

If you keep on reading below you find out a little bit more about the five sites that we consider to be ‘the best’ when it comes to the leading online bookies available to sports bettors in South Africa.

1. 10Bet - Established Operator with Top Selection of Markets

With a ton of experience you can be sure to find some fun bets to enjoy at 10Bet. With live betting and promotions to suit the SA market, they show they have plenty of experience.

As well as being an excellent choice for tennis and basketball, you and 10Bet will become firm buddies if you enjoy promotions, as this site genuinely has plenty of them, and not just for new punters.

The layout is easy to navigate and clean looking and creating an account is as easy as can be. You can find the markets a bit on the shallow end, but we suspect there will be changes made within short.

What we like:

• Ideal site for horse basketball
• Works brilliantly on mobile
• Fantastic coverage of soccer
• Several ongoing promos with good prizes

What we don’t:

• A bit shallow markets

Visit 10bet

2. CobraBet - Excellent choice for in-play betting

Even though CobraBet is barely 3 years old, established in 2020 – it has become quite a name among sportsbooks. It is licensed in Curacao where they also have their headquarters. Offering customers a steady stream of combo boosts to go with their initial welcome package makes for both a great introduction and a staying quality.

You will find all the popular sports, with a particular deep markets into soccer but also tennis – and while the smaller sports tend to be a bit more sparse they still give them ample exposure when there are big events on.

The layout is traditional but easy to navigate, with a site that is fast and responsive. Customer support is accessible without having to log in, and respond within the minute.

What we like:

• Ideal site for horse basketball
• Works brilliantly on mobile
• Fantastic coverage of soccer
• Several ongoing promos with good prizes

What we don’t:

• A bit shallow markets

Visit CobraBet

3. BoyleSports - Irish site making SA inroads (Bet $10 Get $40)

BoyleSports is one of the most popular sports betting sites in Ireland, rivalling other top online sportbooks there such as PaddyPower and QuinnBet. The company goes even further back in time than the internet, starting up as a chain of betting shops started by John Boyle in 1982. By 2018 Boyle Sports betting shops had popped up all over Ireland, with over 250 available all across the emerald isle. The site increased its customer base in the mid-2010, launching an online version of all its gambling opportunities.

 

Sadly, you will find zero BoyleSports betting shops in South Africa, but your gloom should be tempered when you find that the online version of Boyle Sports is readily available in the country. It champions horse racing, greyhounds and soccer, and is particularly noteworthy for some interesting horse racing deals, including your stake back as a bonus bet if your backed horse finishes in second place behind the race favourite. Just in case you are wondering, Boyle Sports is allowed to operate in South Africa thanks to its licence from the Government of Gibraltar.

What we like:

• Cash-out available on most events
• Excellent support always available
• Easy-to-use bets calculator
• Respected licensee
• Decent number of live betting options

What we don’t:

• No live streaming
• No Asian Handicaps

Visit BoyleSports

4. Hollywood Bets - Best for horse racing (R25 Sign Up Offer)

You may take one look at Hollywood Bets and think that your internet browser has turned into a time machine. The best thing we can say about the visual appeal of Hollywood Bets is that its looks are a little … dated. However, the look of the site is the worst thing about it, which makes it a great site to use, right? Hollywood Bets is especially appealling to sports bettors in South Africa who like horse racing. Horse racing is definitely the most well-covered aspect of the site which is superb news for horse racing fans in South Africa, as some site do not bother with horse racing at all.

As well as being an excellent choice for horse racing, you and Hollywood Bets will become firm buddies if you enjoy promotions, as this site genuinely has plenty of them, and not just for newbs. These even include ‘quirky’ promotions where cars and other non-cash items are offered as rewards. The site also offers in-play betting and even a live casino … we just wish it would update its look at little as something about it just doesn’t … look … right …

What we like:

• Ideal site for horse racing fans
• Works brilliantly on mobile
• Fantastic coverage of soccer too
• Ongoing promos with quirky prizes
• Has a curry menu?!?

What we don’t:

• Not the best-looking site you’ll ever see
• Yells about promos a little too much

Visit HollywoodBets

5. Rabona - Top of the line betting markets (First Deposit Bonus R1,600)

With a fresh look and a superb selection of sports you can bet Rabona. With deep football markets, there are few games you cannot bet on. The odds may be a bit below market average, but the selection more than makes up for that.

As well as being an excellent choice for football, you will be impressed if you enjoy promotions. Here you find a lot of select promotions and free bets and not only for new customers.

And if you get tired of the betting, or just want to chill with a hand of blackjack – Rabona also offers a casino with an equally impressive selection of both live and table games as well as slots.

What we like:

• Ideal site for football fans
• Works good on mobile
• Fantastic coverage of tennis too
• Frequent promotions

What we don’t:

• A bit lower odds than market average

Visit Rabona

6. Sportaza - New kids on block in SA (100% Bonus up to $100)

The spacious feel to the Sportaza sportsbook ensures you aren’t overwhelmed by betting odds and informative when you want to take a punt. Key upcoming events are listed across the top of the sports homepage. As new betting sites in South Africa go, they are right up there with the best of them. Top Leagues sit in the left-hand menu with the betslip filling its traditional spot on the other side of the sportsbook.

Thanks to their Popular Bets widget below the betslip, you can see all the major gambles as they happen and then decide whether to take a punt yourself. Also offering a good in play betting service, Sportaza caters for both the pre-match wager and exhilarating experience of live gambling. Watch out! Sportaza looks set to grow in the South African market in future.

What we like:

• Newbies to South Africa betting
• Great range of odds and markets
• Popular Bets show you trends
• Wager on top international sports
• Good in play betting available

What we don’t:

• No sports betting app available
• South African sports not always top/list]

Visit Sportaza

7. 1xBet - ZA site for competitive odds (200% Bonus up to $130)

The excellent 1xBet may be relatively new to the South African market, but it is, by no means, a new site. The company behind 1xBet have been around since 2011, and globally are one of the fastest-growing sites – in terms of its customer base – on the planet. 1xBet’s site may not be the easiest to use for new sports bettors, but once a newbie gets used to all the numbers floating around the site, they’ll understand what an excellent sports betting site this is.

1xBet takes its mission to provide the best for its clients very seriously, and even has FC Barcelona as one of its partners. It is also an official betting partner of La Liga in Spain and Serie A in Italy. There are no such partnerships in South Africa, but surely its only a matter of time, and indeed 1XBet has shown its commitment to sport in the continent of Africa by sponsoring the 2021 African Cup of Nations (to be held in 2022). The only thing we don’t like about 1xBet is the fact that its licensing comes from Curaçao.

What we like:

• Global brand with massive customer base
• Some live streaming available
• Fast withdrawals available
• Over fifty sports covered
• Very good apps for iOS/Android

What we don’t:

• Curaçao licence
• Site can be complex for newbs

Visit 1xBet

8. 22Bet - Best site for speedy bets (100% Bonus up to R2,500)

Sports books do have a hard time finding a middle ground between betting for newbs and betting for those who know what they are doing. Some sites choose to pitch to one brand of sports bettor as opposed to the other, and 22bet are one of those. This is a sports betting site for South Africa where betting can be done quickly and easily, which makes it ideal for experienced sports bettors. Newbs are not completely left in the dark, though – the learning curve is steep but it’s not as intense as scaling the most difficult face of Mafadi.

Despite being quite happy to pitch to both South African customers and potential customers in other African nations such as Kenya and Nigeria, the roots of 22bet can be traced back to Eastern Europe. The company – which came into being in 2017 – has since moved to Cyprus but despite now being close to Malta, the company has chosen to stick with its Curaçao licensing, which is a bit disappointing. That’s about the only bad thing that can be said about this cracking site though, which has proven popular within every jurisdiction that it has so far launched.

What we like:

• Lots of sporting markets – over 40!
• Some live streaming options
• Quick bet and Edit my Bet features
• Scores of payment methods
• Fantastic levels of support

What we don’t:

• Curaçao licence
• Asian handicap odds are not the best

Visit 22Bet

Key Features of the Best Online Betting Sites South Africa

If you've taken a peek at our mini reviews then you will understand about the key aspects that betting sites offer sports betting fans in South Africa. Not every site has every key aspect such as live streaming or eSports betting though. Below we have picked out what we feel are three of the most important criteria that sports betting sites in South Africa should have, and which of the sites in our top ten list have them.

Sportsbook	In-Play Betting	Live Streaming	eSports Betting	Minimum Deposit
10Bet		*Match tracker		R10
CobraBet				R10
BoyleSports				R10
Hollywood Bets				R10
Rabona				R10
Sportaza				R10
Bet.co.za				R10

Best Betting Sites South Africa Has by Category

We like sports betting sites in South Africa that, as well as being genuinely legitimate, offer as much to their customers as possible. However, in many areas one site simply stands head and shoulders above all others. Here are ten important categories for which we have picked the number one brand for each.

All the South Africa Betting Sites Available

Whether you're looking for new betting sites or established South African betting sites, the rainbow nation has both operating in it. The list below contains from top to bottom all of the betting sites South Africa has to offer people gambling in the country right now.

How Betting Odds Work

Betting odds tell you how much you'll win if your bet is successful, so understanding how it works is important regardless if you are visiting South African betting sites or American betting sites.

The greater the odds, the more you win of course. There are three main ways of expressing odds - fractional, decimal and American (or moneyline) and below you'll find a brief but useful explanation of how betting odds work for each.

Fractional

Fractional odds are the traditional (or old-fashioned) way of expressing odds and are based on probability. The probability of a coin toss landing heads is one outcome out of two possibilities, so 1/2. To convert that to odds we add one, which means it becomes 2/2, or 1/1 or evens. If you bet R10 on a coin toss landing heads and you win, your winnings would be 1/1 x R10 = R10. You'd also get your stake back so your total return would be R20.

The longer the odds (i.e. the larger the first number compared to the second), the less chance of the event happening and the more money you win if your wager is a winner. The shorter the odds (i.e the larger the second number compared to the first) the more chance of the event happening and the less money you win if your wager is a winner.

Decimal

Decimals odds are just fractional odds converted to decimals. Decimal odds are becoming increasingly popular, particular with younger sports bettors. To convert from fractional to decimal you just convert the fraction to a decimal and add one. In the example above, 1/1 add 1 = 2.00. The important difference between fractional odds and decimal odds is that decimal odds give your return, not your winnings, so you do not need to add your stake. In the coin toss example R10 x 2.00 gives R20, which is the complete return from your wager. Decimals odds are perhaps the best way of understanding how betting odds work.

American (or Moneyline)

American sports bettors use American or 'moneyline' odds as opposed to fractional or decimal odds. The favourite in any contest is given negative odds, and the underdog is given positive odds. With negative odds, the number is the amount of money you need to put on in order to win $100. With positive odds the number is the amount of money you'd win if you put on $100. Odds of -100 or +100 are evens - you put on $100 to win $100 or you win $100 if you put on $100. American odds calculate your winnings only, not your return to remember to factor in your stake.

How to read betting odds

This handy table should help you to learn how to reading betting odds. Each odds given is the equivalent price or odds via each method there is of representing them.

Online bookmakers in South Africa with the best odds:

• 1xBet - 200% Bonus Up To 3000 ZAR
• BoyleSports - 100% First Deposit Match Bonus Up To R1,000
• 10Bet - 100% Sports Bonus Up To R3,000

How We Rank the Best South African Online Betting Sites

There are an increasing number of betting sites South Africa has available to punters. As such, deciding which bookmaker to sign up with is not easy. Of course, there is nothing stopping bettors registering on more than one sportsbook. However, it is recommended to only select the very best platforms. Because of this, our experts are constantly reviewing and testing online betting sites in South Africa. When ranking bookmakers, we take into account the following factors:

Safety, Markets, Odds & Bonuses

Support, Mobile, Payments & Features

Best Betting Sites for Sign Up Offers in South Africa

Matched deposit, no deposit, free bet and risk free bet offers are available to new customers signing up at South African betting sites. A welcome offer should not be the only reason as to why you decide to register with a bookie however. Some bonuses are more appealing than others. Terms and conditions, including qualifying and wagering requirements, generally determine just how appealing a promotion is. With that being said, the following are our favorite sign up bonuses currently awaiting South African bettors:

• All

100% First deposit match bonus up to R2,000

31/01/23

100% First deposit match bonus up to R2,000

• Range of appealing promotions
• Large number of sports covered
• Excellent bookie for in-play betting

9.8

NO CODE REQUIRED

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Make your first deposit. Make your first deposit and rollover your deposit 3 times on bets with odds of 2 (1/1) or greater, Only bets placed on pre-match and in-play sports, Keno and Lucky Numbers and Horse Racing will count to the rollover requirements. This offer is for new customers only and cannot be claimed if you received any other sign-up offer, promotional offer or bonus credit.

Min Deposit R50

Deposit Method

• 

  Debit Cards

Regulated ByKZNGBB

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Sign-up for an online betting account and deposit anything from R10 to R2000 and we will double it for you! Our 100% First Deposit Match Bonus is available to all new customers and you can claim up to R2000 in bonus bets!

1. To get your Welcome Bonus, sign up for an online and cellphone betting account at https://playabets.co.za/en/sign-up

2. Make your first deposit and rollover your deposit 3 times on bets with odds of 2 (1/1) or greater, Only bets placed on pre-match and in-play sports, Keno and Lucky Numbers and Horse Racing will count to the rollover requirements.

3. Once the above criteria is met, claim your bonus by emailing support@playabets.co.za or sending a WhatsApp to 078 800 1018

4. This offer is for new customers only and cannot be claimed if you received any other sign-up offer, promotional offer or bonus credit.

PlayaBets Gallery (4)

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Website:PlayaBets

Owner:Playabets KZN

Founded:1990

Headquarters:South Africa

PlayaBets

100% Bonus up to R1,000

01/10/21

100% Bonus up to R1,000

• Min deposit of just R50 needed to qualify
• 6x wagering requirements
• No promo code needed

9.7

NO CODE REQUIRED

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New customers only. Email must be verified prior to participation. Min deposit R50. Max bonus amount R1000. Accept the Welcome Bonus pop up when you make your first deposit. The bonus amount must be wagered 6 times (Sports bets must be taken at single bet min odds of 7/10 or 0.70, Multiple Min Odds of 12/10 or 1.20 and each leg must be 2/10 or greater) prior to bonus funds and associated winnings becoming withdrawable.

How to Place a Bet at a Betting Site in South Africa

Open you have completed your sign up at one of our recommended sports betting sites for players in South Africa, it's time to place your first bet. Fortunately, placing a bet at a betting site in South Africa is incredibly easy, but just to wipe all doubts from your mind, we are going to walk you through the entire process.

Step One - Deposit Your Funds and Find Your Market

Of course you need to go through the deposit process to be able to bet with your own cash, so do that first. Next, hunt down the event you are interested in. As an example, we are going to bet on the Springboks to beat the Lions in a forthcoming rugby union match. We hunt through the menus until we find the event (which as it is a major event should be very easy to do).

Step Two - Select Your Outcome

Here we are going to make a simple bet - the Springboks to win. Once we have found the details of the event we click on the odds of the Springboks winning. This will transfer the bet to our betting slip.

Step Three - Select Your Stake

Once the bet is on our betting slip (which usually is to the right of the screen) we need to select the amount of rands we want to risk (ten). We go to the bet on the slip and enter '10' in the 'stake' box.

Step Four - Place Your Bet

The final step is to click the 'place bet' button. This is the point of no return - once the button is clicked there's no going back! Click the button, and your bet is placed. Now all you need to do is enjoy the scrumming action as the Springboks (of course) win!

Betting Markets Available at SA Betting Sites

We have already alluded to just how diverse South Africa is when it comes to sport. Athletes and teams from SA compete at the highest level in many events like UFC. This is certainly reflected in the betting markets found at online sportsbooks. The following are among the most popular South African sports for punters to look out for:

Rugby

Whether it be Union or League, rugby is a game enjoyed by millions across South Africa. Having been crowned World champions in 2019, matches involving the Springboks are regularly bet upon. A host of leagues and tournaments are covered by bookies, including the Six Nations and Rugby Championship. Popular rugby betting markets include total points, half time/full time and handicaps.

Football

Football, or soccer, is another hugely popular sport in South Africa. Matches from the South African Premier League, English Premier League, La Liga,UEFA Champions League and World Cup receive great interest from punters. Football markets found at South African betting sites include 1x2, over/under goals, first goalscorer, double chance and draw no bet.

Cricket

Cricket is considered as the national sport of South Africa by many. Test, One Day and T20 matches involving the South African men’s and women’s teams are available to bet on, along with international and domestic encounters from around the world. The Ashes, World Cup and Indian Premier League receive particular interest from punters. When it comes to cricket, available markets include total runs, leading wicket taker, to win the toss and match result.

Esports

Another emerging market in South Africa is Esports. Professional gaming events surrounding Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends and Dota 2, among others, are now followed by many, especially the younger generation. Many gambling sites now cover Esports events. Here, bets can be placed on match winners, individual maps, first blood and total kills. We will outline the best CS:GO betting sites available to punters in South Africa later on.

Golf

Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen are South African players to have won golf majors in the past. The sport is growing quickly as a result. Tournaments from the European and PGA Tours are regularly bet upon. However, it is the four majors throughout the season that attract the greatest interest from bookies and punters alike. Here, bets can be placed on the tournament winner, top 10 finishes and even the region of the winner.

How to Choose the Best South African Betting Site

As you will have discovered from reading this page until this point, South African betting sites today are both diverse and detailed. While this is a good thing, it does make selecting the right betting platform all the more difficult. However, as always at safebettingsites, we are here to help. When making a decision regarding which betting site to sign up with, the following steps will be useful to undertake:

Payment Methods Available to Punters in South Africa

When it comes to depositing and withdrawing funds at South African betting sites, there is a good number of payment options available. Credit and debit cards are on offer, along with bank transfers, which are significantly quicker in South Africa when compared to other regions. Elsewhere, having been founded in 2007, SiD Instant EFT has long been the most popular online payment system in South Africa. OZOW is an alternative, offering both quick and secure payments. The majority of our recommended South African betting sites accept payments in Rand (ZAR). However, for those that do not, alternative currencies will be offered. The table below provides a clear breakdown of the payment methods awaiting South African players, including deposit and payout limits.

SiD

'Funds Transfer' has become the most common way for people in South Africa to move money, and by adding 'E' (for electronic) such moves can now be made over the internet ('EFT'). SiD is one of the most popular EFTs in the country and is used by countless merchants, from grocery stores to retailers, as well as South African sports betting sites, of course. Bet.co.za is one of the best sites for SiD.

EasyEFT

EasyEFT is just about as popular in South Africa as SiD, and actually is probably offered at slightly more online gambling sites, including online sports betting sites, as its rival. This payments provider is a way of directly connecting a merchant and client in order for the client to arrange a payment, and works with five important South African banks: Standard, Nedbank, ABSA, First National and Capitec. You can use EasyEFT at 22bet.

OZOW

OZOW is one of the newest EFT service providers in South Africa, and is becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people. The payment provider is actually set up to work better on mobile devices than desktop ones, which probably explains its popularity among younger shoppers. Despite this relative newness, OZOW has won plaudits for its high levels of security. SportingBet is a great site that accepts OZOW payments.

Best Soccer Betting Sites in South Africa

Soccer is the truly global sport, although in South Africa is has to vie with cricket and rugby. Soccer betting is becoming increasingly popular, and all the sites in our recommended list are exceptional choices for soccer betting. Here though are what we feel to be the best three sites at which you can back your net-busting faves.

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Bookmaker	Offer description
	First Deposit Bonus 100% Up To R 1,600
	200% up to 3000 ZAR
	100% Sports Bonus Up To R1,000

Best CSGO Betting Sites in South Africa

Esports is popular in regions across the globe today. South Africa is one country that has taken the scene to heart. While gamers follow a number of Esports titles, it is undoubtedly CS:GO that is the favourite. Punters can bet on the winner of matches, pistol rounds, handicaps, correct score and map winners in most cases. A number of South African betting sites offer CS:GO markets, however it is the following that are our recommended CSGO betting sites:

Bookmaker	Offer description
	100% Up To €100
	100% Bonus Up To R1,000
	R25 Sign Up Offer

The Best Betting Apps for South Africa 2023

We've already mentioned phones and mobile devices during our round up of the best betting sites South Africa has to offer, and it's true that mobile betting in the country is becoming increasingly popular. Mobile reception coverage has always been exceptional in South Africa, with 99.8 percent of the country able to connect to mobile networks. In addition, at least 92.8 percent of the population now owns a phone or other mobile device.

Android dominates the market, with around 70 percent of smartphones operating in South Africa running on Google's OS. Apple users account for a mere 10 percent. Most South African sports betting sites run perfectly well on Android, iOS or other operating systems, and some even have dedicated mobile apps users are able to download.

We feel the following betting Apps in South Africa are the leading three sites mobile sports bettors should use in particular.

200% Bonus up to $130

15/08/23

200% Bonus up to $130

• 50+ sports covered
• Competitive odds
• Mobile app available

9.8

NO CODE REQUIRED

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T&Cs apply. 18+

Min Deposit $1

Deposit Method

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  Debit Card

• 

  Skrill

• 

  Neteller

Regulated ByCIL

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Register with 1xBet. Fill in your personal profile in My Account and enable the function "Take part in bonus offers". Deposit any amount from 1$. The bonus is automatically credited to a customer's account after they make a deposit.

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Website:1xBet

Owner:1X Corp N.V.

Founded:2007

Headquarters:Cyprus

1xBet

New Betting Sites in South Africa

There are not as many existing and new South African betting sites available to people in South Africa as there are in other jurisdictions. As major brands tend to concentrate on European and Asian markets, despite the growing popularity of sports betting in South Africa and other African countries such as Kenya, Zambia and Nigeria.

That has not stopped a few new betting sites and brands opening up to South African markets over the past year or two. It is good for competition. Using new betting sites South Africa has to offer comes with plenty of benefits - new ways of doing things, innovative features and decent bonuses. Below you will find three of the best recent additions to your betting options in South Africa.

• All

Best Runner Boosted Odds Twice A Week

16/09/21

Best Runner Boosted Odds Twice A Week

• Cash out on selected markets
• Fully licensed and regulated
• Excellent in-play coverage

9.6

NO CODE REQUIRED

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Opt-in is not required for this promotion. This promotion is available for selected runners each Wednesday and Saturday (Wed 16.30 - 19:00 & Sat 12:00 - 16:00 (GMT+2) Single bets only. Max stake per customer: €10.Winnings have no wagering requirements and can be withdrawn immediately.

R50 Sign Up Bonus

16/09/21

R50 Sign Up Bonus

• Large number of ongoing promotions
• Daily virtual sports markets
• Excellent live betting opportunities

9.3

NO CODE REQUIRED

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R50 Bonus to be rolled over 3 times at 11/10 or better before it can be withdrawn. Please note that stake will not be returned to your bonus wallet.

100% up to R10,000

15/12/21

100% up to R10,000

• Large number of ongoing promotions
• Simple to use sportsbook
• Excellent sports coverage

9.4

NO CODE REQUIRED

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How to Get the Most From Your Sports Betting - Betting Tips

Did you know that best betting tips are those that explain to you how to get the most out of your sports betting, and not direct tips about which team will win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, or how South Africa will fare in the next rugby union or league global competition?

The best sports bettors maximise their potential income in a number of different ways, and here we are sharing our best betting tips with you that hopefully may enable you to do the same.

Grab as many bonuses and promotions as you can

There is only one thing better than winning money using your cash and your sports betting expertise, and that's winning money by using money that's not even your own! True, you are hardly likely to become the next sports betting millionaire by only using bonus money and other promotions, but at least you may add a little extra cash to your betting account that you can then use to make other bets.

So, every time you see a new sports betting site pop up on our pages, our betting tip is to at least register for an account there so you can take advantage of any welcome bonus or sign-up offer that's available. You may find a new favourite site too of course, plus many sites have an ongoing range of promos that you can add to the list of benefits. Look out in particular for betting sites with free registration bonus offers.

Betting sites with FICA bonus offers are a great way to earn yourself a potentially profitable bonus, too.

Try matched betting if you want to guarantee profits

One way to guarantee a return from a bonus is to use matched betting, and it works on most South African betting sites. This is where you use a free bet or bonus cash to bet on both sides of a sporting contest. Naturally, you will need to use a market that does not have ties, such as any US sport, or tennis, snooker or darts.

Say you get a R100 bonus from PlayaBets, and a R100 bonus from Bet.co.za. It's Superbowl time, and it's the Chiefs v the Buccaneers. You place one R10 free bet on the Chiefs at PlayaBets, and one R10 bet on the Buccs at Bet.co.za. No matter the outcome one of those bets just has to win.

Again, you're not likely to be buying luxury yachts on the proceeds of matched betting, but you will be gaining 'free' money to use for your other betting endeavours.

Manage your bankroll properly

One of the main reasons sports bettors become unstuck is because they fail to manage their bankroll properly. If you are just throwing money at your betting without keeping records or using a bankroll then you are probably losing more money than you think. Human brains tend to remember wins far more than they do losses.

Work out how much you can comfortably afford to lose each month, without it affecting any other areas of your life (particularly mortgage payments, rent, utility payments and groceries). If you divide that number by 10, then that's your DAILY bankroll. If you then divide that new figure by 10, then that's your base bet size.

For any bet, you cannot bet more than your base bet size. If, during the day you deplete your daily bankroll, then you stop betting until tomorrow. If, during the month your deplete your monthly bankroll, then you stop betting until next month. Stick to these rules, and your betting will not cause issues with the rest of your finances.

Another good rule is that if you double your daily bankroll during the day or double your monthly bankroll during the monrh you stop betting until your next bankroll is available too.

Practise sensible betting, no matter what

So if you've played poker on South African betting sites, then you probably will have experienced the feeling after a few losing hands in a row to go 'all in' no matter the cards you are dealt for your next hand. This is known in poker circles as 'tilting' (from the 'tilting' of pinball machines when the ball refuses to roll in the direction you want it to roll).

Sports bettors suffer from the same. After a run of losing bets, they try and gain back all their losses by increasing their bet size. Even professional gamblers suffer from losing streaks - it's simply an occupational hazard. The way to make money with sports betting is to win more than you lose, but spread over a decent period of time. Losing four bets in a row is as much an indicator that you are a bad sports bettor than Leo Messi going four games without scoring indicating that he's a terrible footballer.

Online Gambling Law in South Africa

A ban on gambling in South Africa was lifted back in 1994. Two years later, the 1996 National Gambling Act was formed. The act, along with the support of the National Gambling Board (NGB) started to regulate the industry properly, as well as giving licensing rights to local provinces. Such steps meant that online betting was legal, as well as gambling in physical casinos.

However, online casinos, including those offering roulette and blackjack, remained banned. Domestic sportsbooks must be licensed by a local province, while an amendment to the South African Gambling Act left those looking to play casino games in a difficult spot. Anyone with a South African IP address is currently unable to gamble online, unless it be with a NGB licensed, controlled and taxed operator. Punters do not pay taxes on winnings made from sports betting, with horse racing being the only exception, where 6% is taken. All online bookmakers have a duty to promote responsible gambling.

South African Sports Betting Sites Identity Checks

Many jurisdictions now have firm checks in place before you are able to complete your sign up, and to deposit money to start betting. For example in UK (and due to laws drawn up by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission) new users have to supply photo ID, proof of Address and proof of source of funding (such as wage slip) before they are able to complete their registration and place their first wager.

In most other jurisdictions, at a minimum punters are required to prove their identity before withdrawing money. This is to prevent unwanted activities such as money-laundering and problem gambling. In South Africa though, it is up to the individual site as to whether they wish to ask customers for proof of identity, address or source of funding. Sites are required to promote responsible gambling, but how they do this is not legally defined.

Most sites that insist on you proving you are who you say you are will ask you to upload FICA (Financial Intelligence Centre Act) documents. Some South Africa betting sites with FICA bonus offers will grant you an extra bonus once you have uploaded your documents.

Bottom Line on South African Betting Sites

South Africa is undoubtedly one of the hubs when it comes to online sports betting. An increasing number of domestic companies and new betting sites are looking to compete with international betting sites South Africa has. As a result, punters have never had so much choice. Options surrounding bookmakers, markets and bet types have never been greater, so now is the time to get involved. Select one of our recommended South African sports betting sites today, before claiming your welcome offer.

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1. Completed registration required.
2. This promotion is only available once per customer.
3. Players who deposit will 1ForYou Voucher are not eligible for this promotion.
4. Opt-in needed before you start completing the offer requirements.
5. You should not have other currently active deposit bonuses before opting in.
6. Minimum deposit of R50 required.
7. 1x rollover requirement on deposit amount (to unlock the bonus).
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10. 5x rollover requirement on bonus amount (before withdrawal).
11. Both the deposit and the bonus rollover requirements must be achieved on sports selections with total odds of at least 1.50.
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13. Invalid or cancelled bets, draw bets, cashed out bets and bets made with a free bet do not count towards deposit or bonus rollover requirements.
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