How we review the best online betting sites in South Africa

New player offer and regular promotions such as bonuses, loyalty program and special offers.

Odds and variety of markets: depending on your interests some betting sites are more suitable for you than others. While rugby, cricket and soccer are the top sports to bet on, additional options like eSports, lottery betting or games can be important to you. Hence our reviews evaluate the available betting offer in detail.

Variety of games portfolio, including selection of slots, live games and other instant games.

Additional services like live betting or streaming.

Usability, layout and mobile friendliness: Betting often happens on the go and hence the betting experience should be convenient. Therefore, a mobile friendly, fast loading betting site together with easy navigation and fast market access is important.

Payment options: Every punter has a different preference and we have tested all listed bookmakers’ offering for deposit and withdrawal methods. Most feature a variety of methods to meet the needs of their customers. Ideally, we want payment processes, but especially payouts, to be instant, hassle-free and 100% safe.

Customer service: a great customer support team is essential for having a good experience. We take into account availability, provided support methods as well as friendliness, helpfulness and knowledge.

Safety, reliability, and reputation: We only list betting sites that are complying with SA law and are fully licensed. Licenses are only granted to companies that have passed strict rules and terms and conditions. Therefore they ensure fair, responsible gambling, player privacy and secure money transfers.

VPbet ZA

- Licensing & Safety

As all betting sites in South Africa should be, VPbet 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 VPbet 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 VPbet. 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

VPbet 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 VPbet, 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. VPbet 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.

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.

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!

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.

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

Check for any verification requirements and upload the relevant documentation.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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).

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

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

Is Online Sports Betting Legal In South Africa

Online sports betting is legal in South Africa as long as it is done through an officially licensed provider. Unlike the US and other countries, South Africa prohibits its citizens from using any unregulated international online sportsbook in addition to operating an unregulated online sportsbook. This means that there are limited options when it comes to legal South Africa sports betting sites.

The few legal online sportsbooks that are available to South Africans are ones that have received approval and licensing from the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board. Since these are smaller betting platforms, it is important for users to research and review their options when betting in South Africa. There are few laws in place that protect players if a website does not pay out their winnings, so be sure to do some additional research in order to verify the legitimacy of your provider.

News

2025-03-20

An online casino can be a great way to make money. Still, it can also be a source of financial ruin if you don’t manage it properly. Practicing smart online casino management is even more important in an economic recession. Here are some tips for managing your online casino to navigate the recession successfully. Devel…

Learn More

2025-03-06

Poker is a game that features many different aspects, which is why it has become a casino classic that is enjoyed widely around the world. Players from all corners have long enjoyed what the game provides, despite the fact that there are numerous variants available to pick and choose from. Strategy has always been a key …

Learn More