Best Betting Sites in South Africa

What to Know Before Choosing A Bookmaker

It is not possible to tell which bookmaker is the best in the market, because each has its own advantages and disadvantages as well as specific, distinctive characteristics. Plus, customers are not alike - some are looking for a diverse range of events even with not so attractive odds, while others are so much more interested in the coefficients, that they overlook potential inconveniences in the site’s or application’s design and functionality. There are customers who want their winnings to be accessible instantly (for withdrawal) and since not all bookmakers have this feature, they choose to go with those who do. Other customers value the presence of live streaming - another means now used by bookmakers to attract customers.

So, it is impossible to develop a single rating for bookmakers, as this would require taking into account too many factors and it would be more complicated. For that manner, Allbets.tv offers several ratings for a number of features and parameters. Remember that we are talking only about legal bookmakers, that is bookmakers licensed to operate in the country. The online market, unfortunately, has several illegal sites and for this reason before placing a bet it is important to do some research. Just go through the ratings we have compiled here and remember that if a site is not included in this rating list, then you need to stay away from it, or you may lose your money and you may not have the ability to defend your rights in a legal way.

Rating a Bookmaker Properly

Allbets.tv provides a list of bookmaker ratings based on the following features/parameters. Note that the ratings are updated on a regular basis.

1. Variability in event list and markets - This has to do with how extensive are the lines offered for the most popular sports - football, tennis, basketball and hockey and how variable are the main bets - handicap and total. So, bookmakers that offer a large number of events have an advantage.
2. Odds - as noted before, odds are a key choice criterion for many bettors, who may look only at the odds offered by a bookmaker and overlook other inconveniences it may have. So, this rating is based solely on the odds offered.
3. What customers love - here the most popular bookmakers among Allbets.tv visitors are taking the first places. Each user can vote for or against a bookmaker and the votes are incorporated in the rating.
4. Live betting rating - many bets are placed during a match, they are live bets. In this rating, we present the list with the top bookmakers with the widest selection of live bets, who accept bets and pay out winnings quickly.
5. Reliability - a reliable bookmaker will be in the top list in this rating. It is important to understand which bookmakers are not frauds and don’t deceive or manipulate customers with texts written in a way to hide things. A reliable bookmaker always pays out the winnings, is willing to resolve controversial situations and is clear and straightforward to the customer.

Bookmakers Rules

Once you choose the rating that you are interested in, you can then come up with the bookmaker that suits you the most. However, it is important to remember some key issues before registering to a bookmaker’s site. These rules are in fact applicable to all cases:

• You can’t be an anonymous user in legal bookmakers. You need credentials (passport and a camera phone) and if you have added yourself to the list of gambling addicts, you will not be able to complete the registration.
• Betting is prohibited for people under the age of 18 years old. You can’t cheat on this, because you need to submit both your passport and your photo for verification. Remember that you can’t submit any other person’s passport (not even your mom, dad, sibling etc).
• Don’t try to deceive the bookmaker, because you won’t be able to do so. You can have only one account and thus, you don’t get the chance to register several times in order to receive more bonuses. Bookmakers will certainly block users they are suspicious of fraud.

To help you out in every way possible, we’ve decided to design this page and pack it with helpful information. The idea is to create a one-stop solution for all your sports betting needs.

Throughout this guide, we’re going to learn what a sportsbook is, how do they work, how you can choose the right one from bookmakers reviews, what do the licenses do, what are your payment options, and lots of other helpful information.

How to Open an Account at a Sportsbook?

Now that you know how to choose an online bookmaker in South Africa, we can move forward with getting you an account. The steps are very simple for the registration. In fact, we have dedicated guides on how to register for each of the bookmakers.

So, without going into too many details, let’s sum up the process for signing up at the bookmakers with licenses in South Africa.

Step 1: Choosing an Operator

The first and the most obvious step is to select a brand. You can use the parameters we’ve discussed in the previous section to make an informed decision. After you’re happy with the selection, visit the bookmaker’s website and browse through the pages to check out the features.

Step 2: Registration

Once your decision is concrete, you can go ahead and click on “Sign Up”, “Join”, or any other button that indicates the new player sign up. Complete the steps of the registration based on our “How To” guides.

The key point here is that you should always use accurate information. Unlike some other industries, you cannot use a fake account for real money gambling. The bookmaker in South Africa will verify your identity and address before crediting any real money into your account.

Step 3: Deposit & Bet

After the registration is complete, you can simply make a real money deposit into your account and start betting. If there’s a welcome bonus the bookmaker is offering, make sure you claim it. Welcome offers are one of the greatest ways to start your journey on a positive note.

Best New Betting Sites in South Africa in November 2024

In South Africa, more and more bookmakers provide locals with exciting and distinctive betting opportunities. Here's a quick rundown of five well-known newcomers:

1. ⚡ 888startz - With its user-friendly UI, a wide selection of sports and esports, and blazingly quick loading times, this brilliant newcomer shines. Perfect for a seamless betting experience.
2. 🍀 Megapari - Megapari, an international native, delivers a plethora of features. Consider various sports and even virtual pre-match and live betting possibilities. Their odds are competitive, making them a formidable opponent.
3. 💎  1xBet - This well-known participant contributes their experience, specializing in mobile betting and providing an incredible array of wagers. Imagine live betting, exotic sports, and a flawless mobile experience. Perfect for those who like diversity and mobile devices.
4. 🎁 1Bet - Although not entirely new, 1Bet is now competitive because of a recent platform improvement. Imagine improved search, more seamless navigation, and more emphasis on regional sports like rugby and cricket. It is ideal for anyone looking for contemporary trust.
5. 🚀 Paripesa - is a seasoned fighter that offers competitive odds and dependability. They prioritize safe, dependable play, provide a variety of sports, and have an intuitive smartphone interface. Perfect for anyone looking for security and comfort.

Bonuses You May Get at South Africa Bookmakers

We’re all aware that online gambling sites have various lucrative promotions for customers. Although online casinos are more vibrant when it comes to bonuses and promotions, the bookmakers list of promotions is not to be ignored.

In this section, let’s shed some light on the most common type of sportsbook bonuses you may come across in South Africa.

888Starz

Bonus: 100% welcome bonus up to €1,000

888Starz is a blockchain betting site with an online casino and sports betting offerings. Founded…

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MegaPari

Bonus: 100% WELCOME BONUS UP TO 100 EUR

Megapari is one of the newest bookmakers to hit the market, having been launched in…

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22Bet

Bonus: 100% WELCOME BONUS UP TO 100 EUR

In the sports betting world, South Africans have a vast array of options. Amongst these…

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20Bet

Bonus: 100% WELCOME BONUS UP TO 100 EUR

When you add extensive betting markets to quick payment channels and generous bonuses, what you…

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Welcome Bonus

This is something you can expect at pretty much every online gambling platform, both for online casinos and sportsbooks. As the name suggests, it’s a bonus to “welcome” you on the platform. In most cases, it’s a deposit match on your first or the first few deposits.

For example, “100% match on first deposit up to €200” is a very lucrative offer. Keep in mind that there’s a minimum deposit required to qualify for this promotion. Also, you may have to enter a bonus code if the bookmaker instructs you to. You can find the information on the T&C section for the offer.

Free Bets

Free bets are an exclusive promotion to bookmakers online. It’s very much like how free spins are exclusive to slots. Think of free bets as betting vouchers that apply to predetermined events by the bookmaker.

For example, you may get €10 worth of free bets on an English Premier League match. It means you can place a bet or a combination of bets not going over the €10 threshold. Moreover, you have to maintain minimum odds for the free bets.

“£10 free bets on English Premier League Semi-Finals at 1.50 minimum odds” is an example of what free bets might look like. Interestingly, these can be a part of the welcome bonus, daily/weekly/monthly bonus, or even reload bonuses.

Reload Bonus

Another self-explanatory bonus. You get this bonus when you “reload” your account as in depositing more money. Reload bonuses are for existing players and it’s most commonly credited if there’s been a gap in betting.

What we mean by that is if you take a long break from the bookmaker in South Africa and come back with a deposit, you can receive a reload bonus. Of course, the particular rules vary from operator to operator and country to country.

Boosted Odds

This is another quite common online sportsbook promotion and exclusive to this paradigm. As you already know what the odds are and what they mean, you should be glad to know that you can get boosted odds.

Basically, the bookmakers increase the odds on a particular event as a surprise to the punters. The information is published shortly before the event is supposed to roll out.

Sportsbook with Licenses

Bookmakers	No. of Sports	Welcome Bonus	Live Betting	Mobile App	Minimum Deposit	License
	20+	Welcome Bonus up to 2,100 ZAR	Yes	Yes	20 ZAR	Licensed by the Government of Curacao
	40+	100% welcome bonus up to 2,100 ZAR	Yes	Yes	20 ZAR	Curacao eGaming
	45+	100% welcome bonus	Yes	Yes	20 ZAR	certified by the government of Curacao
	20+	100% up to 2,100 ZAR	Yes	Yes	100 ZAR	licensed by Curacao Gaming Authority
	20+	Welcome bonus up to 2,100 ZAR	Yes	Yes	210 ZAR	license from Curacao

We’ve already discussed the importance of licenses with invigorating details. You know why a license is important for both the bookmakers and the punters.

Now, the question is where can you find the licensing information? And how do you know if the claimed license is valid or not?

When it comes to finding the licensing information, your best bet is looking into the “Terms & Conditions” page of the bookmaker in South Africa. It’s the page where all important facts are listed. You can also try the website footer section but due to varying website designs, not all operators have the license on the footer.

Once you find the clause that declares the license, your job is to go to the corresponding regulator’s website and verify the license. The operator is most likely to mention an account number, a license number, or any other identifying information on the license.

If you can’t find the license number, search on the regulator’s directory with the URL of the sportsbook or the name of the operator. If you can’t seem to gather any information at all, it’s time to call it off and consider another bookmaker.

In Curacao, there is more than one license class. The same goes for Malta. Sweden, Denmark, Australia, etc. countries also have their own iGaming regulatory commissions. It all comes down to you finding the right license at the right time.

Deposit and Withdrawal Methods at the Best Bookmakers South Africa

Most rookie punters don’t sweat the payment methods enough. In our opinion, they should. Because it’s the payment methods that are actually bridging the gap between you and the bookmaker. So, it’s kind of obvious that you need reliable and safe payment options.

The thing with payment methods is that the availability can change quite drastically from country to country. And the same goes for South Africa. So, it’s better not to get hung up on the name and focus more on the features.

Your primary target should be to find an online bookmaker that offers at least one payment method you have access to. Otherwise, you will have to sign up for a completely new method just for betting purposes.

Also, it’s best to stick to the methods that are widely accepted across the world. Visa or Mastercard for example. Pretty much every country around the world offers Visa cards through local banks. If you happen to have a Visa debit or credit card in South Africa, you’re already one step ahead.

When it comes to sports betting, you usually get a plethora of options to choose from. Without naming names, let’s take a look into the categories of the methods.

Credit/Debit Cards

The most commonly used online payment method as well as the most commonly accepted one at online bookmakers. No matter what country you live in, if online gambling is legal in your country, you’ll get credit or debit card deposits and withdrawals.

This is an extremely safe method for transactions with relatively low or no fees. However, the withdrawal processing usually takes between 3 to 5 days. So, it’s not suitable for instant transactions.

E-Wallets

The most convenient method for online betting by far. E-wallet transactions are instant for both deposits and withdrawals. Although they come with higher fees in most cases, they’re still worth it as you save a lot of time. Also, you can use e-wallets to pay merchants or send money to friends and family in the South Africa.

Prepaid Methods

Prepaid methods, whether cards or vouchers are considered the most convenient way of depositing. They’re fast, they’re safe, and they don’t need any banking details from you. The only drawback is you can’t withdraw with a prepaid method.

Bank Transfers

Although not very common for deposits, bookmakers often allow withdrawals through bank transfers and wire transfers. Ideally, they’re the safest because they have the bank’s security measures to back them up. However, they’re the slowest in terms of processing times. It may take up to 7 days or even more for you to receive your money.

Types of Sports Betting in South Africa

The internet has made the world smaller than we could ever imagine. Now, we don’t have to step a foot outside of our home to collect any information. The craze of globalization has also influenced the iGaming industry.

As a result, pretty much all major sports events are at your fingertips for betting. Whether you prefer football, cricket, handball, ice hockey, golf, snooker, futsal, or anything else, the bookmakers in South Africa can provide you with the necessary markets.

Based on the sports and the available events, we can categorize the betting paradigm into two different categories. The pre-match betting and the in-play betting.

Pre-Match Betting

These are bets that you have to lock in before the event rolls out. Outright bets, man of the match, or man of the tournament are some of the markets that go into pre-match betting. They usually offer great odds. The drawback is that you can’t change anything on your bet slip once the bookmaker calls off the betting.

In-Play Betting

Also known as live betting, it has changed sports betting for the new generation of punters forever. It’s a relatively new trend and bookmakers in South Africa are exceeding our expectations in every way. When you go for live betting, you can place new bets and settle previous bets when the match is still live!

The odds are usually not that great for these markets but we can’t complain about it at all. Live betting has opened up a pandora’s box for punters who look forward to recouping losses from pre-match bets.

South Africa Bookmakers with Apps (iOS/Android)

Thanks to the advancement in mobile technology, punters in South Africa are no longer stuck on desktops for betting. They can use their smartphones to access the websites directly. Moreover, plenty of bookmakers offers downloadable apps for both iOS and Android.

The reason we’re mentioning it here is that we went ahead and reviewed apps before you even asked. You can find the reviews for both iOS sportsbooks and Android sportsbooks on AllBets.tv.

Best Betting Apps in SA

#1 888startz App

The user-friendly 888startz app is available for iOS and Android devices. 888startz is a relatively new provider of sports betting services in South Africa. Its sleek appearance and wide range of sports markets make it an increasingly popular choice for an enjoyable betting experience.

888Starz

100% welcome bonus up to €1,000

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#2 Megapari App

Megapari stands out for its extensive sports market. The app, available on iOS and Android, ensures a seamless and enjoyable betting experience.

MegaPari

100% WELCOME BONUS UP TO 100 EUR

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#3 22Bet App

A crowd favorite among South African bettors, 22Bet offers a user-friendly app for iOS and Android. By prioritizing simplicity and offering a variety of sports markets, it appeals to a diverse audience.

22Bet

100% WELCOME BONUS UP TO 100 EUR

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