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Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in South Africa

By Victoria Michael | ⏲️ Reading time: 17 minutes
Fact checked by Martins Lasmanis
CEO Martins Lasmanis
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In case you didn’t know, South Africans are big sports betting fans. Although betting was frowned upon, things have changed significantly in the past decade. Today, thousands of bettors in the country want to wager on popular sports.

While the game list is long, we want to focus on horse racing today. In this guide, we will go over the best horse racing betting sites in South Africa. We’ll also give you insights into how we select the sites and the most important aspects to consider.

List of the Best Horse Racing Bookmakers in South Africa 2025

Rank Bookmaker Rating Bonus Get bonus
1
4.3/5
100% Bonus on First Deposit up to 1,736 ZAR
PlayRead review
2
5/5
Welcome bonus for two deposits of up to 3900 ZAR
PlayRead review
3
4.5/5
100% welcome bonus up to 1715 ZAR
PlayRead review
4
4.5/5
Welcome Bonus up to 18000 ZAR
PlayRead review
5
4.5/5
100% WELCOME BONUS UP TO 122 EUR
PlayRead review
6
4.8/5
100% Welcome Bonus up to €150 (approximately 2970.60 ZAR) and 100 FS
PlayRead review
7
4.8/5
100% WELCOME BONUS UP TO 100 EUR
PlayRead review
8
4.8/5
PlayRead review
9
4.8/5
Welcome bonus on your 1st deposit up to 1828 ZAR
PlayRead review
10
4.8/5
100% welcome bonus up to €100
PlayRead review

Horse Racing Betting in South Africa: How It All Started

The earliest traces of horse racing in South Africa were in the early 1800s when British settlers introduced it to the locals. The first race in the country was held in 1797 in Cape Town.

Seeing the sport's massive popularity, racing clubs were established. In 1897, Durban July was established as ZA's most anticipated horse racing event.

However, betting began with totalizator systems in the 20th century. The Gambling Act of 1965 allowed betting shops to accept wagers on horse racing, which led to the industry's significant growth.

After 2008, when South Africa opened its doors to online bookmakers, the online betting scene started flourishing for horse racing. Today, you can find the sport in almost every top betting site in South Africa.

The Top 5 Horse Racing Bookmakers in South Africa

With the history out of the way, let’s get right into the recommendations for the best horse racing betting sites in South Africa. Our team considered all the important factors to create the list of the best bookmakers for you to check out.

 

888Starz

If you’re looking for a relatively new bookmaker with great features, then make sure to check out 888Starz. This bookmaker offers some of the best horse racing betting experiences with a straightforward user interface. Along with modern features, new and regular players can also enjoy a host of promotions waiting for them on the website.

888Starz Betting Site
🌐 Official Websitehttps://888starz.bet/en
💰 Welcome Bonus100% first deposit bonus up to 1,736 ZAR
⚽ Sports35+(Cricket, Football, Rugby, Horse Racing, Basketball, and more)
💳 Payment MethodsVisa, SnapScan, MyBux, MiFinity
💸Minimum Deposit 11 ZAR
💱Minimum Withdrawal22 ZAR

Pluses
  • Amazing welcome bonus for new players
  • Live streaming for several sports
  • Quick sign-up process
  • Dedicated Android mobile app
Minuses
  • Very few payment methods for ZA players

 

Megapari

Up next, we have Megapari, a licensed and trusted horse racing betting site for South African punters. With several bonuses to choose from and decent coverage of horse races every day, it’s a good choice. Along with the popular markets for horse racing events, you also get competitive odds.

Megapari Betting Site
🌐 Official Websitehttps://megapari.com/en/
💰 Welcome Bonus200% welcome package up to 3,900 ZAR
⚽ Sports30+(Football, Basketball, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, and more)
💳 Payment MethodsBank Transfer, Credit or Debit Card, Cryptocurrency, e-Wallets
💸Minimum Deposit 40 ZAR
💱Minimum Withdrawal9 ZAR

Pluses
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Decent welcome package for new players
  • Dedicated casino section
  • Offers popular markets and good odds for horse races
Minuses
  • VIP program not designed for sports bettors

 

PariPesa

In many ways, the layout of Paripesa might feel similar to our previous two recommendations. But that also means it’s effective. When you select Horse Racing from the sidebar, you can view all the odds for the popular markets. You can also find the other markets when you click on the individual events with decent odds.

PariPesa Betting Site
🌐 Official Websitehttps://paripesa.com/en/
💰 Welcome Bonus100% first deposit bonus up to 2,000 ZAR
⚽ Sports35+(Football, Basketball, eSports, Volleyball, Table Tennis, and more)
💳 Payment MethodsCredit/debit cards, Bank transfers, e-wallets, Prepaid cards, e-vouchers
💸Minimum Deposit 12 ZAR
💱Minimum Withdrawal100 ZAR

Pluses
  • Quick registration process
  • 5,000+ events every day
  • Payments are processed in ZAR
  • Optimized for mobile users
Minuses
  • Needs more payment methods

 

1Bet

Another great choice for sports bettor fans is 1Bet. You get a decent offering of sports events and betting markets on an attractive user interface. There’s a generous welcome offer for sports bettors, which rewards newcomers with up to 1,500 ZAR on the first deposit. This bookmaker offers various markets for horse racing, including Winner of the Race, Forecast, Swinger, Exacta, and Trifecta.

1Bet Betting Site
🌐 Official Website1bet.com
💰 Welcome Bonus100% first deposit bonus of up to 1,500 ZAR
⚽ Sports20+ (Football, Basketball, Horse Racing, eSports and more)
💳 Payment MethodsSkrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, MuchBetter
💸Minimum Deposit 191 ZAR
💱Minimum Withdrawal191 ZAR

Pluses
  • Wide range of fiat and crypto payments
  • Accepts ZAR for transactions
  • Generous welcome package
  • Live betting section with advanced statistics
Minuses
  • High wagering requirements

 

22Bet

Lastly, we have 22Bet. It’s a bookmaker with a few years in the industry. That’s why you can expect it to offer you the popular betting markets with the best possible odds. You can place bets on horse races in both pre-match and in-play betting markets. Also, new players can benefit from the 100% first deposit bonus of up to 2,100 ZAR.

22Bet Betting Site
🌐 Official Websitehttps://22bet.com
💰 Welcome Bonus100% first deposit bonus up to 2,100 ZAR
⚽ SportsBank Transfer, Credit or Debit Card, Cryptocurrency, e-Wallets
💳 Payment MethodsBank transfers, e-wallets, Internet banking
💸Minimum Deposit 19 ZAR
💱Minimum Withdrawal19 ZAR
Pluses
  • Low minimum deposits and withdrawals
  • Great coverage for several sports
  • Decent array of bonuses
  • Live betting is available
Minuses
  • Cluttered UI design

Criteria for Selecting the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in South Africa

So, how did we come up with the recommendations? Here are the main factors we considered.

  • 1

    License and Security Measures

    The first thing we consider during our review process is the bookmaker's license. It needs to be licensed by the National Gambling Board. At the same time, we look for offshore licenses (Curacao, MGA, UKGC, etc.) and security measures like SSL.

    Verified License icon
    Verified License icon
  • 2

    Betting Markets and Odds

    Horse racing is nothing if you don’t have betting markets to bet on. While we focus on the variety, we also consider the odds that you get with these markets for payouts.

    Odds icon
    Odds icon
  • 3

    Bonus Offers

    Bonuses are the main way how the best horse racing betting sites in South Africa differentiate themselves. We check all the available promotional offers and their terms before recommending the sportsbook.

    Bonus and Promotion icon
    bonuses allbets
  • 4

    Customer Support

    To help keep it all together, we choose sports betting sites that offer good customer support options. We check all the ways you can get in touch, the support hours, and its effectiveness.

    Customer Support icon
    Customer Support icon

Pros and Cons of Horse Racing Betting in South Africa

As the popularity of the sports is quite good in South Africa, bookmakers offer better odds for local punters. If you compare it against other offshore sportsbooks, you’ll know what we mean. However, like the benefits, there are drawbacks to this as well. You can learn more about them in the table below:

Pluses
  • Access to popular markets
  • Above average odds to keep up with the competition
  • The South African sportsbooks offer multilingual support
  • On-the-go betting with phones.
  • Live streaming and in-play betting options
Minuses
  • Requires extensive knowledge of the sport
  • Betting responsibly can be challenging due to the fast-paced nature of the sport

Horse Racing Betting Guide for Beginners

New to the betting scene? Not sure where to begin? Here’s a simple horse racing guide for beginners with all the steps discussing what you need to do:

  • Register with a Betting Site
    step 1

    To start betting on horse races, start by choosing a trusted betting site (on your own or from our recommendations) and sign up as a new user.

  • Deposit Funds
    step 2

    After creating and verifying your account, deposit funds to your account from the Cashier/Wallet section. The best horse racing betting sites in South Africa will offer several payment methods for this.

  • Find a Market and Place Wagers
    step 3

    On the horse racing section, select an event and browse through the betting markets. Consider the odds for the markets and decide upon one. Once you’ve decided, go ahead and place a bet.

  • Wait for the Market to Settle
    step 4

    Once the match ends and the bookmaker settles the market, they’ll pay out winnings to all punters who predicted the outcomes correctly.

Horse Racing Events to Bet on in South Africa

As the sport's history runs deep in the country, different horse racing events are popular for betting. Players can enjoy a mix of local and international tournaments for sports wagering. Bookmakers do a great job covering the markets while offering above-average odds.

Durban July

This is the most anticipated annual horse racing event. Along with thousands of spectators from South Africa and all over the world, this is a betting event that you cannot miss. Keep an eye out whenever the best horse racing betting sites in South Africa offer the markets.

Melbourne Cup

This Australian race is incredibly popular all over the world. Dubbed “the race that stops a nation,” the Melbourne Cup features some of the highest betting odds of any horse racing event anywhere.

National Currency Sprint

If you’re looking for an upcoming event to wager on, we recommend the National Currency Sprint. This grade 3 race is usually held at Turffontein Racecourse in Johannesburg. Make sure to keep an eye on the next calendar year to wager on this race.

Bonuses on the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites

Don’t forget about the bonus offers on the best horse racing betting sites in South Africa. They can boost your initial bankroll to help you place larger bets for better payouts. Based on our reviews of the best betting sites, here are the best ones:

  • 1

    Welcome Bonus

    The welcome bonus is a common offer at all sportsbooks in South Africa. There are many variations regarding rewards, such as bonus funds, free bets, risk-free bets, and more.

    Bonus and Promotion icon
    Bonus and Promotion icon
  • 2

    No Deposit Bonus

    You can also get a no-deposit bonus on the South African horse racing betting sites. As the name implies, these bonuses don’t require any deposits to get the rewards.

    No deposit icon
    No deposit icon
  • 3

    Enhanced Odds

    If you want to get the most value from your wagers, enhanced odds for certain betting markets are the way to go. For certain markets, the bookmaker will boost the odds so players get better value for their wagers.

    Odds icon
    Odds icon
  • 4

    Risk-Free Bets

    Risk-free bets are among the best offers after the welcome bonus. They allow players to wager on different sports confidently. Even if you lose the wager, you will get your wagers back, making it perfect to try out new sports and markets

    Deposit icon
    Deposit icon
BookmakerBonus OfferAdvantagesFind out more
888starz logo allbets 100% first deposit bonus up to 1,736 ZAR
  • 24/7 customer support
  • 35+ sports
Get bonus
megapari logo allbets200% welcome package up to 3,900 ZAR
  • Dedicated apps for Android and iOS
  • Live streaming available
Get bonus
100% first deposit bonus up to 2,000 ZAR
  • Fast sign-up process
  • More than 5,000+ events daily
Get bonus
100% first deposit bonus of up to 1,500 ZAR
  • Amazing live sports betting section
  • Accepts payments with ZAR
Get bonus
22bet logo allbets100% first deposit bonus up to 2,100 ZAR
  • A large selection of bonuses
  • 24/7 customer support
Get bonus

Live Horse Racing Betting

You should already know by now, but betting on in-play betting markets is more exciting than the regular markets. Luckily,  you can get live betting options for horse races on the top horse racing betting sites in South Africa.

Some races will even have live-streaming options as well. However, you must to check if the sportsbook offers such a feature. For the best live betting experience, we recommend 888Starz and Megapari.

Mobile Betting for Horse Racing

At the best horse racing betting sites, you can also find the option to bet with your mobile phone. Some sportsbooks have dedicated mobile apps, while others have optimized sites for betting.

In most cases, you’ll find an Android app because it is easy to put apps out there. That said, you can also find iOS apps from certain bookmakers like 888Starz and Megapari. These apps allow players to keep track of bets and place them no matter where they are.

The option to download the apps is on the official website. If you can’t find it, it should be in the footer section.

Android Betting Apps

BookmakerBonusKey App Features
888Starz logo 300x300100% first deposit bonus up to 1,736 ZARImpressive welcome bonus

More than 30+ sports

Live streaming available

Megapari logo200% welcome package up to 3,900 ZARLow wagering requirements

Wide range of promotions

Supports different cryptocurrencies

100% first deposit bonus of up to 1,500 ZARSeveral promotional offers

Live streaming available

Supports local payment methods

iOS Betting Apps

BookmakerBonusKey App Features
Paripesa logo100% first deposit bonus up to 2,000 ZAR5,000+ events available

Secure sports betting

Some games can be streamed live

22bet logo allbets100% first deposit bonus up to 2,100 ZARSimplified layout

Several bonuses

Live chat support is accessible

888Starz logo 300x300100% first deposit bonus up to 1,736 ZARImpressive welcome bonus

More than 30+ sports

Live streaming available

Tips and Strategies for Horse Racing Betting

Horse racing betting isn’t like traditional sports betting. Here, you need to consider some unique factors affecting the match's outcome. Here are some strategies that can be used by beginners and veterans alike:

  1. Be aware of the horse and the jockey’s condition prior to the race. The slightest detail can mean the difference between winning and losing.
  2. Manage your bets. Instead of betting on a high-stakes market, consider placing wagers on several markets.
  3. Don’t let emotions get into the mix. Keep your wits about you and avoid taking risks you can’t afford.
Author
Victoria Michael
Editor-in-Chief from St. Louis, Missouri, USA. B.A. in education, certified linguist. Future Writer Award winner.
Article rating
5/5
1 vote
FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions
  • The National Gambling Board regulates the online betting industry. They’re responsible for issuing licenses and overseeing all betting operations in the country.

  • The most important aspect of horse race betting is the condition of the horse and jockey, which plays an important role in determining the outcome of the match.

  • Horse racing is deeply rooted in South African culture and remains one of the country's most popular sports.

  • You can look for the best odds on common markets and compare them to find the best ones.