Online betting is legal in South Africa, with various regulated bookmakers accepting bets on everything from football to cricket to politics. The top ZAR betting sites can be accessed via both computer and mobile, with most having bookmaker apps for Android, iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. Our guide to the top South African betting sites will run you through all aspect, including latest sign up bonuses, free bets, payment options and more.
Best betting sites for South Africa
Minimum deposit of €10 using deposit code 30F - A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least €10 placed on any sports market - Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager bonus amount x40 within 14 days • Wagering req. vary by game • Withdrawal restrictions apply. Full Terms & Conditions Apply.
18+ Gamble Responsibly. Min deposit $20. 40x rollover requirement. Full terms.
18+ gamble responsibly. Full terms
The bookie with everything you need!
Popular betting site in Asia with outstanding coverage in Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Japan.
Terms & Conditions Apply. Visit Dafabet for more information.
Unibet is a global betting brand with many racing and sport markets and nice promos.
There are plenty of South Africa-based bookmakers that run online betting services for racing and sport. However, there are also a number offshore bookies – such as the trusted sites above – that offer a point of difference and specialise in global markets.
Top betting sites in South Africa
Betting sites in South Africa must be regulated by a provincial regulator, with the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board the biggest out of the nine provinces.
The top betting sites in South Africa don’t only give you the opportunity to bet on football, but you can also play casino games, crash games, virtual sports and even punt on the races.
These ZAR betting sites can be accessed via both desktop computer, mobile phones (including betting apps), SMS (low data options) and even via telephone, with some having call centers available.
South African betting sites generally offer a plethora of payment option and cater extensively to the Rand currency. Deposit options include Visa, Mastercard, web wallets and even cryptos. South Africa is one of the few regulated operators that allows their customers to fund accounts using bitcoin, Ethereum and other stable coins.
Popular betting sites in South Africa include:
- Betway
- Playabets.co.au
- EasyBet
- Betfred
- Sportingbet.co.za
Top sport and racing markets
Thoroughbred racing is a very big deal in South Africa, where the sport’s roots go as deep as the 18th century. Online bookies cover year-round horse racing from Kenilworth, Bloemfontein, Greyville and all the major tracks, as well as international meets in Australia, New Zealand, France, Hong Kong, Japan, the US and the UK.
Perhaps only New Zealand can match South Africa’s obsession with rugby union. The Springboks have won the Rugby World Cup twice since returning to the international arena in the 1990s, while the Bulls are regular contenders in the Super Rugby club competition.
On pure numbers, association football is far and away the most popular sport in South Africa. Kaiser Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are the local power clubs, but bookmakers do much more business nowadays on overseas glamour divisions such as the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and the UEFA Champions League.
South Africa has emerged from the dark days of Apartheid to become a genuine force in world cricket. The Proteas are among the strongest national sides in all formats, while the local T20 Ram Slam competition draws big names from all over the world.
Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuisen – South Africa has produced some proper golfers down the years. The nation’s stars are regular contenders at the Masters and the other majors, while the Sunshine Tour is one of the strongest circuits outside Europe and the US.
American sports leagues are growing in popularity all over the world, and South Africa is no exception. Online bookies run extensive markets for NBA basketball, NFL football, MLB baseball, NHL ice hockey and all the major college sports divisions.
Leading sports bookies also run betting markets for:
- Greyhound racing
- Hockey
- Hurling
- Motorsports
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Cycling
- Darts
- Esports
- Formula One
- Rugby league
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Winter sports
Best online casinos for South Africa
Best South Africa casino sites
Play hundreds of games and claim daily bonuses at 888Starz Casino!
18+. Gamble Responsibly. Full T&C's apply.
18+. Gambling can be addictive. Play responsibly. Full T&C's apply.
Kirgo is a crypto friendly casino-sportsbook with some great promotions and bonus offers!
18+ Gamble Responsibly. Min deposit $20. 40x rollover requirement. Full terms.
Vavada.com is a modern and sleek gambling website with sports betting and casino play.
18+ gamble responsibly. 35x turnover requirement on 100% bonus. 100 free spins on The Dog House has 20x turnover. 100 free spins (India only) on Aviator 35x turnover. Full terms
Online casinos are illegal in South Africa, so you have to exercise a little caution when looking for somewhere to play slots and table games on the web. The secure casino sites above are all licensed abroad and accept South African players.
Top casino games
- South Africa’s top online casinos carry hundreds upon hundreds of real money slot games for PC, Mac and mobile. These include some of the biggest progressive jackpot slots on the web, as well as popular franchise games such as Aliens, Battlestar Galactica, Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, Tomb Raider and many more.
- It is getting tougher and tougher to find value in blackjack games at brick-and-mortar casinos, but that is not the case when you play online. The best real money casino sites have dozens of different low-edge varieties, including live dealer blackjack games that are dealt by hand and streamed in real time.
- Unless you have the means to gain entry to the VIP rooms, it is tough to find a single-zero roulette table at a land-based casino these days. Online roulette casinos offer European-style games at all bet levels, as well as multi-table games and a variety of live roulette streams.
- Online casinos put hundreds of real money gaming options right at your fingertips. Other common games include:
- Baccarat
- Bingo
- Caribbean stud
- Casino hold’em
- Red dog
- Sic bo
- Three card poker
- Video poker
- Casino war
- Craps
- Instant scratch cards
- Keno
- Pai gow poker
- Pontoon
Safe banking options at South African gambling sites
One of the most important aspects of gambling online is having easy access to trusted online payment methods. Our top-ranked internet bookies and casino sites support a number of convenient options for fast deposits and secure withdrawals, including:
- MasterCard
- Bitcoin
- Ethereum
- Visa
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Paysafecard
- Wire transfer
- Direct bank transfer
Online gambling laws in South Africa
South Africa has an interesting history with gambling. From the 17th century until the mid-1990s, most forms of wagering and gaming were banned outright. The only exception was betting on horse racing, which was considered a sporting activity in its own right.
But with the demise of Apartheid and the rise of democracy, so too came a drastic change to the nation’s gambling laws. The ban was lifted in 1994 and the National Gambling Act of 1996 introduced a regulatory system for casinos, bookmakers and lotteries. This legislation also reclassified wagering on horse racing as a form of gambling.
The advent of online gambling has altered the landscape yet again. South African bookmakers are allowed to operate on the web as long as they are licensed in one of the nine provinces. However, the National Gambling Act 2004 forbids interactive casino gaming and online poker within South Africa’s borders.
All ZAR betting sites 2025
The full list of South African betting sites includes:
-
888 Sportsbook
-
Kirgo.com
-
Vavada
-
888starz
-
Dafabet
-
Rivalry
-
Unibet
I accept laws and regulations of gambling