Best betting sites : Create your account here
| Best Bookmakers South Africa | Key Betting Features | Ratings | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|
Our top pick  | Stake ✔️ Live streaming and in-game stats available ✔️ Extensive cryptocurrency support ✔️ Has Bet Builder and Minute Betting markets | 10 | Sign up |
 | Betway ✔️ Great for beginners with a low minimum deposit & and stake, plus easy to use website ✔️ Good range of betting markets ✔️ Cashout and Bet Builder feature available | 5 | Sign up |
 | Hollywoodbets ✔️ Extensive coverage of Horse Racing events in South Africa ✔️ Cashout and Bet Builder feature available ✔️ Educational videos to guide new users | 5 | Sign up |
 | Gbets ✔️ Best range of sports and betting markets ✔️ Cashout and Bet Builder available ✔️ Easy to use website and app | 4.5 | Sign up |
 | Supabets ✔️ 50% to 1000% losing bet refund ✔️ 250% on up to R5,000 in welcome bonuses | 4.5 | Sign up |
 | 10bet ✔️ Exclusive loyalty program ✔️ Up to R3,000 in welcome bonuses | 4.5 | Sign up |
 | Boyelsports ✔️ Great overall bookmaking services ✔️ 2nd-place losing bet refund on all South African horse racing events ✔️ Daily/weekly cashbacks and free bets | 4 | Sign up |
 | Fafabet ✔️ Special Fafa 4 U membership program offering free bets ✔️ 150% on up to R5,000 | 3.8 | Sign up |
 | YesPlay ✔️ Easy to use website and app ✔️ Minimal restrictions on welcome bonuses | 3.6 | Sign up |
 | Betfred ✔️ 100% welcome bonus on up to R5000 ✔️ No minimum odds to qualify for the welcome bonus | 3.5 | Sign up |
How we choose the best betting sites: Factors every punter should consider
1. No security and reliability, no guarantee of payment or protection
Rare betting markets, sweet features, and super promotions won’t matter if a betting site cannot make payouts or protect personal data. So licensed bookmakers are the way to go. But even then, betting sites with little traffic and low reputation can have problems paying out large winnings or fewer checks in place for protecting important personal information such as your address, phone number, and bank details.2. The more gaming options, the better
Bettors can significantly boost their chances of making returns with more sports, games, and betting markets to choose from. This variety allows for more flexibility in picks and betting strategies that you can implement. I know punters who specialise in football, some in specific basketball betting markets, and others who have developed personal strategies for virtual games. But for most punters, diversity is a key part of their betting approach, so betting sites with more options will always stand out.3. Faster betting with easy navigation
The easier a betting site is to use, the more time you’ll save when betting. On Sportybet’s desktop site, the time I spend editing a bet is almost as much time as I spend preparing the bet simply because the selections in the bet slip are not interlinked with their main event page. Likewise, on Livescore Bet, the lack of time and day filters on the match selection page means I’ll have to spend significantly more time going back and forth and manually scanning the date on events to ensure they all play within a specific timeframe.4. Bonuses, promotions & loyalty programs
Bonuses, promotions, and loyalty programs don’t just boost your winnings but can help you minimise losses and boost betting strategies. For example, one of my favourite betting promos is the Goals Ahead, which marks an event as won immediately after a team takes a significant lead. I’ve played a basketball bet that only won because the team I picked led by 20+ points sometime during the game despite eventually losing the match. Even in football, I’ve won several bets where my team led by two goals and eventually drew the game 2-2 and 3-3.5. Superb mobile betting experience
The majority of bettors today use mobile devices, and even desktop users find themselves betting on their mobile more often than not. That’s why we consider sportsbooks with mobile sites or apps that are easy to navigate, fast, and secure. We also look at mobile betting apps offering more features compared to the original sites, like the Paripesa app, which has the bet constructor and odds tracking feature not available on the site.6. Quantity and quality of key features
When looking at key betting features on a bookmaker’s site, we consider the amount of features offered and their quality. For example, if a bookie offers cashouts, we check if there are partial & auto cashouts available. On a bet builder betting site, we check how many events you can combine on a single bet builder and how many builders can be combined in a ticket. I also highlight betting sites with several unique features like Sportybet with the “Flex bet” or its new “Edit bet” feature that allows you to edit tickets even when matches have played or are playing.7. Reliable payment options
Funding a betting account is among the most recurring problems for punters worldwide due to a betting site’s limitations on payment options. So, we consider the variety of payment options when ranking betting sites on this list. Personally, I can hardly keep track of where my ATM is, so I mostly fund my account through E-wallets like Opay and Palmpay. This seemingly minor lack of variety in payment options kept me away from betting sites like 1xbet and 22bet up until last year when they diversified their payment methods.8. Customer support shouldn’t be stressful
Luckily, we punters don’t need customer support regularly. Still, having great customer support is essential because most bettors end up having problems on betting sites, such as understanding complicated bonus rules, settling payment disputes, and reactivating or updating crucial account details. For our review, we check for how many customer support options a betting site has, then test the speed and quality of their response.9. Higher betting odds for more returns
Higher odds simply translate to more potential winnings, making it a crucial factor for all bettors. In a “singles betting strategy”, higher odds can make a significant difference, especially in the beginning, where bettors need to build their bankroll. In accumulator bets where odds are multiplied, even the smallest increase in odds can immensely boost the overall odds of the ticket. When it comes to strategy, the difference in odds on betting sites is the first thing arbitrage bettors look for in value bets.10. Bet on games as they play
Betting sites with support for live betting allow millions of other punters to explore a wider range of betting options and even implement specific betting strategies. Every day, thousands of fans tune into sports events, and a good number of them capitalise on their knowledge to predict the outcome of the game as they watch it. Even when I don’t watch live games, I still always search through live events on sportsbooks to find value bets. And sometimes, when there are only a few games left in my ticket, I wait for the games to go live, then play contradicting bets to ensure I make a profit regardless of the outcome.Top 10 best Betting sites in South Africa in 2024
Stake
Stake.com might just be the most popular sports betting site in the world, and it remains one of the best places for South Africans to bet. Stake’s reputation is built around its global accessibility and broad cryptocurrency support, but it’s the bookmaker’s VIP club rewards that attract long-term bettors the most.
The rewards a player can receive from Stake’s VIP Club include:
- Monthly Bonuses
- Level Up Bonuses
- Rakeback
- Weekly Bonuses
Another selling point for the stake is their humongous maximum payout of $2 million, something high rollers and punters looking for maximum profits would appreciate. And while the range of betting markets on Stake is just good enough, they also offer a bet builder that allows for more sophisticated combos.
Betway
I say Betway is best for beginners because the bookmaker not only has the simplest registration process on this list, but the company also has some of the lowest minimum stake and withdrawal amounts. When you add the simplicity of the bookmaker’s design, it’s almost as if Betway was specifically designed for new punters with little betting experience and occasional bettors who prefer spending as little as possible.
On the other hand, Betway’s above-average catalogue of betting markets, exciting bonus offers, Bet Builder & Cashout feature, plus quick transactions make it an ideal place for regular bettors. In addition, Betway’s bet builder lets you combine betting markets that other bookies usually don’t allow, such as the Team To Win Either Half, Player Tackles, and Player Passes.
Hollywoodbets
South Africa has a long and rich history of horse racing. And there’s no better bookmaker to place bets on local horse racing events than Hollywoodbets. Not only does Hollywoodbets boast of having one of the largest catalogue of horse racing events in the country, but the bookmaker is also actively involved in the sport and is hosting the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July Horse Racing tournaments.
Besides Horse racing, Hollywoodbets still ranks as one of the best betting sites in South Africa for its range of sports and features, which include Cashout and Bet Builder.
Gbets
Of all the bookmakers on this list, Gbets may be one of the best betting sites South Africa to offer when it comes to sports and betting markets. The bookmaker’s range of betting markets is quite appealing, but I was most impressed when I came across several rare betting markets on their site, such as:
- First Minute (00:00 – 00:59) Throw-In (Yes/No)
- First Minute (00:00 – 00:59) Free Kick (Yes/No)
- A Substitute Will Score (Yes/No)
- Anytime Goalscorer Double Chance (eg. Christopher Nkunku or Raheem Sterling)
- Draw In at Least One of The Halves
The variety of options Gbets is offering us can boost our flexibility in making predictions to possibly give us a slight edge over the bookmakers, especially when you add the bookmaker’s Bet Builder. But that’s not all. Gbets offers the largest catalogue of sports on this list with over 40 in total.
10bet
Don’t let this bookmaker’s position on our list fool you. 10bet is still one of the best betting sites in South Africa. Like Stake, 10bets has an exclusive loyalty program with exciting rewards to keep long-term bettors and high rollers on their platform. And for new customers, 10bet provides up to R3,000 in welcome bonuses with minimal betting requirements.
The fun doesn’t stop there as 10bets has a multitude of other promotions for new and existing customers such as daily/weekly cashbacks, free bets and multi-bet boosters. These sports bonuses are especially appealing when you consider the bookmaker’s rich list of betting markets, including player totals for passes, tackles, total shots, and shots on goal.
Supabets
It’s hard not to admire the exclusive bonuses Supabets has to offer us. Firstly, Supabets offers a whopping 250% bonus worth up to R5,000 in welcome bonuses.
But the Supabets offer that caught my attention is the bookmakers Losing Leg Refund, which refunds a bettor up to 50% to 1,000% (yes, one thousand!) of their stake if a single game loses in an accumulator bet. The betting website also offers weekly cashbacks and an ongoing accumulator bonus for regular bettors.
Luckily for us, Supabets has over 29 sports and a decent range of betting markets that we can spend our bonuses on. I especially like the bookmaker’s combo betting markets which contain some rare options like:
- HT/FT & O/V 1.5
- HT/FT & GG/NG
- Half Time & Double Chance FT
Boylesports
BoyleSports has a mix of everything a punter would need. Nice sports catalogue, unique betting markets, the cashout feature, and quick customer support. However, Boylesports’s bonuses seem to be what South Africans like the most.
Besides the bookmaker’s decent 100% welcome bonus of up to R1000, Boylesports offers a full refund on 2nd-place losing bets in all South African horse racing events. So if the horse you bet on finishes 2nd place, you’ll get a full refund of your stake capped at R200.
When you add the extra daily/weekly cashbacks and free bets, it’s not difficult to see why Boylesports is a popular bookmaker in South Africa. I especially like a couple of BoyleSports combo betting markets like the:
- Anytime Goalscorer & 3-Way
- HT-FT & Total
- 1st or 2nd Half – 1×2 & Total Goals
- Goalscorer & Correct Score
Fafabet
While Fafabet isn’t my favourite on this list, I still admire several aspects of the bookmaker’s services. For starters, Fafabet has a good range of sports and betting markets despite having few unique options. But the bookmakers’ sports betting service begins to come to life with some exciting sports bonuses.
For starters, Fafabet is offering 150% on up to R5,000. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, wait till you hear about Fafabet’s One-Leg Out Soccer Multiple Promotion offering a full refund if a single game is lost in a bet with at least 5 soccer games. I can see myself using this One-Leg Cut promo in betting strategies that require only a few high-odd games.
Now Fafabet also offers a VIP Club similar to some other betting websites on this list. But Fafabet took it a step further with their special membership program called Fafa 4 U, which offers exclusive rewards and free bets for completing basic tasks such as registering, logging in daily, uploading your FICA, and sharing social media posts about the bookmaker.
YesPlay
If you’re looking for the best betting sites in South Africa with a large welcome deposit bonus and little limitations on which sports and games you can use it on, Yesplay may be the right option. Yesplay offers a significantly large welcome bonus of 100% on up to R3,000 and can be used on any of the bookmaker’s 19 sports and live matches, but also on Betgames, Pragmatic play games, Ezugi games, Evolution games, and Slots.
Yesplay also doesn’t limit their welcome bonus to select betting markets, meaning you can use them on markets such as Bookings, Intervals, and Corners. Another subtle but significant upside to Yesplay is its ease of use on the website and mobile apps.
Betfred
Despite being last on our list, Betfred has every right to challenge for a spot among the top 10 betting sites in South Africa. Betfred has an above-average catalogue of sports and betting markets, has the Cashout and Bet Builder feature, and offers several exciting promos for new and existing customers.
One promo that stands out is Betfred’s welcome bonus of 100% on up to R5,000 without limits on the minimum qualifying odds or sports and betting markets you can play. The welcome offer is nice but it’s Betfred’s regular Daily Boost promo I liked as it gives punters who are familiar with a sport or event an opportunity to gain more value for their money. The Daily Boost on certain markets can also present opportunities for Arbitrage betting.
As a bonus for South African horse racing fans, Betfred has prepared a special Durban July leaderboard challenge where participants can win a share of R400,000 in exclusive VIP experiences.
Betting sites with free registration bonus in South Africa
- Bonus Amount : 250% up to R500 for first 3 deposits
- Minimum Odds : 2.4
- Expiry: 15 days
- Bonus Amount : 100% up to R5000
- Minimum Odds : No minimum odds required
Supabets – 250% on up to R5000 for first 3 deposits
I like that Supabets divide their welcome bonus into 3 (for the first 3 deposits), allowing players to benefit from one bonus and choose not to redeem the rest as the requirements can often be complicated. In total, Supabets welcome bonus offers of up to 250% worth R5,000. The 15-day expiration period isn’t too bad as you’ll have about 2 weeks to select games from different popular tournaments. The only downside for me is the minimum required odds of 14/10 (or 2.4), which limits you to high-odd markets.Fafabet – 150% on up to R5,000
Fafabets has a one-time deposit bonus of 150% on up to R5,000. The exact deposit percentage you receive depends on how much you deposit.- Deposit R25 – R1 000, 100% Free Bet
- Deposit R1 001 – R3 000,125% Free Bet
- Deposit R3 001+, 150% Free Bet up to R5 000
Betfred – 100% on up to R5,000
Betfred’s 100% on up to R5,000 might be my favourite welcome bonus of all the betting websites on this list. And this is not only because of the huge welcome bonus amount but also because of the minimal requirement involved. For instance, Betfred allows you to use the welcome bonus on any odds, unlike other bookmakers that set a minimum such as 1.50 or 1.90 odds.Emerging stars: The new betting sites in South Africa
1. Lulabet
Remember that Lulabet is just 3 years old and is rapidly expanding its services, so don’t let the bookmaker’s humble list of 18 sports discourage you. Hop on over to any popular Soccer match on Lulabet and you’ll quickly find several betting markets that even advanced punters will appreciate. To sweeten the pot, Lulabet offers the Bet Builder feature allowing punters to make more complex bet combinations. Lulabet can also be considered feature-rich as they offer the Cashout and Bet Generator features alongside the Bet Builder.2. Easybet
Easybet is a new player in the South African betting scene but is quickly gaining popularity among bettors with its line-up of over 20 sports and gaming promotions. These promos include weekly cashbacks, welcome deposit bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, bet insurance, mega acca bonuses, birthday bonuses, and payday boosts. There are more than enough offers for both new and existing customers. And with over 30 sports to choose from, there’s no shortage of options for spending these bonuses. Moreover, Easybet is truly making betting easy with its data-free app for players with a slow internet connection or limited data to spend.Should I choose an international or a national bookmaker?
Maintaining compliance
As a bettor, it’s easier to maintain compliance with national bookmakers as they must uphold local regulations in South Africa.
For example, South Africa prohibits interactive online gambling involving casinos, poker, and bingo games. So National bookmakers don’t display these services on their website, but International bookmakers (like Stake) display them.
Because international bookmakers usually display all their services (even ones that may not be allowed in your country) on their website/app, maintaining compliance may be more difficult as a person may engage in illegal interactive gaming even though the bookie offers legal bookmaking services.
It’s important to know that an international bookmaker may not be liable for your activities on their platform.
Consistency in reputation
As a bettor, it’s easier to maintain compliance with national bookmakers as they must uphold local regulations in South Africa.
For example, South Africa prohibits interactive online gambling involving casinos, poker, and bingo games. So National bookmakers don’t display these services on their website, but International bookmakers (like Stake) display them.
Because international bookmakers usually display all their services (even ones that may not be allowed in your country) on their website/app, maintaining compliance may be more difficult as a person may engage in illegal interactive gaming even though the bookie offers legal bookmaking services.
It’s important to know that an international bookmaker may not be liable for your activities on their platform.
Ease in settling disputes
It may be easier to settle disputes with National bookmakers primarily based in South Africa
International bookmakers have branches in countries where they operate, but their HQ is probably in their country of origin. So settling disputes that require your physical presence may be more difficult.
Support for local sports events
National bookmakers tend to have more support for sports and betting markets in the country. In this case, you’ll see that some South African bookies in this list have extensive support for horse racing and popular local sports tournaments.
Depending on the bookmaker, you can find the same range of sports and betting markets as their local South African counterparts. However, they tend to have less live coverage and betting options for South African leagues.
Suitability for travellers
National bookmakers may not be suitable for travellers as the operator may limit access to their site or prohibit the bettor from placing bets outside the country.
In contrast, international bookmakers can be used outside South Africa as long as the country you visit doesn’t explicitly prohibit them.
Live Sports Coverage
While the match coverage of a bookmaker primarily depends on their ability to source streaming rights, national bookmakers tend to have less global coverage compared to international bookies.
Meanwhile, national bookies usually have better coverage for sporting events in their countries. For example, Hollywoodbets has extensive live coverage of South African Horse Racing tournaments compared to Stake which doesn’t cover these tournaments.
While the match coverage of a bookmaker primarily depends on their ability to source streaming rights, national bookmakers tend to have less global coverage compared to international bookies.
Meanwhile, national bookies usually have better coverage for sporting events in their countries. For example, Hollywoodbets has extensive live coverage of South African Horse Racing tournaments compared to Stake which doesn’t cover these tournaments.
Best betting sites in South Africa FAQs FAQ
Geoffrey has over 4 years of experience in the sports and gambling industry. He's keenly interested in Soccer and Basketball and enjoys punting in his favorite leagues. Geoffrey's broad experience in sports and gambling allows him to produce helpful content for the entire igaming audience. He has authored dozens of casino and sports betting website reviews, along with numerous gambling guides, including betting techniques, tips, and strategies for various brands.