With a virtually endless list of online bookmakers in South Africa, selecting where to lay down your bets can be pretty challenging.
To help you start, we’ve listed the best sports betting sites in South Africa based on a few factors.
These include the overall sports market coverage, how the odds stacked against the competition, available bonuses, user interface, mobile experience, payments, and customer support.
That being said, 1xbet is the #1 recommendation due to its perfect balance in all these areas.
However, all the sites we’ve recommended provide a superb betting experience through their features, and they’re also fully licensed and legit for your peace of mind.
Let’s check out all of our top recommendations.
Best Sports Betting Sites in South Africa
- 1xbet: Best sports betting site in SA overall
- co.za: Best sports betting bonuses in South Africa
- Sportingbet: Best for live betting in SA
- Winabet365: Best sports betting odds
- co.za: Great eSports coverage
- HollywoodBets: Top choice for mobile betting
1. 1xbet – Best Sports Betting Site in South Africa Overall
Pros:
- Downloadable mobile application
- Competitive odds
- Optimised live streams
- Diverse banking methods with prompt payments
- Wide selection of sports betting markets
- Excellent loyalty program
Cons:
1xbet bet was a no-brainer pick for our #1 position, having nailed most of our benchmarks with near-perfect scores. It’s pretty simple, actually — whatever you want to bet on, chances are 1xbet has odds for it, and good ones, too.
Sports Coverage: 4.8/5
At 1xbet, you’ll have access to over 45 different sports and non-sporting markets. Regardless of your preference, you’re sure to find a sport that meets your needs.
Once you click the sports tab, you’ll find sports like basketball, football, baseball, ice hockey, tennis, handball, volleyball, table tennis, and many more. However, the platform specialises in football, tennis, and basketball.
You’ll find more markets in these areas if you search the offerings. Most importantly, you’ll be able to sort through 200+ options on most games in the top categories. And the props are pretty creative, too, creating a stellar betting experience beyond the standard moneyline bet.
Bonuses & Promotions: 5.0/5
There are numerous bonuses and promotions at 1xbet for South African players. Below are the popular ones:
The list goes on and on, making 1xbet perhaps the site with the largest promotions in its area. To be honest, keeping track of all promotions scattered around the site is hard, so it’s best that you log in and see for yourself what’s currently available.
The one bonus we’re pretty sure will remain active is the 200% up to $3,000 first deposit bonus. That’s a massive match percentage for a sports betting bonus, as most sites will give you a maximum of 100%, so it’s very well worth claiming.
User Interface: 4.6/5
At first glance, you may find the site a bit crowded. Edit: you will find the site crowded if you’re a first-time bettor, that’s for sure.
There are several functions, features, and options, even minute ones like country, language selection, time mode, odds format, and market view. However, these can be easily customised once you log in so that you can bet comfortably.
Placing bets is pretty straightforward. All you have to do is select a fixture or event from the main page to create a bet slip. If you’re feeling lucky, you can choose the day’s accumulator bet to increase your potential winnings.
There are quick links on the top navigation bar for quick access to various sections. For example, you can download the platform’s mobile application by clicking the mobile icon at the top-left of the landing page.
At the bottom, you’ll find a simple FAQs section with answers to the most popular questions. In addition, the footer has links to apps, bet slip checks, and results.
Mobile Experience: 4.8/5
1xbet offers a mobile application for iOS and Android. In addition, it has a desktop application for Windows, so you don’t always have to depend on a browser to access the site.
You’ll appreciate this sports betting site’s detailed and enthusiastic mobile version. It never keeps players guessing and always makes it straightforward for them to find stuff out. The download page also has options for simplifying how you access the platform.
Join 1xbet for the ultimate betting experience in South Africa
2. Bet.co.za – Best Bonuses of all SA Online Sports Betting Sites
Pros:
- 25+ active bonuses for sports bettors
- Huge range of sports games and betting markets
- Professional customer support
- Competitive odds
- A variety of SA payment methods
- Generous 100% welcome package
Cons:
- No horse racing live streaming
Coming in second is Bet.co.za with an excellent lineup of promotions for sports bettors from South Africa. Everything from free bets to event-specific bonuses is available here, and the list is ever-changing.
Sports Coverage: 4.8/5
Bet.co.za offers a well-rounded sports betting section with a wide range of in-play and pre-match markets on soccer, rugby, horse racing, MMA, cricket, and more. Soccer has the biggest range of markets, from Serie A, La Liga, and EPL to lower leagues in Asia and Africa.
Typical soccer markets include Under/Over goals, Match Result, Correct Score, Both Teams To Score, Double Chance, Handicaps, Draw No Bet, and more.
For a little taste of US sports, you can bet on American Football, baseball, and basketball, which are also well-catered for. In addition, markets for less popular games like cycling can also be found on the platform, as well as entertainment and politics.
Bonuses & Promotions: 4.6/5
New customers on the site are welcomed with a 100% deposit match bonus of up to R1,000 on their initial deposit.
To opt-in for the welcome offer, you need to deposit at least R50. It comes with a 6x rollover requirement that you must meet by betting on odds of 1.2 for multiples and 1.7 for singles.
Other offers that you can take advantage of include:
- Springbucks promo
- 50% odds boost
- Lights out promo
- Up to 30% multi bonus
Similar to 1xbet, there were over 25 bonuses active at the time of writing. The welcome offer is good, but what you get as a regular here is better still.
User Interface: 5.0/5
Bet.co.za is one of the neatest online betting sites in South Africa we’ve ever seen. A top events section is on the top-left corner, the bet slip on the right, and the main odds and fixtures are in the centre. That’s it.
Next, you have a ticker that displays non-sport games that customers can play to divert their attention. That’s a great option, especially if you’re getting continuous losses and want to relax.
Additionally, the site loads quickly, and navigation from one section to another is straightforward.
Mobile Experience: 4.7/5
Mobile customers can access the platform from any device with a reliable internet connection. However, for a more personalised experience, you should download the app for either iOS or Android.
The application promises fast load speeds with an instant betting feature where you can tap and hold to get your funds in the game. The mobile app offers advanced search features and a Bet tool that provides the most popular daily markets on a single screen.
The design is pleasing to the eye, and there’s a customised sports menu that you can use to tailor the site to your desires, thus putting your favourite markets just a click away.
Take advantage of the best sports betting bonuses in South Africa with Bet.co.za
3. Sportingbet – Best Live Betting System of any South African Betting Site
Pros:
- 24/7 customer support
- Downloadable app and instant play
- Up to R2,000 risk-free bet
- Attractive user interface
- A wide selection of sporting events
Cons:
- More banking options would be great
Sportingbet stands out with a beautifully designed, easy-to-use live betting interface. You can access it straight from the top of the site and easily find your preferred sport you want to bet on.
Sports Coverage: 4.6/5
We were blown away by the number of games and markets available at Sportingbet. You’ll have access to your favourite games, including soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, American Football, and so on.
There’s a comprehensive A-Z list, and each game has several markets to back it up. For example, if we consider the Rugby League, expect to see markets for various competitions and dozens of individual games.
That’s just one example. We were also super-impressed by the quality of the odds on the platform, as they stack pretty well against the competition.
Bonuses & Promotions: 4.6/5
You’ll be greeted with an excellent sign-up bonus as a new player. This SA online sportsbook will give you a 100% risk-free bet up to R2,000. To take advantage of this offer, place your first wager within seven days of creating an account.
A risk-free bet means that Sportingbet will give you up to R2,000 back on your first wager if it’s a loser. You can then use this free bet to place straight or live bets, but keep in mind that only the winnings from the free bet will be credited to your account.
This is indeed a fantastic bonus as it gives you the chance to place a wager with zero risk.
User Interface: 4.8/5
Sportingbet is a SA betting site designed to guarantee ease of betting. There are quick links to the most popular events happening. Also, you’ll find a section for the daily coupon highlights and most popular bets.
Players can quickly view upcoming games and live bets, and there’s easy access to promotions and bet slips. Access to the comprehensive FAQ section for support and the betting glossary is also smooth.
If you navigate towards the bottom of the landing page, you’ll find info about responsible gambling, investors, statistics and results, and rules.
Mobile Experience: 4.6/5
SportingBet offers a mobile application and instant play capabilities. Whether you use an Android or iOS device, you can bet on the go for a great betting experience.
You’ll enjoy great handling that’s free of lagging and glitches. On the smaller screen sizes, the website looks excellent regarding the quality of images and menu configuration.
There’s hardly anything that’s sacrificed when going from a desktop screen to a mobile device.
Get a 100% up to $2,000 risk-free bet on your first wager at Sportingbet
4. Winabet365 – No.1 Betting Site in South Africa for Competitive Odds
Pros:
- Fantastic odds across the board
- 50+ different sports markets and games
- Six languages to choose from
- Simple layout
Cons:
- Reported cases of slow customer support
Winabet365 features excellent odds for nearly every betting market you can find on the site. If you want to maximise your slip’s payout — this is the South African betting site you visit.
Sports Coverage: 4.4/5
Winabet365 offers a sportsbook with extensive coverage of sports games and markets worldwide. These include ball games such as rugby, baseball, and football, as well as martial arts and racing.
The sports games are arranged per the tournament’s name and the specific category. Thus, finding the match that you wish to bet on is straightforward.
Bonuses & Promotions: 4.3/5
Winnabet365 provides an excellent 100% match-up bonus of up to the equivalent of $100 in ZAR, which comes with a 12x rollover requirement. This isn’t the highest rollover requirement we’ve seen for a SA sportsbook, but it is indeed higher than our better-ranked picks.
Also, you’ll be required to meet the wagering requirements within 30 days on odds of 1.5 or above.
User Interface: 4.6/5
You can tell that Winnabet365 has extensive industry experience by its website’s sheer quality. It’s fully responsive and can adjust perfectly to various screen sizes.
The site is easy to navigate, making it quick to find games and place bets. Sports games can be quickly found through the “Pre-Match” button at the top of the screen as soon as you arrive on the site, along with several other products the platform offers, such as Lotts and Virtual Sports.
Once you click on “Pre-Match,” you can access a list of sports games. Clicking on any of them will display available betting markets. For in-play betting, you just have to click on the “Live” tab, allowing you to bet on games or events as they take place.
Mobile Experience: 4.4/5
You can enjoy the whole Winnabet365 experience on your smartphone or tablet. Although the platform offers a downloadable mobile application, the website is fully responsive, so all features work smoothly within a mobile browser.
Navigating to find the event you want to bet on is also easy, and the bet builder looks fantastic. Plenty of live betting options are available, so players from South Africa will always have something to bet on.
Take advantage of super-competitive odds at Winabet365
5. Gbets.co.za – Best eSports Coverage of all South African Betting Sites
Pros:
- eSports section with odds for 10+ games
- Lots of bonuses and promotions
- Excellent odds
- Quick withdrawals
Cons:
If you’re into video gaming as much as sports betting, you’ll love Gbets’s lineup of over 10 competitive games.
Sports Coverage: 4.5/5
Gbets is one of the best betting sites in SA, offering a comprehensive list of major sports and eSports markets globally.
You can bet on soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, American Football, and so on, as well as eSports games such as FIFA, Counter-Strike, and Call of Duty. Looking at CSGO, for instance, there are over 40 betting markets for a single game, including player props and game-specific bets.
In addition, the odds on offer are fairly competitive with those of other top sports betting sites, which bodes well with bettors as, after all — odds are the most important thing in a sportsbook.
This is a special combo of variety and depth. We followed the site’s homepage for weeks, and the quality never dipped. That’s why we believe this sportsbook has what it takes to be your go-to option, especially if you’re an esports bettor.
Bonuses & Promotions: 3.7/5
The platform offers a 100% match-up deposit of up to R1,000 to new customers. Although it isn’t the biggest bonus out there, it will get you started on your online betting adventure on a good note.
The bonus has a 30-day expiry period, and you need to bet it at least five times on odds of 1.5 or above before you can request a cash-out. All in all, it’s a standard bonus that won’t get you bogged down in betting.
Related: Best Online Slots
User Interface: 4.8/5
Gbets offers a slick design, unlike anything we’ve seen from a South African sports betting site before.
The landing page offers quick access links, so everything is just a click away. Thus, you won’t experience problems accessing in-play matches, sports, and new virtual games.
Some of the best features are the new modules on the landing page, situated just below the main banners. They offer quick links, and the preview images are super helpful, as bettors can immediately identify games and leagues from the icons. It’s an excellent option for navigating the site, and we hope Gbets.co.za keeps the section loaded with relevant sports content.
Also, Gbets includes another excellent feature, the live in-play multi-view. This feature allows players to drag and drop many live matches onto a single screen, where they can follow and wager on in-play actions.
Mobile Experience: 4/5
The Gbets mobile platform is an excellent companion for their PC site, although we’re sure there are more smartphone users than desktop ones.
Again, you’ll have access to the latest events and sports games from the landing page. Some highlighted easy-to-ready icons make navigating from one section to another easy.
However, the mobile site seems a little sluggish, which we can ignore since the platform launched recently, and they’re presumably still tinkering with it to offer the best betting experience.
Currently, there’s no mobile application available for download, but we’re confident they’re working on it, and we’ll see one soon.
Dive into the deepest eSports market coverage with Gbets.co.za
How We Ranked & Reviewed the Best Sports Betting Sites in South Africa
Sports Coverage:
A great sportsbook should offer many sports to bet on along with various betting markets. Not only do we consider the sports coverage, but we also select sportsbooks with high odds for popular events.
All South African betting sites we’ve recommended offer vast betting options, including totals, money-line, handicap, halftime bets, spreads, and numerous player and game props.
Bonuses & Promotions:
Promotional offers are a great way to increase your bankroll and chances of winning. We only recommend sportsbooks with attractive bonuses, including cashback, deposit bonuses, boosted odds, and risk-free bets.
Some of the things we inspect are:
- The rollover requirements
- The bonus-expiry period
User Interface:
A good sportsbook offers an easy-to-use interface that lets players find games and bet quickly. The site should load quickly, even on a slow broadband connection. Also, it should feature excellent graphics and animation that make it smooth to track live bets.
Mobile Experience:
Mobile compatibility is essential, so we test these sports betting websites on different operating systems and mobile devices. Additionally, we consider the mobile design and how easy it is to navigate the pages and bet.
Misc:
Other things that we consider include:
- Quality of customer service
- Payment methods and withdrawal times
- Betting limits
- Responsible gambling tools
Learn more about online casinos:
Guide to Best Sports Betting Sites in South Africa
Is Online Sports Betting in South Africa Safe?
Yes, online betting in South Africa is secure if you use licensed sportsbooks. Although there are untrustworthy sports betting sites in SA that you need to be wary of, they’re the exception and not the rule.
Top sportsbooks in South Africa, like the ones we’ve recommended here, are safe to use and can be trusted with your money.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in South Africa?
Yes, betting on sports online in South Africa is legal and controlled by the National Gambling Act of 2004.
Which Sports Betting Site in South Africa Is the Best?
1xbet is by far the best sports betting site in South Africa. It boasts extensive coverage of sports and events worldwide and a unique interface that makes it easy to navigate the site and bet. There are also many bonuses specifically aimed toward South African players.
Can You Access South African Bookmakers on Mobile?
Yes, the best South African sports betting sites can be accessed through mobile browsers. Some, like 1xbet, also offer a dedicated mobile application you can download from the site.
What Payment Methods Can I Use at the Online Betting Sites in South Africa?
The best South African betting sites feature popular payment options, such as:
- Visa
- Skrill
- Mastercard
- Paypal
- Ecopayz
Some online betting sites in South Africa also accept cryptocurrencies, so you’ll have a wide range of banking methods to choose from at each of our recommended picks.
Related: Best Bitcoin Casinos
Which Currencies Do South African Betting Sites Accept?
Although Rand is the most popular currency for betting in South Africa, many sportsbooks are flexible and accept other currencies such as the Euro and US Dollar.
Recap of the Top 5 Online Sports Betting Sites in South Africa
- 1xbet: The best South African betting site. Besides having odds for 45+ sports at your disposal, you’ll get a match-up deposit bonus up to R1,000 on your first deposit. The site also boasts a great live experience, responsive customer support, and a smooth experience on PC and mobile.
- co.za: This betting site guarantees a unique experience with a website that’s easy to navigate and bet. Apart from excellent graphics and animation, it offers amazing promotions and a wide selection of betting markets.
- Sportingbet: Unmatched live betting experience — Sportingbet is the SA sportsbook you visit if you’re a live bettor. The design and graphics are excellent. Also, you can enjoy up to an R2,000 risk-free bet with your first wager.
- Winabet365: A wide selection of markets with great odds — Winnabet365 scores highly regarding odds and markets. Although the difference in odds is small, it makes a significant gap when placing parlay bets. In addition, the platform is available in six languages, and you’re guaranteed a great experience on mobile and desktop.
- co.za: Top-rated eSports section — This bookmaker in South Africa offers an excellent eSports section where you can wager on popular games such as FIFA, Call of Duty, Starcraft, and Counter-Strike. In addition, the platform provides reliable customer support, lucrative promotions, and quick cash-out processing.
How to Sign-Up & Start Betting Online in South Africa
Signing up at the best betting sites in South Africa is very straightforward. Below is an easy step-by-step guide on how to get started at 1xbet:
Note: 1xbet allows players to sign up using several options, including email, one click, and social networks. Thus, we recommend selecting the one that works best for you.
Step 1: Sign Up for an Account
- Visit the 1xbet website
- Click the green “Registration” button at the top right corner
- Enter your details, including your phone number, and click the “Send SMS” button
- Enter the code you’ve received on your mobile and click “Register” again.
Step 2: Log-In and Deposit
- Log in to your account using your credentials
- Visit the cashier, select your preferred deposit method, and deposit funds
- Explore the sports lobby and place your first bet!
Ready to Bet at the Best Sports Betting Sites in South Africa?
We hope our article helped you learn more about online betting in South Africa and that you’re finally ready to choose the best sports betting site for you.
Following our in-depth research and review process, we settled on 1xbet as the best sportsbook in South Africa after scoring highly in every area. However, each site on our list stands out in one aspect or the other. So whichever you choose, you’re guaranteed a great experience.
Remember that betting is a game of chance, and results can go either way. Therefore, please gamble responsibly. Adios!
