Your #1 Guide to Online Gambling in South Africa

Welcome to BettingGuide, your all-in-one resource for online gambling in South Africa. Compare the best sports betting sites and online casinos in South Africa, claim our exclusive betting offers and learn from our comprehensive betting guides.

Top Online Gambling Site Reviews

10bet
  • In-play betting with HDR streaming
  • 20+ Sports, including soccer
  • Locally licensed bookmaker in SA
Read review
Paripesa
  • Fast Withdrawals within 15 minutes with Bank Wire, Bitcoin and more!
  • Great Android Betting App!
  • R60 minimum deposit with EFT
Read review
Betfred
  • Fastest Payments in South Africa!
  • Great Range of Betting Promotions for All Customers
  • Locally licensed in South Africa
Read review
Betway logo
  • Build Custom Soccer Bets
  • Great Range of Betting Markets
  • Locally licensed in South Africa
Read review
Hollywoodbets logo
  • Best for Horse Racing Betting
  • Racing Live Streams & High Odds
  • Licensed in South Africa!
Read review
World Sports Betting
  • Safe & Trusted Betting Site since 2002
  • Great Android Betting App
  • Data Free Mobile Betting!
Read review
Playa Bets
  • 30+ Sports, including horse racing
  • 1000's of Betting Markets
  • Licensed betting site in South Africa
Read review

Why BettingGuide?

At BettingGuide, we're proud of our deep knowledge of gambling sites and the online gambling industry in the South African market. We're not just experts in South Africa; we operate in numerous other markets worldwide.

Our valuable insights result from decades of hands-on experience in the industry and strong relationships with the people who manage these platforms, ensuring the advice we provide is grounded in safety, reliability, and an insider’s perspective. You can also check our editorial guidelines to learn how we strive to create quality content.

We review gambling sites based on our agenda, checking everything to ensure you get the full picture before you decide to play. Your safety is our top priority, so we only suggest reliable and well-respected sites.

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How to Use BettingGuide

By exploring our resources, you'll learn the ins and outs of online gambling in South Africa, enabling you to make informed decisions and enjoy a safer gambling experience. Here's how you can make the most of our resources:

  1. Learn About Gambling in South Africa: Our guides will help you understand the legal landscape, discover the best online gambling sites, and develop strategies to level up your gaming experience.
  2. Make Informed Decisions: With our help, you can choose platforms and games that offer the best entertainment, prioritise your security, and offer fair play.
  3. Stay Updated: Regular visits to BettingGuide can keep you informed about the latest in online gambling, from new games to legal changes.
  4. Gamble Safely: We believe responsible gambling is vital. At BettingGuide, we offer guidance on how to set limits and identify signs of problem gambling, ensuring you have a safe and enjoyable gaming experience.
  5. Get Community Insights: While you're exploring our site, take a moment to check out the feedback and insights from other gamblers. Sharing your feedback on any online gambling site reviewed at BettingGuide can help others and enrich our South African community.

Online Gambling in South Africa (2024)

BettingGuide - South Africa

In South Africa, the primary legal forms of online gambling include:

  1. Sports Betting: Licensed operators offer betting on a variety of sports, both local and international.
  2. Horse Racing: Betting on horse races is popular and well-regulated.
  3. Lotteries: Online lottery ticket purchases and participation in various lottery games are allowed.
  4. Bingo: Online bingo is available through licensed operators.

Online casinos are illegal, but many international sites, including nationally licensed Betway, still accept South African players and offer casino-related games because of jurisdictional challenges.

Online Gambling Laws in South Africa

Online gambling laws in South Africa primarily permit sports betting and horse racing through licensed operators. The National Gambling Act of 2004 regulates these activities, ensuring operators adhere to strict guidelines. Online casinos remain illegal, and the government actively blocks access to unlicensed international sites. The National Gambling Board oversees compliance and enforcement, focusing on protecting consumers and preventing illicit gambling activities.

Online Betting Guide

Sports Betting

Online betting in South Africa is popular and well-regulated. The legal forms of online betting include sports betting and horse racing, overseen by the National Gambling Board.

Players can gamble on a wide range of sports events and horse races through licensed operators.

Various payment methods are accepted, including credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers, facilitating convenient deposit and withdrawal transactions for users.

Online Casino Guide

Online Casinos

Online casinos in the South African market exist in a legal grey area.

While the National Gambling Act of 2004 prohibits online casino operations within the country, many South Africans still access international online casinos that accept local players. These activities are technically illegal, but enforcement against individual players is minimal. The government attempts to block access to these sites, yet they remain popular due to demand and the challenge of regulating foreign operators, leading to a situation where online casinos are widely used yet officially prohibited.

Some of the best online casinos are, in fact, bookmakers licensed by South African authorities for sports betting, such as Betway and Hollywoodbets. They provide casino games in the form of BetGames, BetVegas, VegasGames, Spina Zonke, etc. According to our records, South African users tend to play online blackjack for real money, among other table games.

Crash Games

Apart from the usual casino games, a new booming genre called crash games has emerged in the world of online gambling. Aviator by Spribe has a dominating presence among such games.

aviator logo

A crash game is an online gambling game in which players bet on an increasing multiplier and must cash out before the game crashes. The goal is to cash out at the highest possible multiplier before it randomly drops to zero, risking losing the bet if they wait too long. This unpredictability adds excitement and potential rewards.

Online Lotto Guide

Online Lotto

Online lottos in South Africa are legal and popular. Players can purchase tickets for local lotteries like the National Lottery and international lotteries through licensed online platforms. These platforms offer a convenient way for users to participate in various lottery games, ensuring compliance with local regulations. The National Gambling Board oversees the operation of these services to ensure they adhere to legal standards, providing a secure and regulated environment for players.

Responsible Gaming

Responsible gaming involves enjoying gambling as a form of entertainment without letting it become problematic. Key principles include:

  • Gamble for Entertainment: Treat gambling as a fun activity, not a way to make money.
  • Use Expendable Money: Only gamble with money you can afford to lose.
  • Set Limits: Establish time and monetary limits before gambling.
  • Stay Sober: Avoid gambling under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Utilise Tools: Use self-exclusion, deposit limits, and reality checks to stay in control.
  • Seek Help: Access support from the National Responsible Gambling Programme and Gambling Anonymous if needed.

Remember to play responsibly and that it is not a way of earning money.

Online Gambling in South Africa FAQs

Gambling can be defined in a number of different ways. In its most basic form, gambling is when people play games of chance for money, for example by betting on the result of a coin flip, though it can also involve predicting the outcome of events such as sports like horse racing.

People have gambled for centuries but the arrival of the internet has made it easier than ever before to place bets. With mobile gambling now possible, most people have a device such as a smartphone or a tablet computer that can be used to place bets while they are out and about.

Gambling games at land-based and online casinos can vary from card games such as poker to alternatives like blackjack and roulette, as well as slots. Playing the lottery is also a form of gambling and this is particularly popular in South Africa, with more than 80 per cent of adults in the country said to buy a lottery ticket at least once each week.

While there is no doubt gambling can lead to some people developing addiction problems, the majority of people who like to have a bet are able to do so without experiencing any issues. 

There is a lot of confusion among South Africans around whether or not online gambling is legal in the country, and this is because the picture is far from clear after various law changes.

Online sports betting, such as placing wagers on the outcome of a horse race via an internet site, is 100% legal—as long as the site has secured the relevant license.

However, other forms of online gambling, such as casino games like blackjack, are not currently legal in South Africa. While some online casinos still welcome customers from South Africa and even have SA-related branding on their sites, this does not mean that they are legal to use. 

In order to be able to legally gamble in South Africa, people have to be at least 18 years old. This is in line with the legal gambling age in many other countries all over the world.

However, some African nations, such as Egypt, have set the legal gambling age higher at 21. In other African countries, like Gabon and Guinea Bissau, there is no official gambling age.

Yes, sports betting sites in South Africa that are licensed and legal usually do allow players who sign up for an account to gamble online using the South African Rand.

Not all South African sports betting sites allow players to gamble online in Rand, however.

Keep in mind that online sports betting, such as wagers on horse racing, is the only form of online betting that is 100% legal in South Africa. 

Depositing money into an online gambling site usually works in a very similar way. Most sites have a cashier function, which is where deposits and withdrawals can both be processed.

By heading to the cashier, users can select from a range of different payment methods to make a deposit into their account. Relevant information such as card details will need to be added, while users will also have to enter the amount of money that they wish to deposit.

Depositing money into an online gambling site should be done instantly, which means that users can then start to place bets on their favourite sports straight away.