Best Betting Apps in South Africa (2023)

Are you looking for the best sports betting apps that are legal for players from South Africa? You have come to the right place.

Betting apps are available for most of the best betting sites that are legal in South Africa, but, some are quite simply better than others. On this page, you can compare the best sports betting apps in SA on our list above and learn how to install betting apps on Android and iOS.

Long gone are the days when the only way to bet on sport was to go down to a racecourse in South Africa, or even to set foot inside a high street betting shop, thanks to the internet.

Online sports betting has revolutionised the gambling industry in South Africa and around the world, making it easier than ever for people to place a bet on the big game or race of the day.

Indeed, the march of new technology means that mobile sports betting is becoming the most common form of online gambling, letting people place bets while on the move or out and about.

To meet this rising demand, operators of sports betting sites in South Africa are increasingly developing mobile sports betting apps that can be downloaded for use on handheld devices.

They tend to be available for both Android and iOS, so most people who have a tablet computer or a smartphone will be able to get the app so they can place bets on a smaller screen.

Many may still be new to the idea of using sports betting apps, though, so read on for our complete guide to how these work and which are the best betting apps in South Africa right now.

About Sports Betting Apps in SA

Online sports betting has been around for a long time now, but it took a while for betting apps to start to be released by operators that are working in the gambling industry in South Africa.

In fact, with South Africa having some of the harshest laws surrounding the gambling industry, it is not actually that long ago since online sports betting was made fully legal in the country. It has been a few years now since the first online sports betting apps became available, taking advantage of the fact many people now own at least one smartphone or tablet computer.

Handheld devices continue to get more popular with research that was published recently showing that 95% of people in South Africa now have a smartphone. This means that in the palm of their hand, or in their pocket, sports fans have a device that can be used to place bets on the big game in a matter of moments, which is great for in-play betting in particular.

Betting apps often also have handy functionality such as offering live sports streams as well as allowing customers to make deposits and process a withdrawal. They typically provide extra gambling options such as a range of virtual sports and have customer support for users too.

Mobile betting sites remain popular, but plenty of South Africans prefer to use betting apps now. Nowadays, those sports betting companies in South Africa that have failed to produce a mobile betting app are at risk of being left behind by rivals in what is an increasingly competitive market.

But for many people who have never downloaded a betting app, what do they actually need to do? 

How to Download Android Betting Apps in South Africa

Google Play should be the first port of call to download betting apps on Android. However, many of the best betting apps in South Africa are not currently available to get through the Play Store.

This means that downloading betting apps on Android is a bit more complicated. But South African sports fans will soon get used to it and will be up and running in no time at all.

Firstly, users need to decide which South African sports betting app that they want to download. There is plenty of choices, but reading betting app reviews can help users make up their minds.

Android users will have to make a small tweak in their device settings to be able to get betting apps on their chosen handheld device, whether that is a tablet computer or a smartphone. To start, you will need to permit access to apps outside of the Google Play Store.

This is easily done by navigating to your devices Menu > Settings > Security > Unknown Sources

Once you have done this, you can download the APK of any betting app from the operator's website. Be sure to only download the betting app from a verified source, such as the operator's website.

Note: You will need to confirm the download of each betting app as Android categorises any apps downloaded outside of the Google Play Store as unknown.

1. Navigate to the operator of your choice
2. Find the betting app page, and click "Download"
3. A message will pop-up on your screen, accept and continue
4. Confirm and install the betting app
5. Open the app and start betting

How to Download Betting Apps on iOS (Apple)

Apple users will no doubt already be very familiar with the App Store and this is the best place to start the search for the best iOS betting apps in South Africa.

For example, Sportingbet is one of the South African betting apps that is listed on the App Store.

Downloading apps from the App Store is designed to be a rapid and easy process that should not take users more than a couple of minutes, depending on the size of the file.

This means sports fans in South Africa who download betting apps on iOS should be able to start placing live bets while on the move in a matter of moments.

Many different apps to bet on sports are offered on the App Store and there is no reason why sports fans should not download a few different ones to their devices to try them all out.

Betting sites in South Africa will usually have a link to their software on the App Store posted in a prominent position on their website, so finding iOS betting apps should be very easy.

But what are the top betting apps in South Africa for iOS and Android? Let's take a look.

It might be challenging to know where to focus your efforts on different mobile betting platforms. Some prefer using mobile sites, while others prefer a downloadable app. We chose to lay down the pros and cons of each option so you can use the platform that best suits your betting needs.

Mobile Sites

Pros

• You don’t need to download a mobile website
• There are no app updates required
• It uses less internet data bundles
• It loads faster than most apps

Cons

• Limited hardware integration
• Dependent on active internet connection
• Limited bandwidth and browser user experience

Mobile Apps

Pros

• Downloadable enabling players to personalize to their taste
• Apps are more convenient as they are easy to use
• Loads content faster
• Allows for push notifications

Cons 

• Most apps are device-dependent - compatible with select devices
• Most apps use more data than web apps
• Most apps don’t allow offline access

A wide range of factors are taken into account when we pick the best betting apps for South African sports fans. Here are some of the key areas we look at when compiling our reviews:

Safety, Licenses & Reputation

It is generally a good idea to obtain an app from bookmakers with a reputable track record. We consider an app’s encryption and password protection criteria to ensure players’ safety while betting.

We also check that a bookie is licensed to ensure it operates legally in South Africa. This is to cushion players from illegal bookies that are out to steal from South African players. Always remember that playing on a site that is not licensed and secure exposes you to the likelihood of being part of illegal activities, loss of money, and even identity theft.

Payment Methods Accepted

Another critical factor is the payment methods allowed by an app. It only makes sense to choose an app with multiple payment methods in South Africa. It makes it easier to withdraw your won amount easily.

Besides bringing you apps with multiple payment options, we also ensure all betting apps have a reputation for prompt payment. It sucks when you have to wait for 24hrs+ to process payment. We bring you betting apps that are quick to process payment, offer convenient payment methods, and have friendly transaction limits and charges.

Accessibility

Accessibility is another metric we consider when rating the best betting apps in SA. We check whether a bookie has apps that are compatible with both Android and iOS apps.

Some bookies have mobile-optimized sites as the only option. We help you pick the best by reviewing the pros and cons of such mobile-optimized sites.

Speed & Reliability

Most players prefer betting apps whose content loads fast. A faster loading speed helps the player place bets quicker and navigate easily through the app. Speed is the surest way to measure a betting app’s reliability.

We do our best to pick and review apps that have the fastest loading speed. All the bookies reviewed here promise superb usability to better your betting experience.

User Ratings 

Another way to tell that an app is doing well in the market is through customer ratings. When a bookie launches an app, customers can review and rate the app according to their experience. Such ratings can be on the bookmaker site or Google Play Store, and Apple Store.

These ratings help us to bring you betting apps that have the highest ratings on the respective stores. The higher the user ratings, the better the app. It means many users love their experience on the app.

Customer Support

Customer service quality is extremely important when rating an app! Consider what happens if something goes wrong with an app and you don't know what to do; finding answers online might not be easy.

That's why, before suggesting an app, we carefully look at the kind of customer support it provides. The top betting apps have customer service available 24/7 and can help you with any issue you encounter while using their app.

Sports Available

Betting on your phone gives you access to the same wide range of games and sports you would if you were betting on a computer. If you're going to install a gambling app, it must have many different games to choose from.

We pick our betting apps from the bookies that offer the best selection of sporting events that SA punters love. From soccer, horse racing, tennis, basketball to cycling, badminton, and handball. All games have fantastic odds that promise lucrative wins to players. 

Live Betting

Many apps nowadays allow users to bet in real-time. Live betting is ideal for both novice and experienced sports gamblers. If you want to test your luck with a tiny stake initially, live betting makes it simple.

One of the most appealing features of the mobile betting apps we review is that you can bet live and stream the action simultaneously. Betting applications are a must-have for any sports betting fan.

Special Mobile Bonuses

Bonuses and promotions are something we all like! Almost all betting apps offer special mobile houses to players. New users get the best bonuses with the finest betting applications.

To qualify for the bonus, you must first deposit a certain amount of money. Our reviews have several applications that provide you with free bets to try out betting on different games before depositing any money.

Usually the bigger the mobile bonus the better. But always remember to look at the fine print. The quality of the bonus needs to be equally good. This means fair withdrawal requirements, friendly wagering requirements, friendly transaction limits, and the games attached to the games should also be player-friendly.