Sportingbet

Sportingbet South Africa Review (2024)

Established in 1997, Sportingbet initially provided gambling services in the UK before expanding to other countries. In 2009, the brand entered the South African market, and since then, it has rapidly grown its userbase, competing effectively with local bookmarkers. The site is a product of William Hill PLC and Entain PLC, which own dozens of legit online gaming platforms.

The bookmaker is regulated by the “Western Cape Gambling & Racing Board,” a trustworthy licensing body in South Africa. Many players enjoy using the platform because it has an online casino and a sportsbook section with numerous online games and sports. It also features a simple interface with standard icons, allowing beginners to master the navigation in no time.

Sports available

When you visit the site, you’ll notice that it displays a few upcoming events and popular casino games. If you want to view all the available sports, you need to click the “A-Z Sports” tab to expand the drop-down menu. 

The selection has numerous categories with multiple leagues or competitions. However, the main sporting events include Football, Golf, Tennis, American Football, Volleyball, Horse Racing, MMA, Baseball, Basketball, Handball, Table, Rugby, Futsal, Formula 1, Ice Hockey, Motorbikes, Snooker, Aussie Rules, Chess, Cricket, Cycling, Olympic Games, and much more.

Betting markets

The site lists key sporting events from many countries across the globe, including major leagues and local tournaments. The number of betting markets varies depending on the sport. For instance, football lovers can bet on the goalscorer, correct score, 1X2, 3-way handicap, Half-time outcome, and other markets.

Betting margins

Sportingbet has an overall margin of 5.8%, which makes it one of the bookmakers with highly competitive odds in the South African market. The table below indicates the betting margins of the most popular sports in the country.

• Football - 6.3%
• Tennis - 5.8%
• Basketball - 4.3%
• Volleyball - 6.5%
• Baseball - 4.8%
• Horse racing - 6.9%

Promotions

Sportingbet greets newly-registered users with a mouth-watering welcome package. The offer includes a 100% first deposit bonus for up to ZAR 2000. Eligibility includes a minimum top-up of R10 within 30 days after registration. Unlike most betting platforms, the site does not require users to enter a promo code to activate the welcome bonus.

However, the welcome bonus comes with a 3x wagering requirement, and odds need to be higher than 1.5/1-2. Unfortunately, top-ups made via Neteller and Skrill are not valid for the promotion. Besides, some bets are invalid for the promotion, especially those generated using other promos like “Cash Out” and “Edit my bet.”

Another deal is the “Football Multi Special,” an accumulator that provides cashback if you lose a single match in a multi-bet. However, you need to have a minimum of five selections, and the refund comes in the form of a free bet. Besides, the terms highlight that the odds of each selection should be over 1.5.

If you are a tennis fan, you can use the “Tennis Multiple Refund” to get cashback if you lose a wager by a single event. Like the previous accumulator, you need to wager on five or more games. However, the main difference is that the minimum acceptable odds for the deal is 1.25.

Unique markets

Entertainment and Politics are the main unique markets on Sportingbet. The politics section has multiple options, including US politics and upcoming elections. On the other hand, the entertainment category features different prizes, including Emmy awards, Oscar awards, Academy Awards, and Nobel Prizes.

Virtual sports

Sportingbet’s virtuals section contains virtual Football and Tennis. The simulated Football events have leagues, standings, and other game stats to help you predict winning teams. However, computer-generated gameplays are quite different from real-world events because any side can win. For that reason, only the lucky ones win large payouts from such sports.

Some punters like Virtual sports since the events do not stop, and they can keep you busy the whole day. Additionally, each match has multiple markets, allowing you to generate several bets from a single game. The site gives you a few minutes to analyze the teams and make your selections. If you are not familiar with virtuals, you should begin with single bets before advancing to multi-bets to avoid blowing your bankroll.

Available Games

Poker

Poker has different variants, but the rules are similar. Each poker hand has five cards, and you can win by achieving different winning combinations. Examples of such games include Flush, Five of a kind, Straight, Two Pairs, Full House, One Pair, Four of a kind, No Pair, Straight flush, and Three of a kind.

Live casino

Live dealer titles thrill many players because they interact with real dealers. The casino has a lightweight app and mobile site that allows you to engage in live-action on the go or at home. The main games in the section include Dream Catcher, Crazy Time, Lightning Roulette, and Monopoly Live.

Slots

The category has dozens of titles with different reels counts and paylines. Enjoy popular slots such as Aztec Gold, Robin Hood, PlayBoy Gold, and Batman.

Table games

Some punters like table games since most of them offer good payouts. There are several Table titles in the casino, including roulette variants and different types of blackjack.

Average payout percentages

The casino’s Payout rate is about 94.15%, which is within industry standards. However, the frequency and size of payouts vary depending on the volatility of the titles. Highly volatile games give fewer but massive payouts, while less volatile ones provide small wins after every few rounds.

Game providers

The casino section has multiple table games, poker, and slot machines powered by Evolution. The supplier also provides several jackpot titles with massive payouts. When it comes to the Live Casino section, you can enjoy multiple titles from BetGames. The supplier offers live dealer options such as quantum blackjack and roulette. If you are into the live table, you can play against real-life dealers, but you need good internet connectivity since the site streams the action in HD.

VIP program

Currently, the site does not have any loyalty scheme to reward loyal punters. However, you can maximize your returns by taking advantage of the Football Multi Special deal and the Tennis Multiple Refund promo.

How to join Sportingbet

• Step 1: Visit Sportingbet and click the “Register” button on the top-right section of the page.
• Step 2: Enter your email on the dialog box and hit continue.
• Step 3: Enter your password and hit next.
• Step 4: Enter your personal details like your national ID, address, and date of birth.
• Step 5: Submit the details.

How to deposit money

You cannot play for real money if your balance is zero. Sportingbet provides numerous deposit options, including Mastercard, VISA, 1ForYou, EFT, and Ozow. 1ForYou has the lowest minimum deposit of 5 ZAR, while that of Ozow is 10 ZAR. If you want to deposit using Mastercard or VISA, you need to have a minimum of 50 ZAR on your card plus transaction fees.

• Step 1: Log into your account.
• Step 2: Click the “Cashier” tab and go to “Deposit.”
• Step 3: Select a payment option.
• Step 4: Enter the amount.
• Step 5: Click the “Deposit” button.
• Step 6: Authorize the transaction.

How to verify your account

The South African government requires all gambling platforms to comply with FICA requirements to prevent fraud and money-laundering activities. After registration, the sportsbook tries to verify if your personal info is authentic by checking available details. If your details seem invalid, you will be required to upload documents that show proof of address and your identity. Acceptable identity documents include a driving license, passport, and national ID, while those that can prove your residence include the latest utility bill, mortgage details, and other valid documents. Follow the steps below to upload your documents if requested.

Verification using the online uploader.

• Step 1: Visit Sportingbet and log in to your account.
• Step 2: Go to your profile section.
• Step 3: Go to the online uploader tool.
• Step 4: Select the type of document you intend to upload.
• Step 5: Use the file chooser to select the document.
• Step 6: Wait for verification.

Using the Sportingbet app

• Step 1: Launch the Sportingbet app.
• Step 2: Go to the verification section.
• Step 3: Upload your documents.
• Step 4: Wait for approval.
  Email and Whatsapp verification

The betting site allows you to send photos of the documents via Whatsapp or email. You may email them to fica@sportingbet.co.za or send them to Whatsapp number +27 655 66 6641. The verification process takes about 24 hours, but it can take longer if the agents have many emails to process.

How to withdraw money

You can withdraw amounts between 3,000 ZAR and 25,000 ZAR using FNB. On the other hand, those who prefer EFT can request payouts ranging from 10 ZAR to 70,000 ZAR. The site does not charge any fees for the transactions, but withdrawal time varies with the method. 

FNB users wait for up to 24 to receive their cash, while EFT transactions take 2-4 business days. If you want to withdraw cash from your Sportingbet account, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Ensure your account is verified since you cannot withdraw without undergoing the verification process.
• Step 2: Go to the “Withdraw” option.
• Step 3: Select a withdrawal method.
• Step 4: Enter your banking details.
• Step 5: Confirm your email.
• Step 6: Initiate the transaction.