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Legal Betting Sites in South Africa

All you need to know about legalities surrounding online betting

Legal Betting Sites in South Africa

Betway

Best in SA
  • Leading Betting Brand
  • Great user experience
  • Great range of features
  • Customer Support isn't great
  • Limited Cash Out Offers
Welcome Offer
100% up to R1000
as a Free Bet
ClaimGo to website
Website: www.betway.co.zaFounded: 2006
Owner: BetwayHeadquarters: Century City, Cape Town
Betway Homepage
Betway Live Games
Betway Esports

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

Entering in South Africa in 2018, Betway have become many punter’s go to bookmaker. Boasting a beautiful site full of incredible features and heaps of markets, Betway is South Africa’s most complete betting site.

Betway comes Highly Recommended ⭐

Visit Betway

Read full review

Gbets

  • Plenty of Bonuses and Promotions
  • Sophisticated Website Layout
  • Unparalleled Sportsbook
  • Text on the Site is Quite Small
Welcome Offer
100% up to R1000
+ R25 Free Sports Bet
ClaimGo to website
Website: www.gbets.co.zaFounded: 2005
Owner: Dhrupal AminHeadquarters: Roodepoort, South Africa
Gbets Homepage
Gbets Live Betting
Gbets Sportsbook screenshot

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

For decades, Gbets have been entertaining eager punters with their fantastic sports betting offering. Founded in 2005 by the Gold Rush Group, Gbets have been significant players in South Africa’s online betting industry, and have emerged as crowd favourites for their generous bonuses, amazing platform, and immense betting and gaming suites. If a premier, and reliable bookmaker is what you’re in the market for, Gbets may be the one for you.

Gbets comes highly recommended 🌟

Visit Gbets

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Sportingbet

  • Sportingbet offer some of the best odds in SA
  • Comprehensive sportsbook
  • Fanatastic user experience: great for beginners
  • Slim on features
  • Few deposit methods
Welcome Offer
Risk Free First Bet up to R2000
ClaimGo to website
Website: https://sports.sportingbet.co.za/Founded: 1997
Owner: GVC HoldingsHeadquarters: London, UK
Sportingbet Homepage
Sportingbet live betting
Sportingbet Live Games

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

Sportingbet’s business was brought over to South Africa in 2008, and has been a hit since day one. It’s brilliantly laid out design, variety of markets, and standout features makes this operator a joy to bet with.

Read full review

Betfred

  • Wide range of soccer betting markets
  • Impressive rugby coverage
  • Lots of bonuses and promos
  • No same game multi bets
  • Live betting isn’t well laid out
Welcome Offer
100% up to R5000
ClaimGo to website
Website: Founded:
Owner:Headquarters:

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

Hollywoodbets

SA's Favourite Sportsbook
  • Best horse racing betting site in SA
  • Wide range of payment methods
  • Good mobile betting site
  • Fast withdrawals
  • Poor desktop interface
  • Odds aren’t the best
Welcome Offer
R25 in Free Bets
+ 50 Free Spins
ClaimGo to website
Website: www.hollywoodbets.netFounded: 2000
Owner: HollywoodbetsHeadquarters: Umhlanga, KZN
Hollywoodbets Mobile
Hollywoodbets Betting Games
Hollywoodbets Betting

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

Supabets

Best Welcome Bonus
  • Fantastic Welcome Bonus
  • Wide range of Features
  • Supabets accept several deposit methods
  • Crowded website design
Welcome Offer
Deposit Bonuses up to R5000
+ R50 Free Bet & 100 Free Spins
ClaimGo to website
Website: https://new.supabets.co.za/Founded: 2008
Owner: Phumelela Gaming and LeisureHeadquarters: Melrose North, Johannesburg
Supabets Homepage
Supabets Live Betting
Supabets Live Games

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

One of the more popular betting establishments in South Africa, Supabets have been bringing their users the opportunity to win for a little over a decade. Spending some time on Supabets’ busy platform can quickly explain their popularity. With a welcome bonus that is rivalled by none, and a host of features that will keep you entertained for hours, Supabets ensures a complete betting experience, and one that will keep you coming back for more.

Read full review

PalaceBet

  • Plenty of promotions
  • Fantastic casino games offered
  • Great odds across the sportsbook
  • Limited markets for niched sports
Welcome Offer
Up to R6000 Deposit Match
& R50 Free Bet
ClaimGo to website
Website: www.palacebet.co.zaFounded: 2020
Owner: Peermont GroupHeadquarters: Cape Town
Palacebet Home
Palacebet Live
Palacebet Racebook

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

Launched in 2020, PalaceBet is one of the newer betting operators to enter South Africa compared to its competitors. Here’s a summary of the key factors regarding the operator:

Palacebet at a Glance

⚖️ Licensed by:

  • WCGRB

🌟 Best Aspects:

  • Great odds and a great range of casino games

💎 Promo Offers:

  • Plenty of existing customer offers such as "Shoot and Score"

Palacebet Verdict: 8/10

PalaceBet is a good bookie for beginners as well as seasoned punters and offers all-around value.

Visit PalaceBet

Read full review

Playabets

  • Lots of valuable promos
  • Wide range of betting markets
  • Sizeable sportsbook
  • Bonus offer isn’t easy to claim
  • Website isn’t the best
Welcome Offer
R50 Sign Up Bonus
+ 50 Free Spins
ClaimGo to website
Website: www.playabets.co.zaFounded: 1990
Owner: Playa BetsHeadquarters: Durban
Playabets Sports
Playabets Live Betting
Playabets Homepage

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

Founded back in 1990, and having entered the online fray in 2012, Playabets is a great option for punters looking for valuable promos, lots of betting markets, and a sizeable sportsbook. While this bookmaker doesn’t offer the easiest welcome bonus to claim, or the best-looking website, all around, Playa Bets is worth signing up with.

Visit Playa Bets

Read full review

Fafabet

  • Good welcome offer
  • Lots of promotions available
  • Wide range of sports to bet on
  • Desktop site can feel overwhelming for new users
  • Live betting could be improved
Welcome Offer
150% up to R5000
ClaimGo to website
Website: Founded:
Owner:Headquarters:
Fafabet homepage
Fafabet live betting
Fafabet slots

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

Fafabet’s one of South Africa’s newest betting sites, and appeals to sports bettors with a taste for a juicy bonus. Fafabet also offers generous promos for existing players available. The operator also offers plenty of sports to bet on. Fafabet could improve the website’s overall design, as it feels very unorganized. The site could also offer a much better live betting platform. Overall, Fafabet is worth a try, especially considering the way they’ll reward you for joining them.

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Bet.co.za

  • Brilliant on Mobile
  • Bet Vegas Live Games
  • Fantastic Features
  • Site can feel overwhelming
  • Customer Support isn’t 24/7
Welcome Offer
100% up to R1000
ClaimGo to website
Website: https://www.bet.co.za/sports/Founded: 2010
Owner: Betcoza Online (RF) (Pty) LtdHeadquarters: Cape Town
Bet coza Home
Bet coza Live Betting
Bet Vegas

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

Beginning their journey into the South African betting market after the World Cup in 2010, Bet coza have had one thing in mind - to offer a platform that puts the punter first. With over a decade in the game, Bet coza offer users a site with a distinct and elegant style, top notch features, and promotions for days.

We recommend Bet.co.za! ⭐️

Read full review

Lulabet

  • Fun spin & bet feature
  • Daily bet boosts
  • Bet builders available
  • Fewer sports available
  • Lacks soccer markets
Welcome Offer
Bet R250 Get R250
or Bet R50 Get R50
ClaimGo to website
Website: Founded:
Owner:Headquarters:

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

World Sports Betting

  • Best Odds and Markets
  • Horse Racing Live Streaming
  • Substantial sportsbook
  • Website could look nicer
Welcome Offer
100% up to R10 000
+ R50 Free Bet
ClaimGo to website
Website: https://www.worldsportsbetting.co.za/Founded: 2002
Owner: World Sports Betting PTY (Ltd)Headquarters: North Riding, Johannesburg
WSB Homepage
WSB Racing
WSB Soccer

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

Founded in 2002, World Sports betting have applied their sports betting services to the South African public for just under two decades, and in that time, they have corrected and perfected their site for the local punter. It doesn't get much better than WSB in South Africa.

WSB comes Highly Recommended ⭐

Visit World Sports Betting

Read full review

YesPlay

  • Good for Lucky Numbers
  • Minimalistic website design
  • Only lists popular sports
  • Live betting needs improvement
  • Desktop functionality is flawed
Welcome Offer
100% up to R3000
ClaimGo to website
Website: Founded:
Owner:Headquarters:
Yes Play Homepage
Yes Play Live Betting
Yes Play Lucky Numbers

Summary

Author: Alex Goldstein Alex Goldstein

Bettors who enjoy Lucky Numbers will be happy with what Yes Play has to offer. The design of the website is minimalistic (best on mobile), perfect for punters who don’t like frills. Their sportsbook isn’t loaded with sports people don’t care about. The live betting offering is disappointing, and the desktop functionality is flawed. Overall, there are better options out there but Yes Play does the basics right.

Read full review

Legal Betting Sites ⚖️

You probably have a few questions.

Is betting legal? Is online betting legal? Well, you’ve come to the right place.

Welcome to the page that will provide you with all that you need to know about legal sports betting sites in South Africa.

In this overview we’ll cover legal sportsbooks in depth, as well as shed some light on the online gambling legal situation so that you will be well equipped to select a betting site that abides by the law.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that we are not lawyers or legal experts.

What we have provided here for you is based on thorough research, with a close and detailed inspection of the National Gambling Act of 2004, as well as the National Gambling Amended Act of 2008.

We have explored every possible avenue to provide you with the most accurate account of the legal situation that is present within South Africa.

If you wish for a legally binding answer, we encourage you to seek advice from a practicing legal professional.

Legal Betting Sites FAQs

Commonly asked questions surrounding the legal situation of betting sites

🇿🇦 Is Betting legal in South Africa?

Sports betting is legal in South Africa. While some other forms of online gambling are prohibited, land based and online sports betting are legal considering that you are using a bookmaker that is licensed in South Africa.

❓ Which betting sites are legal in South Africa?

All the betting sites listed on My Betting Sites ZA are legal, as well as many more. Go through our list above to check out our picks for the best legal betting sites in South Africa.

🤷 How do I know if a betting site is legal?

You will be able to tell if a betting site is legal by whether or not they have a license. Betting sites generally want to make this clear to punters, so they generally advertise who they are licensed with the bottom of their homepages.

🎰 Is online gambling legal in South Africa?

Online gambling in the forms of casino, poker and bingo are not legal in South Africa. This law mainly targets operators and providers of these services rather than gamblers themselves.

🤝 Can I trust Betting sites?

As a rule of thumb, betting sites are trustworthy if they are licensed, This means that their practices are thoroughly regulated to ensure that users are safe from any malpractice. Each of the Betting sites on My Betting Sites ZA are licensed, and thus trustworthy.

🤔 Is Bet365 legal in South Africa?

Bet365 is one of the most reputable betting brands in the world. They hold licenses in each of the markets they operate in, however they do not accept players from South Africa. As a result, while legal in the markets they operate, Bet365 is unavailable to South African punters.

🧐 Is Betfair legal in South Africa?

Much like is the case with Bet365, Betfair is another international betting powerhouse that does not offer their services to South Africans. For nearly a decade Betfair have suspended their operations in South Africa, and while they are licensed in the markets they operate, this does not apply in South Africa.

👨‍⚖️ Is Betway legal in South Africa?

One of the only worldwide betting names available in South Africa, Betway and their operations are absolutely legal in our nation. They are licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, ensuring that their operations are fully compliant with South African gambling laws.

So, are online Betting sites Legal in South Africa?

Is online betting legal in South Africa? Are online betting sites legal?

Well, that depends.

What renders an online betting site legal, and thus the betting it oversees, is whether or not it is licensed by a national gambling board.

Licensing ensures that the betting site is regulated, and thus confirms that the online betting site’s practices are lawful and safe to partake in. Betting sites can be licensed by one (or more) of 9 provincial regulatory gambling boards.

Gambling Authorities in South Africa

In South Africa, each of the 9 provinces have a gambling board which oversees the betting practices of each of the sports betting providers operating within their given territory. They are:

  • Gauteng Gambling Board
  • Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board
  • Eastern Cape Gambling Board
  • Free State Gambling and Racing Board
  • KwaZulu-Natal Gaming and Betting Board
  • Mpumalanga Gambling Board
  • North West Gambling Board
  • Limpopo Gambling Board
  • Northern Cape Gambling Board

Keep in mind that these provincial licensing authorities target the operators themselves, and where they (the operators) conduct their business.

What this means is that if an online betting operator is licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, but you live in the Free State, you are still able to bet with them.

The bets are placed over the internet, and the business is technically conducted where the betting operator is located, meaning if you’re betting online, you are free to choose any licensed online betting operator from wherever you are in South Africa.

So Licensed Betting Sites are legal, but what about Online Casinos?

While licensed betting sites are legal, online casinos are not strictly legal. In fact, Legal gambling sites in the form of online casinos do not exist.

This is not to say that South African online casinos do not exist, they do.

They're just not legal. Legal online gambling sites exist exclusively in the form of licensed sports betting sites in South Africa, as the provision of interactive gambling (gambling over the internet) in the forms of casino games, bingo and poker by online operators is prohibited in South Africa.

While this is the case, many operators still offer casino games, bingo, poker, and more. Know that the onus is never on you, the user, but on the provider.

So if you take part in these games, you do not run the risk of any legal action.

Our Advice

Our advice is fairly simple. Stick with the licensed and legal betting sites. If you love to engage in casino games, the betting sites that have been listed on this page each have an impressive array of live games, bet games, virtual games, and more. More importantly than this however, is that they are regulated by their respective provincial gambling boards.

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A Brief History of SA Gambling Law

Legality around gambling and online gambling has been highly contested, and steeped in uncertainty in South Africa from as early as the country’s inception. South Africa’s Gambling Act of 1965 outlawed all forms of gambling.

Within a decade however, a highly lucrative underground casino industry operating out of the Bantustans emerged.

These illegal operations were inaccessible to most citizens, and only served players from the surrounding areas.

The changing of the political tides in 1994, came with a fresh stance on gambling in South Africa. It was at this time when the process of legalising gambling began, and official legislation soon followed.

The National Gambling Act of 1996 was implemented to construct norms and standards, and to regulate a fledgling lawful gambling industry.

This act also gave rise to the National Gambling Board, the residing gambling authority in the nation that still exists today.

National Gambling Act Amendments

The National Gambling Act of 2004 replaced the act of 1996, which was then itself replaced by the National Gambling Amended Act of 2008.

While moves towards the legalisation of all forms of gambling (such as online casinos) seemed inevitable with the updating of legislation, this has not been the case.

The provision of online games by online casinos remains prohibited. Remember however that this law targets the online casinos, and not the players that engage with them.

Best Legal Betting Sites

How do you tell legal betting sites apart from illegal betting sites?

The answer is fairly simple. Legal betting sites want to make you aware that they are licensed and regulated.

They generally disclose the national gambling board they are licensed within the footers of their websites, which can be found right at the bottom of their website homepages.

To clear any confusion up, here is our list of the best legal betting sites, and the licenses they hold:

Hollywoodbets

R25 in Free Bets
+ 50 Free Spins

Hollywoodbets is one of the most popular betting establishments in our country, and further, the most licensed sports betting establishment in South Africa.

Part of the reason for this, is that along with their online platform, they have betting shops located in a number of provinces, country wide, and must hold licenses for each of the provinces in which their shops are located.

With licenses from 6 of the 9 provincial gambling boards, Hollywoodbets is undoubtedly legal, and welcomes all who reside in South Africa.


Betway

100% up to R1000
as a Free Bet

Betway is one of the leading betting entities worldwide, and is the only big name international betting site that is licensed in South Africa.

They are regulated by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, making their operations absolutely legal.


Gbets

100% up to R1000
+ R25 Free Sports Bet

Gbets are the next entry onto the list of legal betting sites in South Africa that we cover here on My Betting Sites.

Gbets are licensed and regulated by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, making them absolutely free from any legal issues.

If you're interested in betting legally with one of South Africa's biggest sportsbooks, Gbets could be the best option for you!


Sunbet

100% up to R1000

Sunbet have been providing a premier betting experience to South Africans for more than a decade now, and do so within the bounds of the law as they are licensed and regulated by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board.

They thus welcome players from all over our nation.


Supabets

Deposit Bonuses up to R5000
+ R50 Free Bet & 100 Free Spins

Supabets’ impressive service is licensed and regulated by the Mpumalanga Gambling Board, and thus is free from any legal wrongdoing.

Hosting an explosive betting experience with a variety of ways to win big, Supabets welcomes all punters from Mzansi.


World Sports Betting

100% up to R10 000
+ R50 Free Bet

World Sports Betting’s trusty service is licensed and regulated by the Gauteng Gambling Board, and thus welcomes all South Africans to their platform to bet legally.

If a large sportsbook and lucky numbers are what tickle your betting fancy, look no further than World Sports Betting.


Now that you know all there is to know about betting legally, choose one of the best legal betting sites and start betting today!

Best legal betting sites

  1. 100% up to R1000
    as a Free Bet

  2. 100% up to R1000
    + R25 Free Sports Bet

  3. R25 in Free Bets
    + 50 Free Spins

  4. 100% up to R1000

  5. 100% up to R10 000
    + R50 Free Bet

  6. Risk Free First Bet up to R2000

  7. 100% up to R1000

  8. Deposit Bonuses up to R5000
    + R50 Free Bet & 100 Free Spins