South Africa has had a bit of a rocky history when it comes to legal sports betting, but since 2021, online bookmakers have been allowed to operate in the country, with more than 30+ sites available at this point. With that said, at Efirbet, we still have concrete ways to make sure that you choose the very best of these available sites.
Which are the Best Bookmakers in South Africa
- Licensed Betting Platform
- Reputable and Famous Brand
- Useful Betting Features
- Competitive Odds
- Sports Markets and Casino Games
- Great Welcome Bonuses
- Excellent Sportsbook
- Reputable and Reliable brand
- Excellent Promotions
- A safe Crypto bookmaker
- Sports markets with high odds
- Convenient payments
- High odds in the sportsbook
- Cashout option for punters
- Lots of promotions
- Complex betting experience
- Many additional betting options
- Cool betting features
- Excellent reputation
- Many sports bonuses
- Useful betting features
- Selection of more than 1300 sports markets
- 24/7 support through chat, email and phone
- Welcome bonus bundle up to R5000
- Various promotions for existing customers
- Attractive horse racing section
- Wide range of Vegas games
- Experienced bookmaker
- Reputable and licensed brand
- Variety of bonuses
- Superb sportsbook
- Cool and useful betting features
- Great odds
- Great betting features
- Excellent variety of gaming sections
- Competitive odds
- Wide range of payment methods
- 100% Legal brand
- Downloadable apps for Android & iOS
- Great Sports Betting Section
- Competitive odds
- Mobile App for Android
- Convenient Mobile Version
- Variety of Slots & Live Games
- Affordable Live Casino Limits
Here at Efirbet, we review and rank all the best bookmakers in South Africa with an objective lens. We cover all the key aspects of these sites – such as free bonuses, cool features, gaming variety, and betting apps – to make sure that you know exactly what they provide for you. Here is a list of online bookmakers in SA that are currently our favourite options to bet with.
- Pros
- Competitive betting odds
- Plenty of soccer betting markets
- Exciting promos
- Cons
- The interface could be a little smoother
If soccer betting is your preferred gambling outlet, then Hollywoodbets is the platform for you. The platform has some seriously competitive odds for soccer betting and also runs plenty of promotions that you can use to ramp up your bets on everything from the Premier League to the PSL. It’s one of the best bookmakers in South Africa for soccer betting right now, that’s for sure.
- Pros
- Superb user interface
- Ample deposit options
- Excellent live betting feature
- Cons
- Welcome offer could be bigger
There is something so satisfying about using the Betway platform, which is why it’s one of our favourite bookmakers in South Africa at the moment. It’s a breeze to navigate, from finding your favourite sports to bet on to making a deposit; they make the whole betting experience a simple one. It’s a superb option for veteran and newbie punters alike.
- Pros
- The live betting feature is immaculate
- Customer support is quick to respond
- Beefy welcome bonus for new users
- Cons
- The sportsbook menu feels a bit cluttered
A feature that stood out for us at Betfred was the live betting options. Not only did the feature run smoothly, but we found that there was a plentiful supply of live betting markets to choose from as well. The odds were also competitive, giving us plenty of room to find value with our bets, even when compared with other bookmakers in South Africa.
- Pros
- A diverse range of payment methods
- Quick payout times
- Quality prop betting options
- Cons
- Email response could be a touch faster
There are plenty of features at Boylesports to enjoy, but we found their range of deposit options and the speed at which they pay out your winnings to be a real treat. Once your bet clears and your winnings are in your Boylesports account, you can get them into your personal account in no time at all.
- Pros
- Great for new punters
- Major welcome bonus available
- Diverse betting markets
- Cons
- Could use more weekly promos
If you are new to betting online in SA, then the YesPlay platform is going to suit you down to the ground. Using the platform doesn’t feel overwhelming at all. It has a simple design, it’s not trying too hard with its animations on the homepage, and the colour scheme makes reading everything easy.
- Pros
- Generous VIP program
- Stellar range of sports to bet on
- Easy to make deposits and withdrawals
- Cons
- Horse racing section could look cleaner
One of the best features of Fafabet is its VIP program. We love bookmakers in South Africa who give some extra love to players who show loyalty to their platform. The VIP program gives you everything from cashback bonuses to special birthday offers as well. It’s a great way to maintain player interest in the site.
The Main Criteria When Choosing Bookmakers in South Africa
There are several important criteria that we consider when reviewing bookmakers in South Africa. These criteria include everything from their range of promotions and their betting markets to the quality of their user interface and the responsiveness of their customer service.
With that said, safety and security are key in this regard as well, which is why we always make sure to review these elements as well:
Licence
One of the key things, that you should always do first, is make sure that bookmakers in South Africa have been licenced and regulated by an official gambling authority in SA. This information is usually at the very bottom of the homepage with these South Africa bookmakers.
Responsible Gambling Policy
We always check up on the responsible gambling practices of the best South Africa bookmakers. A few things we like to look out for are the options to suspend your account. From a 24-hour cool-off period to a self-exclusion setting where you can freeze your account for 6 months.
A few other options we look out for are links to responsible gambling organisations, deposit limits, and even gambling self-assessment tests to see if you are perhaps betting a little too often.
Clear Terms and Conditions
We also like to make sure that the terms and conditions are clearly visible and accessible on the homepages of these bookmakers in South Africa. If it isn’t an option at the top of the homepage then we at least make sure that we can find it at the bottom of the page in and around the privacy policy and responsible gambling options.
Impeccable Reputation
Something that you, as the punter, can do yourself (or simply read our reviews) is check up on what your fellow South African betting fans have to say about their experiences with these sites. If these South African bookmakers have mostly positive reviews from past users, they are usually a safe bet to use.
Online vs. Brick-and-Mortar South African Bookmakers
There are a couple of key differences between brick-and-mortar establishments and online bookmakers in South Africa. You may be wondering “are the bookmakers near me better than the online options?“
First off, online betting gives you far more convenience, as you can bet while you are on the go. You also have access to betting promotions that can help boost your winnings.
However, it’s worth mentioning that there is a certain camaraderie with your fellow punters when you use a brick-and-mortar betting shop in SA. So, both have their advantages, but online bookmakers in South Africa give you just a few more benefits to work with.
FAQ
Are online bookmakers in South Africa legal?
Yes, multiple online gambling platforms operate legally in South Africa right now.
Which are the best soccer bookmakers in South Africa?
In our eyes, it’s probably Hollywoodbets right now, but there are plenty of sites like Betway and Fafabet that also do an excellent job with their soccer betting options.
Which are the best racing bookmakers in South Africa?
This will be a little more subjective, but if we had to choose, we would go with Betway for your horse racing betting needs.
