It isn’t hard to find legal sportsbooks in South Africa, but you had better make sure that you are betting with one. South Africa has some very liberal policies when it comes to sports betting, but is also very willing to throw the hammer down when somebody is betting at or operating an illegal sportsbook.
So, make it easy on yourself and just bet with the ones that are legal. South Africa is very gambling-forward. The country has 59 licensed casinos, eight horse tracks, over 27,000 slot machines, and nearly 1,000 table games. Amazingly, with 42 cities that have some form of gambling, there is only one sports betting parlor in the country. That is the GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World in the capital of Cape Town.
Multiple attempts to streamline sports betting legislation have come up short, so prospective bettors will have to be vigilant in knowing where they can bet and where they can’t. Obviously, that retail sportsbook is one spot, but a lot of online sportsbooks have gotten approval to accept South African accounts.
On the other hand, a lot do not. Sports betting law has a lot of grey areas in South Africa, so you need to be very careful. Unlicensed betting sites that do not have the blessing of the government are subject to heavy fines for accepting South African players, so if you try to sign up at a sportsbook with a South African address and it is forbidden, there is at least one clear-cut reason.
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Betting laws in South Africa are focused on making sure that all parties involved do things the right way. Operators face stiff penalties if they are not licensed to operate in South Africa and bettors that use those sites can be penalized as well.
Fortunately, you can take all of the guesswork out of figuring out who is legal and who is not by betting at Betway. Betway Sports is Africa’s #1 online sports and gambling partner because it has a sterling reputation as being of the most trusted and honest sportsbooks in the industry.
You won’t find a more comprehensive, all-encompassing set of soccer betting odds than Betway. Football, as the game is known around the world, is hugely popular in South Africa, but that isn’t the only sport. A lot of golfers and professional athletes in other sports have come from South Africa and Betway has you covered with all of those sports betting markets as well.
The choice is clear. Betway.
Sports Betting in South Africa
At legally licensed places, South Africans bet on a variety of sports. Everything from football to basketball and from golf to tennis. South Africans are present in a lot of sports leagues around the globe and this is a proud population eager to find any way possible to support its teams and athletes.
Golf is an especially popular betting market with several South African players on the PGA Tour and also the European Tour. Soccer is the global sport, as we all know, and that is the most popular betting market in the country, but basketball is not that far behind.
A lot of South Africans do shy away from betting on sports because of the unclear laws in the country. The fines and penalties are indeed stiff and that is something that both bettor and operator do not want to incur.
Available Sportsbooks In South Africa?
In all honesty, finding a list of available sportsbooks for South Africans is tough to do. Read the terms and conditions of the sportsbook you are interested in and see if there are restrictions on South African players. You can also try Google searching to see if the sportsbook you want to sign up for accepts South Africans.
Deposit and Withdrawal Methods In South Africa
As far as African countries go, South Africa is one of the most advanced in a technological sense, so a lot of the same payment processors and methods of deposit and withdrawal are going to be available. Visa, Mastercard, EFT, iPay, bank wires and bank transfers from Standard Bank, Nedbank, First National Bank, and ABSA Bank Limited, and other methods. You’ll have to see what the sportsbook accepts from South African accounts.
Generally speaking, withdrawals are done in the same manner as the deposit. As a rule of thumb, most sportsbooks will prefer bank wires and bank transfers for South Africa. As one of the most technologically advanced countries, it is also one with the best banking system on the continent.
Promotions and Bonuses
As long as you find an approved sportsbook, you will have access to the same promotions and bonuses as all other account holders. That includes an initial first deposit bonus that could be as high as a 100% match of your deposit amount. That means doubling your bankroll before you even place a wager!
Daily and weekly promotions and contests are always available. Also, because the sportsbooks AND the racebooks would be approved by the South African government, you would be eligible to receive whatever the rebate rate is at your racebook. Those range from 7% to as high as 12% at some places.
Summary
Betting on sports in South Africa can be tricky. There are a lot of grey areas and there are a lot of places that will not accept South African players because of the harsh punishments in the gambling laws. If you find one, however, then you will be able to enjoy all the convenience and comfort of betting from home on the sports and events that you love.
