From tradition to technology: The evolution of sports betting in South Africa The Mail & Guardian

The merger would leave 92% of casinos under two firms, limit new market entry due to scarce licenses, and give Sun International a significant edge with prime locations. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. A 2016 study by the University of Cape Town’s Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health noted a significant association between suicidality and pathological gambling. It found that pathological gamblers were five to ten times more likely to have a history of suicide attempts than non-gamblers. If you bet often, using a mobile app is the best choice for speed and convenience.

Only available to South African bank account holders with internet banking access. From football and MMA to kabaddi and eSports, BetShezi offers a huge range of sports. You’ll love the live betting, bet builder, system bets, and boosted odds that make every wager more exciting and flexible. By using our website, content and services you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

The rise of the online gambling industry is closely tied to this wave of constant developments, which translated through a decrease in the overall price for internet connectivity in several African countries. Hence, nowadays, African citizens represent over 11.5% of the overall internet users in the world. Many African countries are currently revising their regulatory frameworks for iGaming and betting, with the aim of creating a more conducive environment for the industry.

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This guarantees that the site runs under tight policies, therefore offering bettors a safe and secure environment. In South Africa, the legal gambling age is eighteen, hence all licensed operators have to confirm the age of their clients in order to stop young gaming. The rise of mobile apps and the ability to bet from smartphones have revolutionized the industry. Whether on the go or from the comfort of their home, many South African gamblers nowadays would rather use their cell phones to make bets. Optimizing betting sites for mobile usage can help to guarantee a seamless betting experience by means of simple navigation. Furthermore improving accessibility and convenience for users is having a specific mobile app for iOS and Android smartphones.

Software developers are developing sports betting features that focus on personalisation where your previous betting performance will be taken into account using recommendation engines. This helps sports betting punters make better informed decisions based on their betting and improves the whole sports betting experience. By incorporating elements such as rewards, badges, and leaderboards, sports betting apps can keep users engaged and interested. Although the gambling industry overall continued to grow from a revenue perspective in 2016, the growth rate was significantly lower than increases experienced during the past couple of years.

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Additionally, take the time to learn about odds and probabilities to help you make more informed betting decisions instead of relying purely on luck. Ultimately, the more you know, the better your chances of placing smarter and more strategic bets. Availability Of course, another key factor is ensuring that the sports betting platform is available in your jurisdiction. That said, it needs to be licensed, regulated, and accept players based in your location. Customer support and user experienceResponsive customer support is another non-negotiable factor when looking to play at the best online sportsbooks.

GRIPP Advisory has a vast amount of collective experience in providing advisory services to the gambling industry of South Africa and other African countries. From the time gambling was introduced in East Africa it was a niche activity enjoyed by a few participants in society mostly foreigners and specific groups. It was not a main stream activity but mainly confined to casinos with expatriates and elites making up the bulk of their customers (1). There were also national lotteries mostly having the general public as users running in the East African countries which people bought tickets and wait for the draws to see if they won.

• Only native South Africans lived in these areas and most weren’t able to access such establishments.
• Online gambling has also become a sector of interest for several foreign investors in other African countries.
• Like Africa’s digital financial revolution, digital gambling’s rise is driven by similar factors but plagued by regulatory gaps and fintech misuse, risking consumers’ financial health through exploitative practices.
• For example, in South Africa, rugby, soccer, and cricket are among the most popular betting options.
• The inclusion of crypto payments is expected to have a similar effect, although many countries, including South Africa, are still working on incorporating cryptocurrencies into their financial systems.

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I’ve compared the top sites based on event coverage, odds, and in-play features to give you a clear picture of where each stands. Betting on the go, whenever and wherever we are, is getting increasingly popular. Therefore, a mobile-friendly fast loading site is mandatory for accessibility and a great betting experience. More and more sportsbook operators now offer betting apps to really cater for their customers. While in the past spinning the reels of fun and exciting slots was only possible in unregulated online casinos this has changed in 2021. Hollywood Bets started with its Spina Zonke games, Supabets followed by adding Pragmatic Play, Yggdrasil slots and moreover quite recently NetEnt and Red Tiger.

• There are different types of sports betting promotions, including welcome bonuses, deposit match bonuses, free bets, reload bonuses, and much more.
• Plus, live betting provides real excitement as players can place their bets in real-time while a game is being played.
• All online betting activity falls under the National Gambling Act, which also allows single-game and parlay bets, provided you’re using a licensed platform.
• Whether you’re predicting match winners, first goal scorers, or total goals, the Champions League provides endless opportunities to test your football knowledge and enjoy the thrill of the game.
• More betting establishments are continuing to appear on the horizon, meaning the industry will keep broadening, according to its high demand.
• The best bookmakers have fair terms with reasonable playthrough requirements, so you can withdraw your winnings instead of getting caught in frustrating endless rollovers.
• Online gambling is prohibited if practiced through a South African based platform.

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It’s a user-friendly platform, abundant bonuses, and diverse betting options, it’s a hub of endless opportunities. Fraudsters use stolen credit card details to top up their account, which means using illegitimate money to pocket real wins. In South Africa, banking institutions have uniform online payment systems and have implemented 3D security which requires the entering of a one-time password (“OTP”). This OTP is usually sent to the account holder’s mobile number, thus making it difficult for fraudsters to transact with stolen credit cards.

Perhaps one of the most important rules of betting is setting a budget and sticking to it. You first need to decide exactly how much you have to spend, and once you do, ensure that you don’t bet more than you can afford to lose. Overall, responsible sports betting ensures that you enjoy the entire online betting experience without unnecessary stress.

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We’re about to help you gain a better understanding of the history of sports betting and also clear up any confusion about a number of the rules currently in place. From the very beginning, the country has put rushing limitations on gambling (including sports betting) since 1673. In 1965, the Gambling Act prohibited diverse types of sports betting except for horse racing.

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A substantial segment of the African public has easy access to online betting because of internet accessibility. Online betting is undoubtedly a popular entertainment form for young people in Africa. A few African countries that have emerged as major participants in the online betting industry and attracted both local and international betting companies are Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana. In the upcoming years, the African online betting industry is projected to experience rapid revenue development.

Safety and SecurityThis is by far a non-negotiable factor when enagaing in sports betting in South Africa. Online sportsbooks use encryption technologies, such as two-factor authentication and SSL encryption, to ensure secure transactions and a safe online betting experience. What’s more, many licensed sportsbooks in South Africa provide access to responsible gambling resources and tools, helping you stay within your limits. Bonuses and promotions are offered by sports betting sites in SA  to attract new players and keep existing bettors engaged.

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Policymakers on the African continent are also expected to start contemplating the same issue as more people take up betting, driven by the internet on the continent. In the US, the industry has seen a major boost as the market has become more liberalised. Betting on sport is now legal in 38 states, with Missouri set to become the 39th state in 2025, as well as the District of Columbia. In June 2021, the group paid $281.5m to increase its stake in BetKing, a digital and sports entertainment platform that focuses on Africa, to 49%. Blue Lake Ventures, which traded as BetKing, subsequently changed its name to KingMakers.

Well, first of all, as we said above, people are always glad to feel the risk and desire of victory. Secondly, it is constantly amazing to watch the game of your favourite team or a player, but when it brings you money, it is much better. Thus, sports betting is really wide-spread because this is a perfect way to satisfy people’s wishes. What makes it so prevalent for thousands of people is a sharp ambition to watch the show between 2 equal opponents. When fans have strong persuasion in their team’s perfection, appetite to brag of their invincibility increases geometrically and placing bets on the events is impending. Sports is not just a way of relaxing anymore, it is a profitable form of earning money.

We don’t just rate sportsbooks – we test them thoroughly, listen to community members, and highlight the ones that provide South Africans with true value. Every SportsBoom sportsbook review follows a thorough, multi-step evaluation process designed to give South African bettors trustworthy, unbiased, and up-to-date information. Ozow handles banking transactions for secure online betting in South Africa, with additional safety and security measures. E-Wallets like Zapper or Samsung Pay offer a digital alternative for people who don’t want to share banking details.

The most common reasons for the digital credit borrowing given by the participants is household needs and business purposes put at 35% and 37% respectively in Kenya and 37% and 31% respectively in Tanzania. The Legal LandscapeThe legality of sports betting in South Africa is a relatively recent development. While horse racing betting has been a constant for decades, the National Gambling Act of 2004 opened the doors for a wider range of sports to be included. Noticing a prospect of economic growth, the government of Tanzania swiftly decided to regulate the online gambling industry through the Internet Gaming Regulations Act promulgated in 2012. With a population of over 1.2 billion people, Africa has a vast untapped market for iGaming and betting. The region’s growing middle class and increased access to mobile devices and the internet are expected to further fuel growth.

• One of the aims of the Remote Gambling Bill, which is backed by the Democratic Alliance, is to regulate various types of online gambling by introducing uniform norms and standards pertaining to “interactive gambling”.
• Individuals, internet service providers, casino sites and banks processing payments for online gambling are risking a R 10 million fine or 10 years of imprisonment.
• There are a number of websites that allow players to bet on the latest rugby games, but not if other online gambling services are offered.
• Advertising from betting companies further fuels this trend, increasing participation within this demographic.

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The integration of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality within the Betway app and others holds the potential to further enhance the betting experience and expand market opportunities. However, stakeholders must navigate regulatory complexities and uphold ethical standards to facilitate sustainable growth within the industry. South African players can now put money on their favorite teams and events thanks to 1Win sports betting, a feature that brings them closer to the action than ever before.

Although this abuse is not always regarded as fraudulent activity, bookmakers hope to identify and block bonus abusers as soon as possible. In South Africa, gambling is heavily regulated by the National Gambling Act, No. 7 of 2004 and the National Gambling Board, as well as provincial gambling regulations. Gambling and betting companies therefore hold operating licences with provincial gambling boards. However, the rapid growth of online betting and gaming has also raised concerns about the potential for problem gambling and the need for effective regulation. The government has taken steps to address these concerns, by introducing measures to prevent underage gambling and to ensure that online betting and gaming operators are operating in a fair and responsible manner.

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They might look similar at first, but they differ in performance, features, and reputation. Bookmakers with the best odds, generous bonuses, customer service, live streaming, and quick withdrawals receive high ratings. Most people don’t like some South African betting websites due to the lack of sports and surprise fees, confusing bonus rules, and slow websites. If you like betting on the ponies, make sure there are South African Horse racing betting markets.

Kickboxing and Muay Thai, with their emphasis on striking and aggressive exchanges, tend to produce more exciting and unpredictable fights, offering different betting opportunities. Unlike boxing, which focuses solely on punches, MMA incorporates striking, grappling, and ground fighting, influencing how odds are set and bets are made. The popularity of tennis is also significant and is growing at steady rates of about 20% per year. The inclusion of crypto payments is expected to have a similar effect, although many countries, including South Africa, are still working on incorporating cryptocurrencies into their financial systems. This is according to the iGaming Trends 2025 report by Malta-based iGaming software supplier Softswiss. Now its third year, the report surveyed operators, game developers, technology providers, media professionals and affiliate marketers in North America, Europe, South America, the Asia-Pacific region and Africa.

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Parimatch also contributes to the development of betting in Africa – on the bookmaker’s website you can easily find information on how to bet and win every day. Sports betting has become popular in Africa relatively recently, but it is gaining momentum every year. If at first, the African betting market had certain drawbacks due to the specifics of the continent and legislation, today the betting system is as close as possible to the European one in terms of transparency. The future of the online casino industry is still unclear, but it will certainly be conditioned by future legal decisions that can either tempt or discourage investors to take a chance on the Kenyan market. The regulation of the online branch of this industry has been beneficial for both the government, which welcomes an increase in tax revenue, and the population, which welcomes the addition of new and exciting leisure activities. But we need to make sure that we aren’t just taking what has worked in Europe and simply transplant it into the South African marketplace.

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From pre-match odds to in-play betting, South African sportsbooks offer a wide range of markets for both seasoned bettors and newcomers. Whether you’re predicting match winners, first goal scorers, or total goals, the Champions League provides endless opportunities to test your football knowledge and enjoy the thrill of the game. In conclusion, the betting industry in South Africa has come a long way since its legalisation in 1965. From the early days of horse racing, it has evolved into a multi-billion-rand industry, encompassing a wide range of betting and gaming options, both online and offline. Despite the challenges posed by the growth of online betting and gaming, the industry remains a key contributor to the South African economy, providing employment and tax revenue, as well as entertainment for millions of people.

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The most appealing aspect of this live game comes from its fast-paced nature. Hence, when accessing the live version of this game in online casinos, African players have the chance to recreate an authentic dealer gambling experience right from the comfort of their homes. In Uganda, the regulatory online gambling act was promulgated as the Lotteries and Gaming Act was released in 2016. And although there are no actual stipulations that actually refer to online gambling, the legalisation of sportsbooks has been formally licensed by the Ugandan National Gaming Board. The lack of traditional banking infrastructure in many African countries presents a challenge for the iGaming and betting industry.

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Casinos face growing competition as foreign digital gambling companies exploit regulatory gaps in African markets, particularly in countries like South Africa, Sudan, and Somalia. These companies operate from jurisdictions such as Gibraltar and Curacao, bypassing local regulations. Their activities resemble past predatory lending trends, creating significant challenges for regulators who struggle to monitor operators circumventing restrictions. In South Africa, the crackdown on illegal gambling has intensified following the country’s greylisting by the Financial Action Task Force due to financial crime deficiencies. Cryptoleo’s dedicated eSports section is one of the most features I’ve come across on any SA gambling site.

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Includes betting on sports events and horse racing where punters are essentially betting on the outcome of the particular event. For this, punters can analyse various factors that could increase the odds of their bet being successful. This activity is legal if it is practiced through betting companies who are appropriately licensed in South Africa for online betting. These licenced companies also offer various products that look like online gambling, however, the betting is structured in a way that it falls under sports/fixed odds betting regulations and licensing.

• The lack of clear and consistent regulatory frameworks for iGaming and betting in many African countries presents a significant challenge for the industry.
• Furthermore fair should be the minimal deposit and withdrawal quantities, so enabling bettors to engage irrespective of their means.
• Betway is recognized as one of the premier online betting platforms for UFC enthusiasts in South Africa.
• The Saturday Star is a popular weekend read which offers a comprehensive and engaging read for its diverse audience.
• The development of sophisticated betting platforms and mobile betting apps in league with the Betway app has revolutionised how bettors engage with sports events.
• I’ve compared the top sites based on event coverage, odds, and in-play features to give you a clear picture of where each stands.
• The content contained within is subject to change at any time without notice.
• Gambling and betting companies therefore hold operating licences with provincial gambling boards.

You can use credit/debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and even cryptocurrencies on some sites. Prior to using crypto, check whether the sportsbook supports your preferred crypto coin. You should also be aware of market fluctuations that can affect your balance. Convenience and AccessibilityOnline betting allows you to place your bets from anywhere at any time using your PC, phone, or tablet.

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Keep an eye out for live chat, email, or phone support options, and test them to ensure that the customer support team is knowledgeable and responsive, addressing your questions in a reasonable amount of time. If you’re after the best sports betting promotions, you’ll find a wealth of them available here at EasyBet. This includes a series of weekly cashback offers, bet matches, cash bonuses, bet insurance, and multi-bet bonuses to boost your winnings. BetsheziBetshezi launched in 2021 and is licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB) and operated by SMP Gaming (PTY) Ltd. The sportsbook covers over 30 sports, including popular selections like rugby, cricket, and soccer from the Premier League. When it comes to bet types, you’ll have access to pre-match, live betting, and virtual sports as well.

As part of our analysis of the online gambling sector in Africa, we find it necessary to elaborate on the great role live casino games have played in the expansion of the industry throughout the continent. The online gambling industry has been regulated in Kenya ever since the Gaming Bill was adopted in 2019. However, many iGaming companies decided to abandon this market once the government threatened to introduce an additional 20% tax on casino stakes, as the prospect of investing in an unstable market was by no means appealing. Gamification, or the incorporation of game-like elements, such as competition, points, rewards, and interactive features, into non-game contexts, can help reverse that.