Sportsbetting guide

Sports Betting Regulation

Gambling involves risk, which is why the government in South Africa has stepped in to regulate the space. The National Gambling Board is in charge of laying down the laws guiding sports betting companies in the country. Initially, all gambling activity was banned in South Africa except Horse Racing which was recognized as a legitimate sporting activity. The board controls and regulates all online and offline betting activities and ensures that operators stay on the right side of the law.

Provinces in South Africa also have their local regulators who control gambling activities in the regions. The Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board is in charge of regulating all sports betting and horse racing activity in Cape Town. These boards ensure that operators meet the needs of local gamblers and prevent any exploitation from occurring. They also collect taxes and promote responsible gambling initiatives. Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board also promote whistle-blowing programs that allow players to report erring betting platforms they may have missed.

The Financial Intelligence Centre Act covers anti-money laundering and KYC initiatives that ensure users do not abuse betting platforms for illegal activities. Betting odds are also routinely evaluated to ensure that they are fair, and platforms are required to enable smooth transactions (deposit and withdrawal) and redemption of all winnings.

The Growth of Online Sports Betting

Traditional sports betting involves writing out your selection on a bet slip and handing it over to the cashier. It also meant that you had to travel to the betting shop or the racetrack, which could be time-consuming and expensive. The online sports betting revolution means that you can place all your sports bets from the comfort of your home. Most modern sports betting sites are also optimized to work with the full range of mobile devices, so you can bet on the go.

Sports betting companies now operate sophisticated and well-designed online websites where gamblers can create an account. The account gives gamblers access to bet on sports competitions like the Premier League and the Champions League. In addition, betting odds are displayed live and gamblers can edit their betting slip numerous times before placing a wager. These sites also provide many useful betting tools, including bet calculators, in-play live betting, competitive odds, streaming of popular sporting events and the ability to combine single bets into combination bets.

These online sports betting websites have made it easier for SA bettors to access various betting options, markets, payment options, and mobile betting. The rise of online betting has brought entertainment for sports fans but it has also increased the risk of gambling. With improved access, gamblers can now win or lose money with the touch of a button. In addition, children with access to the internet can now access betting websites and apps without much hassle.

Due to the penetration of the internet and the ease of access to these sites, regional regulators like the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board have laid down strict regulations regarding online betting. All sports betting operators are only allowed to register users who are 18+ and are required to verify the age of users using a valid means of identification.

How to Place an Online Sports Bet

Step 1

Visit the website of a popular betting site or download their app using your mobile device or PC. For example, Sportingbet South Africa or the Sportingbet app.

Step 2

Click the "Sign Up" button to begin the registration process. Most sports gambling websites provide a simple and speedy sign-up process. This process includes the provision of a new user's full name, date of birth, preferred currency, address, and city.

Step 3

Gamblers may also need to verify their account on the online betting platform using a valid means of identification. Some betting websites will not allow unverified accounts to deposit funds or gamble on sporting events.

Step 4

Once you've set up your account, you can make a deposit using your preferred banking method. You must have money in your account before you can place bets on games. Navigate to the available sports games on the site (Cricket, Soccer, rugby, tennis) and select the game you want.

Step 5

As you select games, they will appear on your bet slip. Bettors are free to select a single match or multiple games to their selection. Punters should also ensure that they read the terms and conditions of the website to ensure they can use accumulators.

Step 6

After making your bets, you may want to edit them. The online betting slip is usually located at the top right of the page on the website of most online sports betting platforms. Others may have the betting slip located at the bottom of the website. Once you are done editing your selection, the next step is wagering.

Step 7

Select the amount you would like to wager and confirm the bet. The online betting slip will contain the total betting odds and the projected money you are expected to win. The final part of this is watching the game and waiting for your predictions to come through.

Sports Betting Markets

There is no end to the ingenuity with which sports betting companies come up with new ways to bet on your favourite sporting events like the soccer World Cup, rugby, tennis, cricket, and other games. Some markets are more common among bettors because they have more competitive odds or have lower risk. There are also betting platforms that offer special bets to bettors who join their website and make deposits. Here are some of the most common sports betting markets in South Africa:

Match Winners

The most popular way to bet on sport remains the Match Winner option. With a Match Winner market, you have two or three options, depending on whether the draw is possible, and the price for each selection will be quoted in fractional odds (e.g. 2/1, 5/2) or decimal odds (e.g. 3.0, 3.5).

Asian Handicaps

Asian Handicap betting began to become popular globally around the time of the 1998 World Cup, and now it is the preferred way to bet on football for many people. In an Asian Handicap, you are not betting on which team will win, but instead on the margin of victory. For example, in a game between Brazil and Germany, the handicap may be Brazil -0.5, which means that if you bet on Brazil, they will have to overcome a 0.5 goal handicap for your bet to be successful.

Handicaps

Handicap bets add negative goals or points to the strong teams and positive goals or points to the weak teams pre-match. This pre-match bet is added to the final score of the game to determine if the bettor wins or loses.

Double Chance

These bets allow punters to pick two outcomes in a game. The punter is making a bet that the home or away team will win or draw. Simply put, if a bettor selects the home team to win or draw, the bet wins if the home team wins or the match ends in a draw. The bet will be lost if the away team wins the match.

Corners

Corners are common in soccer matches and are a popular betting market for soccer lovers. These bets can either predict the range of corners in a match or the range of corners an individual team will get. In addition, punters can predict either of the teams to have more corners than the other.

Over/Under Betting

Over/Under betting is another new form of betting that offers an alternative to the traditional Match Winner market. With Over/Under betting you are betting on a numerical indicator such as the number of goals or corners in a football game. For example, in the Over/Under 2.5 goals market, you will be betting Over if you think there will be more than 2.5 goals or Under if you expect fewer.

OutRights

These bets select the winner of a competition, tournament, championship, or league. Punters make this bet to back a team to go all the way to be crowned champions. For example, a bettor could select AC Milan as the team to win the Serie A at the end of the season. Winnings can only be claimed if AC Milan wins the Serie A.

Accumulators (ACCA)

Accumulators allow punters to combine multiple bets into a single bet. For punters to win this bet, all the predicted outcomes must be correct. One advantage of this is that the odds compound and give players a chance for bigger winnings.

Popular Sports Betting Options

South African sports betting sites will offer markets on every sport you can think of, but some sports are more popular than others. Here are some of the favourite sports of bettors in South Africa:

Football

Football (or Soccer) is one of the most popular sports in the world. In South Africa, it contests closely with rugby and horse racing. Every day millions of football fans place bets on an astonishing variety of football markets. The betting options available cover the premier and sub-divisions of the big leagues in Europe where teams like Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, AC Milan, Juventus, PSG, and Bayern play. African football is also well represented by the NSL (National Soccer League) where teams like the Orlando Pirates play. Cup events like the Champions League, World Cup, FA Cup, and DFB Pokal are also available for bettors.

There are over 100 markets available to choose from across various domestic and international leagues. There is also a range of in-play live sports betting options available for bettors. These live-betting football options allow bettors to wager money on actions while games are on.

Basketball

Basketball is a very popular sport in the US and other parts of the world including China, South Africa, and Canada. The most popular league in the world is the NBA (National Basketball Association) which is located in the US while other regions have their local basketball leagues. The sport is popular on online sportsbooks because of the competitive odds and passionate fans who love to bet on the sport.

Tennis

As one of the world's most popular sports, it is no surprise that tennis is also a big hit with sports betting fans, and both the ATP and WTA tours are well covered by South African betting companies. Tennis is particularly popular with fans of live betting, and many online sites will offer in-play markets focusing on which player will score the next point or win the current set. The best South African sites will also provide live streaming coverage of major tennis events like Grand Slams to help you bet in play.

Ice Hockey

Popular all over the world, from Finland to Canada, ice hockey provides sports betting fans with a range of betting opportunities, from straightforward betting on a tournament or match winners to live betting on the scorer of the next goal. Ice hockey action is fast and furious, and so are the ice hockey betting markets, particularly when it comes to major events like the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Horse Racing

Horse racing is one of the oldest sporting events in the country. Previously, punters had to go to a race track where the games were held to place a bet but online gambling has made it easier. Some operators provide streaming services that allow players to watch the horse races as they happen. Horse races are usually fast-paced and the winner is determined in minutes.

Cricket

Cricket is popular in South Africa and the country participates in the Cricket World Cup. There is also a domestic cricket league where local South African teams compete. Players are free to bet on these cricket games and other international cricket games in countries like India and Pakistan.

Rugby

Rugby is a popular sport in South Africa and gamblers are free to bet on the games. The national rugby team is among the strongest in the world and has been ranked in the top 7 since its formation till date. There is also a South African Rugby league which coordinates a local league tournament among teams in the country.

Virtual Sports

Virtual sports are electronic games that use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to produce random outcomes that players can bet on. These games cut across many sports including football, cricket, horse racing, and tennis. Winnings are claimed immediately after a win and if bets lose, the wagers are forfeited immediately.

Lucky Numbers

Lucky numbers are a game of chance where players gamble on the numbers a computer will generate. Typically, players are advised to pick their lucky numbers when they play this game, which is where it got the name "Lucky Numbers." After players select their lucky numbers, the computer spits out randomly generated numbers and if your lucky numbers match the numbers generated, you win. Some operators allow players to gamble on multiple bets while others allow a single bet per round. Players should remember that gambling involves risk and this is purely a game of chance.

Payment Methods

The available payment methods on these platforms allow South African punters to deposit and withdraw funds seamlessly. They also support the Rand which means players will not have to pay conversion fees when they fund their account. Bet platform operators allow gamblers to fund their accounts using bank transfers. In addition, e-wallets like Neteller, Skrill, and Jeton are available to use for convenience. Card providers such as Mastercard, Visa, and Maestro are also available for players to use when funding their accounts.

Some payment methods are not eligible to receive bonuses so players are advised to read the bonus terms and conditions for further clarification. The processing times used by these payment methods vary. Players are advised to learn the processing time of their preferred method before making a withdrawal request.

Responsible Gambling

The National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) is a public and private partnership between the SA government and bet platform operators. It is controlled by the SA Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) and is the only program of its type available anywhere in the world. There is a toll-free counselling line available 24/7 for all gamblers in SA. If you feel like you have a gambling problem, feel free to call the number for assistance.

Gamblers can also take advantage of the self-exclusion option to suspend their gambling account for a minimum of 6 months. This is great for users who find it hard to stop gambling on games or spend all their money on gambling websites. There are also other guards like deposit limits, which help protect gamblers from the harmful effects of gambling.

Sport Betting Tips

When you gamble on sports, the odds are usually in the favour of the bookmaker. Punters need to use various strategies to even the playing field and win when they bet on games. Here are some gambling tips for you:

• Always research the form of teams, players, horses, or other key players. These participants have a significant influence on how games turn out.
• Do not bet more than what you are willing to lose and always manage your bankroll efficiently.
• Get your news from reliable sources and stay up to date with coach changes, team sheets, and other relevant information before games start.
• Take advantage of bonuses provided by gambling operators to increase your bankroll.
• Avoid making sentimental decisions when placing bets because it can cloud your judgment.
• Do not continue making bets when you are on a losing streak. Take a break for a while and resume making bets at a different time.
• Avoid sports that you are unfamiliar with and stick to sports that you understand.

Conclusion

Whether you want to make a bet on the Nedbank Cup Final or the winner of the US Open tennis tournament, you can find an online sports betting platform to meet your needs. In the twenty-first century, sports betting fans in South Africa are living through a golden age of betting opportunities as online sports betting companies compete to offer the best prices and the most comprehensive markets.

The odds available on these websites are competitive because of the numerous operators available online. Competitive odds ensure that gamblers have choices and it improves competition among operators to deliver the best service possible. Some operators have mobile apps like the Sportingbet app which allows players to gamble from their mobile devices.

Overall, gamblers in SA will enjoy the services provided by these operators. If gamblers feel they have a problem, they can use the tools provided by operators and the SARGF. With these tips, bet markets, and available sports, you can begin your punting journey.

Frequently asked questions about sports betting