Best online betting sites: guide to the top bookmakers 2023

Welcome to RSABet, the most comprehensive sports betting site comparison portal in South Africa. Here you will find our reviews of online bookmakers, updated bonuses, and monthly rankings of the best betting sites.

RSABet is your favourite guide to the best sports betting sites that allow South Africans to bet on sports online. RSABet.co.za offers South Africans an all-encompassing guide into betting on sports. You can find the best South African sports betting websites that feature the best odds and a generous bonus to go with it. Betting on sports has never been this easy, combining the new age technology to bring South Africans the best gambling games from across the world in real time. Bet on sports events taking place live, while they happen, with a play-by-play relay of all the action that happens on the field. We’ve found that betting on sports can be as entertaining and rewarding as watching the game.

Our review process of the bookmakers online that we recommend is done with an emphasis on the firm’s licensing and whether they abide by the regulations of South African gambling laws. We only recommend legal South African betting sites that were thoroughly vetted by our gambling experts. The team of experts also provide SA sports betting tips and strategies that players can implement to make sure that they make informed bets. This includes a list of the best betting sites in South Africa along with odds on top local competitions.

Mattia De Santis
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Last updated 14.10.2021
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Thanks to our careful analysis of the most comprehensive legal sports betting sites in the South African market, we were able to select the top 10 betting sites of October. In the following ranking, we took into account factors such as welcome bonuses, betting odds level, live platform and live streaming, and much more.

Top 10 sports betting sites of October 2023
Best betting sites Assessment: Serie A Payouts: Advantages: Live streams: Welcome Bonus: Learn more
5/5 95.0% Bonuses and promotions Yes Up to €300 + €5 no deposit Visit site
4.9/5 94.8% Virtual bets Yes Up to €100+ €5 now Visit the site
4.7/5 95.1% Lots of markets No Up to €500 on 3 deposits Visit site
4.6/5 94.8% Football markets No Up to €20 on 2 deposits Visit site
4.5/5 94.9% Payouts and odds No Up to €100 on first top-up Visit site
4.5/5 93.7% Betting Exchange Yes Up to €1,000 + €400 no deposit Visit site
4.4/5 95.3% Extensive schedule No Up to €10 on 1st bet Visit site
4.3/5 96.0% Football bonuses Yes Up to €215 €15 immediately + €200 Visit site
4.2/5 92.9% Well developed app No Up to €5 on 1st deposit Visit site
4/5 93.4% Top streaming Yes Up to €10 on 1st bet Visit site

All present betting sites have been tested by the responsible Mattia De Santis. The ranking is based only on bookmakers with regular requirements and NRGB license and has been updated in 2023.

Betting sites and bonuses

Best betting sites in South Africa

  • ๐Ÿฅ‡ Wazamba โœช 300€ + 5€ no deposit
  • ๐Ÿฅˆ Betwinner โœช 100€ bonus + 5€ right away
  • ๐Ÿฅ‰ PariPesa โœช 500€ on 3 deposits
  • โญ betway โœช Welcome bonus up to 20€
  • โญ 888sports โœช 100€ on 1st recharge
  • โญ Betting World โœช 1.000€ + 400€ no deposit
  • โญ code โœช 10€ on 1st bet
  • โญ William Hill โœช 15€ + 200€ cashback
  • โญ 22Bet โœช 5€ bonus on 1st deposit
  • โญ intertops โœช 10€ bonus on 1st bet
Migliori siti scommesse AAMS con alcuni sportivi

All present betting sites have been tested by the responsible Mattia De Santis. The ranking is based only on bookmakers with regular requirements and NRGB license and has been updated in 2023.

Top 10 online betting sites

To further assist our readers in selecting the bookmaker that best fits their needs, we have decided to divide the best South African betting sites by category. Below you can find the top bookies for each category.

Top bookmakers by category

. . . . . . .
๐Ÿ† Best Betting Site 2023: Wazamba
๐Ÿ“บ Live Betting Tops: intertops
๐Ÿ“Š Best betting odds: 888sport
๐ŸŽ Promos and VIP Programs: Interbet
โญ New betting site: 1xBet
๐Ÿ’ณ Best Paypal Bookmaker: Betway
๐Ÿ”Ž Top by choice of markets: PariPesa
๐Ÿ’ฐ Best Bet Bonus: Betwinner
๐Ÿ”„Betting Exchange: Betting World
โšฝ Football Bet Bonus: William Hill
Migliori siti di scommesse e alcuni sportivi The work involved in compiling the rankings takes a long time, as it includes in-depth review of all the South African betting sites. We are talking about a large number of operators, each of which analyzed in depth.


The rankings of sports betting sites

Below we have decided to summarize all the rankings with the best betting sites that we regularly compile into a single graphical element. The aim is to help our readers in choosing the ideal bookmaker according to their personal needs.

Best Betting Sites of October

The most important top 10 is undoubtedly that of the best betting sites of the current month and which takes into account the latest proposals from bookmakers, especially in terms of schedule, odds and bonuses.


  • ๐Ÿฅ‡ Wazamba โœช Best bookmaker of October
  • ๐Ÿฅˆ Betwinner โœช Ideal for betting bonuses
  • ๐Ÿฅ‰ PariPesa โœช Wide range of bets
  • โญ Betway โœช Top PayPal betting site
  • โญ 888sport โœช Excellent sports odds
  • โญ Betting World โœช Excellent exchange platform
  • โญ Hollywoodbets โœช Top new entry of the year
  • โญ William Hill โœช Fantastic betting app
  • โญ 22Bet โœช Large selection of markets
  • โญ intertops โœช Recommended for live betting

Top NGB Betting Sites for 2023

Here you will find the ranking with the 10 best bookmakers of the year, rewarding online betting sites for the work of the past twelve months. For those looking for a bookie to rely on in the long term, we suggest choosing one from the list below.


  • ๐Ÿฅ‡ Wazamba โœช License NGB 15215


  • ๐Ÿฅˆ Betwinner โœช NGB License 15016


  • ๐Ÿฅ‰ PariPesa โœช License NGB 15242


  • โญ Betway โœช NGB License 15216


  • โญ 888sports โœช License NGB 15014


  • โญ Betting World โœช NGB License 15007


  • โญ code โœช License NGB 15219


  • โญ William Hill โœช Licenza NGB 15038


  • โญ 22Bet โœช License NGB 15015


  • โญ intertops โœช NGB License 15026


Best football betting sites

The sport on which bettors like to bet the most is undoubtedly football. So here we have compiled the following ranking with the best online betting sites for football, each of them associated with its strength.


  • ๐Ÿฅ‡ Wazamba โœช Top football betting site
  • ๐Ÿฅˆ Betwinner โœช Top for live football betting
  • ๐Ÿฅ‰ intertops โœช Ideal for Serie A betting
  • โญ Bettabets โœช Best football betting exchange
  • โญ Betway โœช Great football promotions
  • โญ Betting World โœช Best welcome bonus for football
  • โญ William Hill โœช Excellent live streaming
  • โญ PariPesa โœช Wide range of football markets
  • โญ 888sport โœช Top infographics for matches
  • โญ Sports Illustrated โœช Wide selection of minor leagues

Best odds betting sites

Wondering which betting sites have the best odds? The answer to that question is: it depends on the game! By averaging the payouts offered by top bookies across various events, we have created the following ranking.


  • ๐Ÿฅ‡ intertops โœช 96.20% average payout
  • ๐Ÿฅˆ Betting World โœช 95.90% average payout
  • ๐Ÿฅ‰ Hollywoodbets โœช 95.40% average payout
  • โญ Betway โœช 95.15% average payout
  • โญ William Hill โœช 95.00% average payout
  • โญ Wazamba โœช 94.80% average payout
  • โญ 888sport โœช 94.50% average payout
  • โญ Nomini โœช 94.50% average payout
  • โญ Betwinner โœช 94.10% average payout
  • โญ World Sports Betting โœช 93.60% average payout

Best South African betting sites

If you are a supporter of made in South Africa and want to entrust your bets only to South African betting sites (ie those based in the national territory), below you will find the best bookmakers in our house.


  • ๐Ÿฅ‡ Wazamba โœช MI
  • ๐Ÿฅˆ Betting World โœช PZ
  • ๐Ÿฅ‰ Sports Illustrated โœช Milano (MI)
  • โญ ะกomeon โœช Roma Roma
  • โญ Vincitu’ โœช Napoli NA

Best foreign betting sites

In recent years, a considerable number of foreign betting sites have obtained a valid NRGB license to legally operate in our country. Which are the best among these? The answer lies in the following list.


  • ๐Ÿฅ‡ Betway โœช Malta (Malta)
  • ๐Ÿฅˆ Betwinner โœช Surrey (England)
  • ๐Ÿฅ‰ 888sport โœช Gibraltar (Spain)
  • โญ Hollywoodbets โœช Alcobendas (Spain)
  • โญ Nomini โœช East Sussex (England)
  • โญ 22Bet โœช Pietà (Malta)
  • โญ William Hill โœช London (England)
  • โญ Bettabets โœช London (England)
  • โญ intertops โœช Vienna (Austria)
  • โญ SupaBets โœช Liverpool (England)

The evaluations contained in the above element are the result of analyzing every betting site for each category we deemed important. In the following paragraphs, we will explain in detail the criteria used in our research to determine the best betting sites in South Africa.

How to evaluate safe betting sites in South Africa

The criteria we used to find the best NRGB betting site available on the web were divided into ten categories in order to make the comparison between bookmakers as accurate as possible. The most important points, considering that those who play sports want a wide choice and potential economic return, are undoubtedly the offer proposed by the betting sites and the level of odds. However, this does not mean that they are the only factors and that a betting site that pays well and offers many betting alternatives is necessarily ะกomeon than another.

Above all, those approaching the world of online betting should give weight to the proposed bonuses. Other factors not to be overlooked when it comes to sports betting sites are the quality of live and live streaming offers, the gaming platform, the functioning of the customer service, reliability and ease of use of mobile apps, the number of deposit methods and the security guaranteed by the site.

The variety of the betting offer of the NRGB bookmakers

Both novice and experienced bettors want to have a large number of sports events, leagues, and markets available to invest their money in. In fact, greater choice is directly proportional to the possibility of finding the right bet for your style. In the table below, we have listed the number of sports, national, European, and international football leagues, and pre-match markets available on the reviewed betting sites. We have also highlighted the types of available extra sports bets.

Bookmaker Sports disciplines Soccer competitions Football markets Non-sports betting
intertops 20 4 104 27 70 Entertainment
Sports Illustrated 20 4 70 25 85 Costume and show
Bettabets 10 4 70 36 125 Entertainment and current events
Wazamba 20 3 79 17 130 Entertainment and current events
Betting World 20 4 85 35 200 Entertainment and politics
William Hill 15 4 106 34 80 Entertainment and television
Betwinner 15 5 75 18 100 Entertainment and television
Betway 12 4 78 33 110 Entertainment and television
Hollywoodbets 20 3 75 25 60 News and television
888sport 15 3 100 20 65 Television and current affairs
Best betting offer
4.5/5

Up to 10€

  • Wide variety of sports
  • Many available markets
  • Several championships

The table shows the reference bookmakers in this field, the different sports disciplines, and the variety of football competitions available to members. We find top NRGB betting sites for football and other sports markets. Operators all perform rather well with Bettabets, and intertops is slightly ahead of the others. While classic sports such as basketball betting or bets proposed by tennis betting sites are not lacking, it is pleasant to note that none of the examined bookmakers have neglected the inclusion of extra-sport bets in their range, as well as major events such as Olympic bets.

The odds on South African betting sites

One of the crucial points when it comes to reviewing a bookmaker is represented by the offered odds, that is, the potential earnings that the bettor can aspire to in case of winning. Betting sites, as we will see later in detail, do not redistribute all the money coming from the bets on an event, but retain a percentage that represents their profit. In the table below you can find a summary of the minimum and maximum payouts applied on the various sports by the reviewed bookmakers. The closer the percentage is to 100% the greater the economic return guaranteed to players.

The best odds on betting sites for football and other sporting events
Betting sites Serie A Champions League Premier League ATP NBA
Betway 95.3% 96.2% 96.7% 95.3% 95.5%
888sport 94.6% 96.5% 96.1% 93.5% 94.4%
Wazamba 94.7% 94.6% 94.3% 91.5% 92.9%
22Bet 94.8% 95.1% 94.6% 92.3% 93.6%
Betting World 94.2% 94.4% 93.9% 92.8% 94.1%
William Hill 93.8% 95.8% 94.6% 94.2% 95.8%
Interbet 93.7% 94.1% 93.8% 91.7% 92.3%
Sports Illustrated 94.6% 94.8% 94.4% 94.7% 93.5%
Betwinner 95.2% 95.1% 94.4% 94.6% 96.7%
intertops 94.7% 95.2% 94.9% 92.8% 94.1%

All the best betting sites offer different odds depending on the league and popularity of the match. Operators have a team of experts who calculate mathematically, taking into account variables such as injuries, disqualifications, form conditions, historical results, home and away trends, and so on, the probability that a result will occur in the form of odds. The most popular leagues take priority, as well as a sport like Formula 1 in the case of motorsports betting sites or prestigious tournaments like the Six Nations in rugby betting sites: payouts for less-followed leagues are generally lower because bookmakers, aware that they cannot devote much time to them, want to protect themselves from potential errors in calculating the betting odds.

So, those above are the payouts of the most popular leagues among South African bettors. However, if you are not interested in a specific championship or sport, you can find below the betting sites with the best average payouts for 2023.

  • Wazamba – Highest average payout
  • Betway – Excellent football odds
  • Betwinner – Top tennis betting odds
  • 888sport – Best for live odds
  • Betting World – High payout on Serie A
  • intertops – Convenient odds on 1X2
  • Hollywoodbets – Good odds on Under/Over
  • Nomini – Top payout for minor leagues
  • William Hill – Excellent NBA odds
  • World Sports Betting – Top tennis odds
Un runner e sullo sfondo una quota scommesse

The live proposal

Today it is not possible for an online betting site to avoid offering its customers real-time betting events. Live bets are involving more and more fans and for this reason a bookmaker equipped with a good selection of daily matches. A significant number of real-time markets, good odds and a clear gaming platform with updated statistics for each match, including those proposed by golf betting sites or handball betting sites, can find more followers than those who instead neglect certain details.

In addition, importance is given to live betting sites that stream many events live (such as horse racing on horse betting sites but also matches offered by badminton betting sites) to be able to follow the evolution of the challenges moment by moment.

The quality of the bookmakers' mobile applications

If a few decades ago it would have been unthinkable to place bets from home using your personal computer, even less predictable would have been the ability to do so using a portable phone. Reality tells us that today, those who want to compete to be judged as the best betting site are required to offer their users the possibility of enjoying a mobile platform worthy of the best betting apps.

Some online betting sites have decided to develop applications that can be used on all the most popular operating systems, while others have left out some. It is worth noting that this choice has influenced our evaluation, but we have also taken into account the ease of use, speed, reliability, and graphics of the apps, as well as the consistency of the schedules between the two versions: if I can place American football bets from my desktop, I should be able to do so from a mobile device as well.

Bonuses offered by betting sites

A strong incentive for choosing the best betting site is the welcome bonus. It can be offered in various forms and amounts, and is subject to terms and conditions, as explained in the section of this portal dedicated to betting bonuses. Taking into account the criteria just listed, we report below what we consider to be the best welcome promotion currently available.

Best site

Welcome bonus 305€

  • Best welcome bonus
  • Advantageous conditions
  • Valid also on live bets

Below, instead, we have summarized in some points what needs to be evaluated in the welcome offers of the best betting sites.

  • The necessary playing requirements
  • The minimum deposit and compatible payment systems for the bonus
  • The time available to request the bonus
  • The validity of the bonus
  • The amount of qualifying bets required
  • The presence of markets or sports for which the bonus is not valid
  • The minimum odds on which the offer is required to be invested
  • The valid minimum and maximum betting limits

The most common way of offering welcome bonuses on sports betting websites is the bonus on the first deposit, followed by the bonus on the first bet and cashback bonuses. The first type consists of a fixed or percentage gift amount on the deposited sum after registration. The second follows the same principle, but the percentage is based on the amount of the bet placed immediately after opening the account. Cashback consists of a refund on lost sports bets, net losses (the difference between money won and invested) or total expenses. With all the different types of online betting bonuses and promotions, it can be difficult to navigate.

The best advice is to consider which bonus best fits our style of play: let's not be attracted only by significant figures, for example, but always consider the required playthrough requirements. Anyway, there are some “revealing factors” that allow us to quickly establish which are the best South African betting sites based on bonuses:

Best betting bonus
  • High maximum and presence of free bets
  • Low wagering requirements
  • Low odds for qualifying bets
Worst betting bonus
  • Bonus validity less than 7 days
  • Strict wagering requirements even for free bets
  • Bonus validity limited to few markets and/or sports

Keeping in mind these few relevant factors, especially the offer restrictions and the qualifying deposit, you can easily and quickly determine if a welcome bonus is of high standards. However, we clarify that these are not the only requirements to pay attention to. We emphasize that it is very important to carefully read terms and conditions of various promotions, even when you are on the platforms of the best online betting sites.

Best online betting sites and payment methods

The way in which money is transferred to and from online betting sites is not to be taken lightly when it comes to online betting. Safe, fast transactions with minimum and maximum deposit and withdrawal limits that are not too restrictive are the goals to strive for. A betting site that offers different payment methods in addition to the classic credit cards demonstrates attention to its customers and openness to new forms of online payment that guarantee greater peace of mind in terms of personal data protection and protection against possible fraud. In the table below you will find all the methods made available by the reviewed NRGB betting sites.

The payment methods accepted by the best betting sites
Betting sites PayPal Visa Postepay Skrill Neteller Paysafecard Links
Betway Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Visit site
888sport Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Visit site
Wazamba Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Visit site
22Bet Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Visit the site
Betting World Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Visit site

Electronic wallets, with PayPal leading the way, are a valid alternative, but not the only one. Some of the most innovative online betting sites allow the use of cryptocurrencies or contactless payments like Apple Pay.

Attention to details

In evaluating an operator, whether they are part of the industry veterans or the new betting sites, so many aspects come into play that sometimes it’s the little details that make the difference. Using an objective measuring stick in this case is a complicated operation, because a single user can be fascinated by a feature considered completely superfluous by another bettor and vice versa.

Even in this case, betting sites that combine abundance with quality have an advantage over the competition. The frequency with which special online bets are offered on non-sports topics or on lesser-known sports as is the case with baseball betting sites, giving members the opportunity to consult the results of matches played months ago, coverage of important events such as those offered by Winter Olympics betting sites, providing detailed statistics, match reports or probable lineups are some examples in this regard.

The security systems used by boommakers

The sports betting sites we have selected and featured on this website all have a valid license issued by NGB, which allows them to operate in compliance with South African laws. Obtaining this license is also tied to the security measures adopted by betting sites to ensure users have a safe gaming experience. For this reason, the ratings you find below are all extremely positive.

Bookmaker License number NRGB controlled game Secure connection Player protection
Sports Illustrated 15155 Symantec – 256 bit
William Hill 15038 IT thawte – 256 bit Gambling therapy
Betwinner 15016 digicert – 112 bit Gamble Aware
Betway 15216 GeoTrust – 128 bit G4 (Global Gambling Guidance Group)
intertops 15026 IT thawte – 256 bit GamCare
Bettabets 15236 IT thawte – 256 bit Gambling therapy, G4 (Global Gambling Guidance Group)
Hollywoodbets 15202 IT Network – 256 bit EGBA
888sport 15014 GoDaddy – 128 bit Gambling therapy, UN Global Compact
Wazamba 15215 IT Symantec – 256 bit

One of the components that makes a betting website secure is the system used to encrypt data to protect players' privacy and ensure secure payments. In this regard, all the best betting sites rely on specialized external companies such as Thawte, Symantec Corporation, or Starfield Technologies.

The entities that guarantee the security of betting sites

In our evaluation, we also took into account the attention shown by the best sports betting sites towards the prevention of gambling-related disorders, the way they encourage responsible gaming, the tools made available to players for self-limitation, and the support offered in case any user felt the need for it. Also important is the commitment and collaboration with entities and organizations that fight to prevent phenomena of sports fraud.

The best betting site can also be seen from the customer service

Sooner or later, for various reasons, you may need to ask for clarification on sports betting offers online, the status of a withdrawal or have a clear answer to any type of question that may arise during your gaming experience on one of the betting sites. Many underestimate the importance of customer service in judging a bookmaker, but rest assured that obtaining a quick and accurate response sometimes allows you to avoid annoyances and unnecessary waste of time.

Contact tool Spread Waiting time Suitable for
โ˜Ž๏ธ Phone Common Maximum 5 minutes Simple problems with a need for quick response
๐Ÿ“ง Email/Contact form Common Maximum 24 hours Complex problems, related to sending documents or screenshots
๐Ÿ‘ฉ‍โš•๏ธ Live chat Common Maximum 2 minutes Any problem that does not require sending documents
๐Ÿ’ฌ Messenger Rare Maximum 5 minutes Simple questions with immediate answers
๐ŸŒ Social networks Rare Maximum 48 hours Sending feedback, advice and suggestions

Above, we have listed the various contact methods that can be used to communicate with online betting sites. Among them, one of the most appreciated is live chat. Many NRGB bookmakers offer this service even to those who have not yet opened a gaming account, but intend to request some information. Sometimes, however, speed is unfortunately not accompanied by competence.

Good customer service from an online bookmaker offers:
  • Multi language operators
  • 24/7 availability seven days a week
  • Presence of various contact modes
Poor customer service features:
  • Exhausting waiting times
  • Limited competence of operators
  • Restricted time windows

The experience we have gained with various customer service activities has allowed us to identify some key factors in the quality of customer service. Obviously, we could not overlook the hours when assistance can be requested, rewarding online betting sites that can provide precise indications 24 hours a day, even on weekends.

Bonus points

In order not to neglect any aspect, we wanted to reserve bonus points for those betting sites that offer their users special services. These may be features that are not of primary importance to all bettors, but that contribute to the completeness of the online betting site's gaming offering.

Among these services are online horse betting and virtual betting. The fact that NRGB betting websites have been recognized for their performance in recent years, especially in South Africa, is an important certification, as well as the presence of streaming service, particularly useful when betting live.

Extra Betting site
๐Ÿ† Acknowledgments Betwinner
๐Ÿ“ฐ News, social networks and blogs Wazamba
๐Ÿ‡ Horse racing Sports Illustrated
๐Ÿ“บ Live and stream intertops
๐Ÿ’พ Virtual Betting World

Last but not least, activity on social networks (especially Twitter), together with the presence of updated news on sports and betting in a specific news section and the possible availability of a blog where experts provide users with advice on which events to bet on, has been considered an important feature to reward.

How we tested the best betting sites

In order to have a precise and complete overview of the various betting sites, as mentioned before, we used a methodology that involves identifying relevant categories and conducting a thorough examination of each betting site within those categories. We spent hours analyzing odds, testing customer services, scrutinizing payment methods and conditions, and evaluating the functionality of the gaming platforms. Below, we will delve further into each aspect to help you ะกomeon understand our process.

Calculation of payouts

Previously we mentioned the issue of odds and we saw how these differ from each other depending on the sport, country and caliber of the match. The payout table showed us instead how each of the betting sites offers more or less advantageous percentages depending on the sport and market on which you intend to make predictions.


A small difference in odds can drastically change a player's earnings in the long run, which is why it is important to always ensure the highest odds on the market offered by the best South African betting sites. In this regard, it is essential to fully understand the mechanisms by which bookmakers manage to secure a margin on all the events they offer on their schedule. The higher the house edge, the lower the player's profit will be.

Our intention now is to illustrate in more specific detail how betting sites structure their odds. The first step to getting a clear idea of how probability calculations are applied to the betting world is to understand the concept of the board. It is calculated using the formula that you can see in the image below and will be used to find exactly what margin the bookmaker ensures on every event, match or race they offer.

The formula can be used for every type of sport: soccer, basketball, hockey, and horse racing. The calculation consists of adding up the percentages of all the odds of a specific market. In the case of soccer, you will need to add the percentages of 1, X, and 2, while in a tennis match, only two percentages need to be added. To help us understand what is meant by board and payout, let's look at the odds of a match in the Serie A championship between Juventus and Roma.

Juventus' victory (1) is given at 2.12, draw (x) at 3.75 and Roma's victory at 3.05. You should know that each odd is nothing more than the expression, in decimal terms, of the probability that a given event will occur. To calculate the chance that the bookmaker has assigned to each single odds of the match between Juventus and Roma, it will therefore be enough to use the following formula: 100/odds.


The betting website has assigned a winning probability of 47.1% to Juventus, 26.6% to a tie and 32.7% to Roma's victory, percentages obtained using the previous formula. At this point, the slate is given by the sum of the 3 percentages: 47.16% + 26.66% + 32.78% = 106.62%. Through this calculation, we can easily determine the payout.

The payout of a sports betting website is simply the percentage of the total amount of money bet that is returned to the player and must be calculated using: (100/odds) * 100. In the specific case of the match between Juventus and Roma, the payout will be as follows: (100/106.62) * 100 = 93.79%. Subtracting this figure from 100 gives the difference that represents the margin that the bookmaker pockets. In this case, it is 6.21%.

The effective incidence of different payouts

At this point, you may be wondering how these small percentage differences in payouts offered by betting sites can affect a player's overall balance. The short answer is, "they have a significant impact," even in niche disciplines such as table tennis betting. The first part of the following table shows the change in odds as the payout varies. Specifically, we have proposed 5 distinct levels of payout that differ from each other by only two percentage points. Now imagine that each step is related to the odds of a different betting site. As you can see, there is a significant difference between one operator and another.

Payouts 1 x 2
97% 1.87 3.55 4.70
95% 1.85 3.40 4.60
93% 1.80 3.35 4.55
91% 1.75 3.30 4.50
89% 1.70 3.25 4.40
Payouts 1 x 2
97% €8.70 €25.50 €37.00
95% €8.50 €24.00 €36.00
93% €8.00 €23.50 €35.50
91% €7.50 €23.00 €33.00
89% €7.00 €22.50 €32.50

Looking at the second part of the table, which shows the return obtained on each share for every €10 invested, you can realize how the choice of a bookmaker with good payouts affects your winnings. Some of you will certainly have been surprised by these numbers. It should be said that players who are used to betting modest amounts do not pay much attention to this kind of calculation, since the difference on small sums of money is quantified in a few tens of cents. A different story for those players who invest significant amounts on betting sites. On amounts exceeding €100, in fact, the difference begins to be felt.

types of customer service

Telephone, email, and live chat are the three methods available to bettors to contact the customer service of bookmakers. Some of the best NRGB betting sites have chosen to include all three types of contact in their offer, while others have reserved the chat only for members, and others have excluded it completely. The opening hours have been very important in the overall evaluation, considering that being able to rely on the support of a customer support representative day and night, every day of the week, undoubtedly makes the difference.

Relying solely on these parameters to offer an objective evaluation would have been too simplistic. For this reason, taking out our stopwatch, we took the trouble of contacting customer service of the best tested betting sites to evaluate waiting times and the accuracy of the responses received. Speed is useless if not supported by expertise.

Payment methods

When it comes to money, the topic becomes extremely delicate. Transferring money from one's pockets to the account of online betting sites using the preferred method, and above all making it return in the shortest possible time is an extremely important factor. Needless to say, having to pay any commissions on transactions can be disadvantageous, and the minimum and maximum limits within which no transaction can be made either in or out can sometimes discourage a potential customer.

With great patience, we have therefore gone to visit the pages related to the game account on online betting sites to find all the data regarding deposits and withdrawals. This has allowed us to offer you a complete and detailed overview of all aspects related to the various systems made available by various online betting sites to replenish your betting account, so that you can get an idea of which one is most suitable for satisfying your needs, avoiding unpleasant surprises.

The online platform

One detail that may seem insignificant at first glance, but which can become increasingly important in evaluating a bookmaker, is the online platform. The colors used and the way in which odds are highlighted and relevant events are proposed can greatly change the gaming experience on a sports betting site. It is also extremely important to be able to easily find the matches on which you intend to bet.

Graphics and functionality of online platforms
la home page di BetwinnerGraphics a bit confusing and slightly retro, but functional to user needs
i colori della home page di 888sportBlack background where a bright orange shines. The font is often a little too small
La pagina principale color bordeaux e bianco di HollywoodbetsSimple and clean layout with burgundy chrome on a white base
come appare la home page su sfondo nero di intertopsPleasant, clear and effective portal on which you can navigate quickly without problems
uno screenshot della home page WazambaPositive graphic impact, but a bit missing of oomph and pages load sometimes slowly
William Hill e la pagina da cui partire per scommettere The portal is definitely cheerful and full of images and colors, but it can be chaotic
La homepage delle scommesse di BettabetsThe betting site has attractive graphics and well-matched color combinations

On some portals, such a search can actually prove to be rather long and frustrating. Infographics on the evolution of live matches and the way statistics of ongoing games are presented are finally another needle in the balance. In this case, our job was to test the platforms of the top ten NRGB betting sites taking into account the aspects just listed.

Other factors we have considered

Previously we mentioned that in our analysis, we decided to consider online betting sites that stand out for the completeness of their offer, have received recognition from industry magazines mainly for work done in South Africa, make good use of social networks, and offer interesting news about the world of sports and betting through a blog or internal news section. From our experience, the most important points among those listed are the breadth of the streaming event offer and that related to information.

In the first case, our role was to count the events broadcasted live every day by individual bookmakers and calculate the average annual amount. Based on the results obtained and the quality of the proposed events, we evaluated the operators more or less positively. We did the same with updates and social media and based on the awards received, especially during the latest editions of the EGR South Africa Awards. Finally, we gave more consideration to the NRGB betting sites that offer sports betting on virtual events and horse racing.

Betting online and in the agency: pros and cons

Someone who is just getting started in the world of online sports betting, but has some experience with betting in physical agencies, may wonder what the main differences are when it comes to betting their money on the web. First and foremost, it is necessary to open an account on the chosen betting site by entering personal information and accepting the terms of service and gaming contract. It is also mandatory to send an identity document that confirms the information provided at the time of registration.

This step must be completed within thirty days of registration and serves to exclude minors from gambling and prevent money laundering. ID card, driver's license, and passport, if not expired, are accepted documents by all top betting sites, while some also consider firearms permits and AT and BT recognition cards valid. Skipping this step may result in limitations on the use of the game account, leading to its permanent closure.

The way of placing a bet is also different. On online betting sites, everything happens quickly: after depositing money using the methods accepted by the operator to which you have registered, it only takes a few mouse clicks or touches on the screen of your mobile device to select events and odds and confirm the bet. Even a betting system is completed in the blink of an eye. In case of a win, the payout is simple and fast through the web without having to leave home.

Agenzia scommesse fisica e bookmakers online: differenze

The costs of managing a physical space are higher, with repercussions on the quotas, which are decidedly higher online. Betting on the internet is more advantageous also due to the numerous bonuses; players can bet day and night, the authorized centers have closing hours. Another notable difference? The possibilities introduced by live betting on online betting sites.

Even in agencies it is allowed to bet on ongoing matches, but the online experience is a different thing. Closing a bet is a matter of seconds; furthermore, the overview with changes in quotes, updated statistics, live streaming matches on online sports betting sites in South Africa, and the many markets have made live betting increasingly popular.

Ultimately, the web has laid the foundation for connecting two players, depriving bookmakers of their traditional role, and consequently, the possibility of collecting winnings before the event on which they have bet is concluded. We are talking about betting exchanges and "cash out", products offered by the best betting sites and which we will dedicate the next paragraph to.

Betting exchange and cash out

Online betting differs from sports betting in agencies for its higher rate of technological innovation. Among the biggest trends in the industry in recent years, we can rightfully include betting exchange and cash out. These are new modes of gameplay introduced by some betting sites and options for early exit from bets.

Betting exchange: a brief overview

Betting exchange is a new way of betting launched for the first time in the early 2000s by the English betting website Bettabets, which later introduced it in South Africa in 2013. Thanks to the Punta&Banca, as it is called in South African, the same bettors can act as bookmakers, by directly proposing odds to other users.

Bookmakers online e piattaforma betting exchange: differenze

These betting sites work like real online sports betting exchanges, where players can speculate like traders on even the smallest odds variations. In this case, the bookmaker only plays the role of intermediary. The odds, on the other hand, are decided by the laws of the market and are therefore decidedly better than those of traditional bookies.

The cash out option

Thanks to the cash out option, bettors can decide to "exit" a bet before the event they have bet on has ended, accepting the bookmaker's economic offer. A sophisticated algorithm calculates the payout, which corresponds to a more or less significant part of the possible final winnings, based on the progress of the event.

The best betting sites with cash out

Cash out betting sites Sports with cash out Bonuses Links
Up to 8 50% up to €410 Visit the site * Bets do not guarantee sure winnings. Terms and conditions apply, game is for adults only. 18+
Up to 6 100% up to €1,000 Visit site *Terms and conditions apply, click 'Visit Site' to find out more
Up to 8 50% up to €105 Visit the site *Terms and conditions apply, click 'Visit Site' to find out more
Up to 5 100% up to €305 Visit site *Terms and conditions apply, click 'Visit Site' to find out more
Up to 6 100% up to €10 Visit site *Terms and conditions apply, click 'Visit Site' to find out more

The cash out option was initially developed for betting exchanges. Top NRGB bookmakers subsequently extended this tool to traditional online betting as well. It allows players to cash out their winnings before the end of the game and is an ideal solution if you realize that an event is not going as planned, or to protect yourself from unpleasant surprises in the last few minutes of a game listed on the betting site.

NRGB license and rules for online bookmakers

In South Africa, the authority responsible for regulating the sports betting market is NGB. National Governing Bodies (NGB) of Sports are non-profit, non-governmental organizations responsible for promoting and developing a particular sport within a nation. They control key assets such as national team brand, support youth and elite level national teams for both genders, develop Olympians, collaborate with International Federation of the particular sport, national Olympic Committee and IOC to qualify athletes and national teams to participate in international events.

An NGB would be expected to deliver the following functions within its area of jurisdiction:

  • Control and regulate the environment of its sport.
  • Administer the practice and participation of its sport.
  • Develop its sport.
  • Influence both its members and organisations of which it is a member (for example, international bodies).

Responsible Gambling in ZA

For several decades, the psychological problem of gambling has been a serious one, especially since online gambling became popular among ordinary players who had never tried it before. Gambling addiction has long been recognized as a type of illness by advanced medical institutions, which is both rational and painful. On this basis, most betting markets provide primary care in order to remove a person's desire to immerse themselves further in gambling and suffer even more. This type of betting market offers various types of self-help, allowing you to control the maximum amount of money you spend in the future or limit your account on your own.

In either case, this may not be sufficient in practice. We also take a close look at responsible gambling because we understand how difficult it is to treat a psychological problem in the future. If a bookmaker devotes his entire energy to this aspect, it will be one of the most advanced for us. By the way, some of the bookmakers we recommend, which are fully legal in South Africa, automatically restrict a player's account if they notice suspicious financial activity on his account.

Credit cards, by the way, are prohibited in most legal bookmaker territory because they usually lead to debt and frustration. We consider this fact, and we do not recommend those betting markets who freely accept credit cards on their premises, because this is the wrong approach to gambling in general.

In any case, we advise you not to procrastinate with this problem if you or your relatives have detected signs of gambling addiction. You must marshal all of your resources and seek skilled assistance by contacting specialized institutions that assist people like you. Remember that there is no shame in seeking assistance because you are not the only person suffering from this disease in the world. The sooner you seek professional assistance, the better and more colorful your life will be without gambling. You can get qualified psychological help in South Africa by calling the phone numbers listed below.

South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF)

National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP)

  • https://www.ngb.org.za
  • Gambling helpline: 0800 006 008

Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board

A betting site that offers the opportunity to play on its own .com domain within the borders of our country is not considered legal, and it doesn't matter if it holds a license issued by the government of another country, as stated in law number 401 of 1989, article 4, paragraph 1. Violating this rule can result in penalties ranging from six months to three years of imprisonment for the site's owners and up to three months of imprisonment or fines for the players. Winnings obtained by betting on NRGB betting sites do not need to be declared, as they are already taxed at source, while playing on a .com site can also lead to tax persecution.

The South African regulation

Legal betting sites in South Africa
๐Ÿ’ป Bet collection points 10,374
๐Ÿ“‘ Betting agencies 5,500
๐Ÿ›๏ธ Physical casinos 4
๐Ÿ“œ All licensed bookmakers 85
๐Ÿ”’ Safer online bookmakers 12

As an agency under the direct control of the Ministry of Finance, but with a wide margin of autonomy, NGB is responsible for regulating and ensuring the safety of the betting sector in South Africa. Among the competencies of this agency, whose director is Marcello Minenna, is the supervision of licensed bookmakers, particularly to ensure they take care of their users by preventing fraudulent activities such as money laundering and theft.

As easily inferred, this is a constant job that requires continuous updates and upgrades, such as the increasingly advanced rules for the protection of minors in the prevention of gambling, through the verification of the age and identity of users who open a gaming account on one of the betting sites operating in South Africa.

One of the brilliant results achieved by NGB is the introduction of the RUA, Registro Unico delle Autoesclusioni in 2019. This tool allows passionate online bettors who feel at risk of developing gambling addiction to self-exclude themselves from any online bookmaker for a minimum period of six months. Previously, self-exclusion only applied to the operator with whom an account was opened, whereas now it results in automatic registration to the register. 

For this reason, NRGB licensed betting sites ensure a perfectly safe and legal gaming experience, as well as 100% protection for sensitive data (personal and financial). This way, we can focus solely on placing winning bets: to aid in your choice, we have compiled a list of the best safe online betting sites with a valid NGB license.

List of the safest online betting sites with a valid NGB license.
  • Wazambatech S.p.a. (Wazamba) – License no. 15215
  • Betway Limited (betway) – License no. 15216
  • Betwinner South Africa S.r.l. (Betwinner) – License no. 15016
  • 888 South Africa Limited (888sports) – License no. 15014
  • Betting World S.p.a. (Betting World) – License no. 15007
  • intertops South Africa s.r.l. (intertops) – License no. 15026
  • YesPlay South Africa Limited (YesPlay) – License no. 15138
  • Hollywoodbets Ltd. (Hollywoodbetsk) – License no. 15202
  • WHG International Limited (William Hill) – License no. 15038
  • intertops South Africa s.r.l. (Digital Game) – License no. 15028
  • SKS365 Malta Limited (PariPesa) – License no. 15242
  • Sports Illustrated Entertainement S.p.a. (Sports Illustrated) – License no. 15155
Una licenza con timbro

All the names we have included in this list are certainly familiar to South African players. Reputation is an important factor, but only if the operator has passed all necessary checks. The strict security standards imposed by NGB requirements for issuing a license are good news for all online gamblers as they ensure that we can enjoy our hobby in a safe environment.

The list of illegal betting sites

Let's continue talking about licenses: if you've tried browsing the web to find the best NRGB bookmaker, you'll have come across a sea of online betting sites. However, many of these are not legal, as they lack an NRGB license. Visiting these sites is highly dangerous, as we could not only miss out on the winnings we would be entitled to in the event of a winning bet, but also risk falling victim to scams, with the added unpleasantness of personal or banking data theft. For this reason, we reiterate that it is essential to rely only on safe betting sites.

Also in this case, it is the NGB that comes to our aid. Every year, the NGB publishes a blacklist of illegal operators. A true blacklist that now contains more than 9,000 illegal domains. It contains the names of online betting sites to avoid as the most terrible of enemies, in order not to run the risk of falling victim to fraud or theft. Below is a small excerpt from NGB's blacklist:

  • โ›”๏ธ 1XBet
  • โ›”๏ธ Betrebels
  • โ›”๏ธ 10scommesse
  • โ›”๏ธ LSBet
  • โ›”๏ธ Bet2U
  • โ›”๏ธ Betwinner
  • โ›”๏ธ Campobet
  • โ›”๏ธ 365planetwin
  • โ›”๏ธ CBet
  • โ›”๏ธ Betaland
  • โ›”๏ธ Beteasy
  • โ›”๏ธ Onebetsport

Naturally, it will be our concern to periodically update an increasingly long list, to give you further names of betting websites to avoid. Reminding you that we have dedicated an in-depth analysis on bookmakers without NRGB license, we emphasize that the reasons why an operator can end up in the blacklist are many, not necessarily linked to fraudulent reasons. Reputation matters, needless to deny it, and often, even if operators manage to regularize their position, it takes a long time to clean up a "black mark" in the past.

Conclusion: the best betting site of the moment

After extensive research to find the best South African betting site and a thorough examination of the most relevant aspects that contribute to the reputation and reliability of a bookmaker, we are able to provide you with every month the best betting sites on the South African market. Each with its own strengths and unique features, we are confident that they will meet your expectations.

Of course, there are online betting sites that can and should do more, especially those with a shorter history, but this means there is potential for growth and the future could be on their side. The ultimate goal of this portal is to discover the top bookmaker in South Africa, but relying on another top site to play online is not necessarily a wrong choice, in fact. Much depends on what you want to get from the best NRGB betting sites: choosing the one that best suits your playing style is always the wisest decision.

Best Sites

Welcome bonus 305€

  • Wide variety of sports
  • Many available markets
  • Several championships

On this page you will find only the best online betting sites, according to the results of the October 2023 tests. Each bookmaker has proved to be at the top considering our rating categories, but equally competitive in others. We reiterate that all sites possess a regular NRGB license, and therefore are perfectly legal and safe, as well as constantly monitored by our country's gambling authority. Other information, such as the welcome bonus, is listed in the top 10 betting sites list located at the top.

Another important clarification: our rankings are regularly updated every month: to keep up with the developments in the betting market in our country, we recommend that you regularly visit our website. The continuous evolution of various bookmakers, in terms of products, services and technological innovations, new bets (for example on eSport), the advent of virtual reality contribute to always keep the online betting sites offer and their competitiveness in development.

We can say that finding the best, reliable betting sites with a wide range of games is easy in our country. Quality bookmakers are surely not lacking, thanks to the impressive number of sports disciplines offered, daily live events, international competitions, streaming matches and markets provided. Online platforms are now almost all well-structured and easy to navigate, as are most mobile applications, not to mention the generous welcome bonuses. Finally, we mention the excellent level of odds both on pre-match and live events.

Not only rankings and reviews, though: on this portal you will also find numerous articles, useful and interesting, about everything related to the world of sports betting: we will talk about news more related to the betting industry, technological and legislative innovations, betting tips, sports bonuses and events. Always inviting you to play responsibly, you will discover that there is a whole world of entertainment opportunities to discover.

We also have comprehensive guides on game modes such as live online betting and live streaming, focusing on applications for playing via smartphones and in-depth analysis on game modes such as betting exchange and matched betting, as well as examinations on betting systems, betting strategies, budget management, and much more. In short, if you want to discover everything, and we mean everything about sports betting sites, you're in the right place!

Frequently asked questions about betting sites

At the end of this guide, we wanted to reserve another space to answer your questions. For any doubt or curiosity you want to clarify or deepen on this topic, write us at [email protected], our team will reply to you as soon as possible.

๐Ÿ” What are the best betting sites?

The top 5 betting sites in South Africa are currently:

    1. Wazamba for the great welcome bonus
    2. Betwinner for football promotions
    3. PariPesa for the many markets present
    4. betway for the rich sports schedule
    5. 888sports for the high odds
    6. </ ol> Clearly, each bettor has his preferences and must choose the bookmaker based on the characteristics that he considers most important for his game.


๐Ÿ”’ What are the safest online betting sites?

All NGB betting sites are safe because they have to adhere to strict security standards. However, based on our experience, these are the two safest betting sites in South Africa:

  1. Bettabets for encrypted connection
  2. betway for responsible gaming


โš™๏ธ How do you choose the best online betting sites?

Choosing an online betting site is a crucial step for a bettor. In our analysis, we based ourselves on ten fundamental criteria to always keep in mind: the range of bets offered, bonuses and promotions, odds and payouts, platform layout, live betting options, payment and withdrawal methods, customer service, mobile gaming apps, security standards and extra features.

โš–๏ธ Is betting in South Africa legal?

In South Africa, betting on sports events is legal, both through physical agencies and online. However, the sector is heavily regulated and it is only allowed to bet with online betting sites with NGB license.

โ“ How can I collect winnings from betting sites?

To collect the winnings obtained on a sports betting site and transfer the money from the game account to the personal account, it is necessary to select one of the withdrawal methods offered by the betting sites, enter the desired amount and confirm the transaction. The amount will be credited within the time frame provided depending on the chosen payment system.


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