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BETTING
BETTING
TOOLS & GUIDES.
Practical calculators, straight-talking explainers and betting guides built for South African sports fans.
18+
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Sports Betting in
Sports Betting in
South Africa.
Everything you need to know before opening an account, making a deposit or exploring betting tools.
Sports Betting in South Africa is huge, the last few years have seen the industry grow to the point where there are over 30 bookmakers to choose from in South Africa! In this section we are going to look at the why more punters are betting online, how to open a sports betting account and everything else you need to get started.
Betting Shop vs Online Betting
It wasn’t too long ago that a trip to the tote was the only way you could get down a sports bet in South Africa. Brick and mortar bookmakers are still very popular among punters and maintain a big share of the sports betting market. But with more and more operators now licensed online, placing bets on a computer or smartphone has become increasingly popular among punters.
How to Open a Sports Betting Account
The process for opening a sports betting account is fairly similar across most websites and requires you to follow these simple steps;
- Step 1 – Enter the web address for the bookmaker into your browser. If you don’t know the address you can always just Google the name and find it from there.
- Step 2 – On the site’s homepage, look near the top right of your screen and click the button that says something like “Join now!”, “Register” or “Open an account”.
- Step 3 – Fill in your personal details such as full name, address and telephone number. Choose a username and password you won’t easily forget! We recommend using a secure password, to ensure your account is safe.
- Step 4 – Check your inbox for an email asking you to confirm your account. Some bookmakers may send you an sms confirming successful registration
- Step 5 – With your account confirmed, you can now log in and make your first deposit.
How to Deposit Money into Your Account
Depositing money into your sports betting account is pretty easy. Your payment options will depend on the site, but should include debit and credit cards at the very least. The best sites also allow you to deposit via EFT from affiliated banks, from a web wallet, or with a voucher.
1Voucher is a widely used and accepted method of payment, and we recommend it to punters who are looking to make voucher deposits.
- Step 1 – Visit the homepage of your favourite sports betting site
- Step 2 – Log in to your account with your username and password
- Step 3 – Click the “Deposit” button (often at the top right of your screen)
- Step 4 – Choose your deposit method and the amount
How to FICA Your Account
Before you can withdraw any money from your sports betting account, you’re required by law to provide the operator with a copy of your green South African ID book (or Smart ID card) as well as a utility bill (water/electricity account or bank statement). This is generally known as FICA.
Some bookmakers do make an exception, allowing punters to withdraw up to R3000 without the need for documents, however this is the exception rather than the rule. So it’s best to plan on sending the required documents in anyway, as you don’t want to have any troubles with your withdrawals!
The utility bill must not be older than 3 months and should include your full name and current physical address. Some bookies offer a convenient service where you can photograph the required documents on your smartphone and send them over Whatsapp. You can read our full FICA guide should you want to know more.
How to Get a Fica Bonus/Welcome Free Bet
Many sports betting sites offer a FICA bonus or a welcome free bet of between R10 – R100 once your personal documents have been verified. This money is added to your account balance as a thank you for taking the time and effort to comply with the process.
To claim your FICA bonus for verifying your account, carefully follow all the instructions, otherwise you might miss out! These offers are restricted to new customers and usually require a small deposit if you’d like to withdraw the winnings.
You can find out about all the different welcome free bet offers available on our Fica bonus page.
FREE TO USE
Free Sports
Free Sports
Betting Tools.
Use these calculators to understand betting mathematics before you place a bet. Calculator results are estimates only and do not guarantee outcomes.
01CALCULATOR
Arbitrage
Calculator
Enter the odds for both sides of your bet and specify your stake for one side. The calculator will determine the recommended amount to wager on the other side. Calculated margins are not guaranteed — odds can change between placements.
Arbitrage betting (also called "arbing" or "sure betting") compares opposite outcomes across sportsbooks when odds discrepancies exist. Enter odds from two different sportsbooks and your stake to see the calculated hedge amount; odds can move, bets can be limited or voided, and user error can occur.
02CONVERTER
Odds
Converter
Our Bet Calculator is an easy-to-use tool for converting odds into American, Decimal, and Fractional formats. It also includes Implied Probability to help you understand the estimated likelihood suggested by your chosen odds.
Enter the amount you wish to stake and the odds displayed by your sportsbook. The calculator instantly converts mainstream odds formats, making it easier to compare selections whether a site uses decimal, fractional, American, or implied odds.
03CALCULATOR
Freebet
Calculator
On the left hand side, enter the odds for your "free bet" and the promotion amount. On the right side, enter the odds for the hedge stake and the calculator will provide the recommended amount to stake on the hedge.
Unlike regular bets, a “free bet” only pays out the profit — the original stake is not returned. Conversion outcomes are not guaranteed and depend on the odds available, sportsbook terms, market availability, and user error.
04CALCULATOR
Acumulator
(Multi-bet) Calculator
Accumulators (aka Multi-bets) combine multiple single selections onto one bet. The odds of each individual bet on the ticket ‘accumulate’ to provide larger total odds, but all selections must win for the bet to be successful.
Our accumulator calculator helps bettors estimate returns before making a bet on an external betting website. Select an odds format, add each selection, enter your South African Rand wager, and calculate the potential payout.
QUICK ANSWERS
Frequently Asked
Frequently Asked
Questions.
01 Are betting calculators guaranteed to make a profit?+
No. Betting calculators can explain mathematical estimates, but they do not guarantee profits, successful bets, accepted wagers or a specific outcome.
02 Can I use these tools on a mobile phone?+
Yes. The tools and guides are designed to be easy to access on desktop, tablet and mobile devices.
03 What odds format is most common in South Africa?+
Decimal odds are commonly used across South African sportsbooks, although some international operators may show American or fractional odds.
04 What does FICA mean for a betting account?+
FICA is the account-verification process that may require identity and proof-of-address documents before certain account activity, including withdrawals.
05 Is arbitrage betting risk free?+
No. Odds can change, bets can be limited or voided, markets can move and user error can occur. Any calculation is only a point-in-time estimate.
06 What is an accumulator or multi-bet?+
An accumulator combines multiple selections on one betting ticket. Every selection generally needs to win for the accumulator to return a payout.
07 What is implied probability?+
Implied probability is a mathematical way of representing the estimated chance suggested by a set of odds. It does not predict what will happen.
08 Are free bets the same as cash bets?+
No. Free-bet promotions often return profit only rather than the original promotional stake. Always review the operator’s rules before using an offer.
09 Can I withdraw before completing FICA?+
Requirements can differ between operators. Check the operator’s current terms, verification rules and withdrawal policy before depositing or placing a bet.
10 Who should use these betting tools?+
These tools are for adults aged 18 and over who want to understand betting calculations and terminology for informational and entertainment purposes.
18+
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