Sports Betting in South Africa: How to Choose Which Sports to Bet on?

There has always been a strong passion for betting among South Africans, and the country currently accounts for almost 80% of the continent’s gambling industry. This market has been booming thanks to the country’s ever-growing population of sports enthusiasts who appreciate all sorts of categories and disciplines. South Africa has also hosted some large tournaments in the past, which also helped spark the interest of punters who enjoy using their knowledge in online sportsbooks. If you too are interested in trying your luck with one of many bookmakers but you’re not sure which category to focus on, take a look at the following tips.

How to Choose an Online Sportsbook

No matter how eager you are to start betting on your favorite sport, you need to make sure that you’ve selected a licensed online bookie that operates according to the law. All reputable sportsbooks present some sort of licensing information on their websites, and you will have no trouble finding it. Next, you should check out the payment options available on the platform, making sure you’ll be able to make transactions in a hassle-free manner. After that, you can focus on more amusing points like the selection of games and leagues you can bet on. However, the most efficient way to find the top sportsbooks is to read online reviews on third-party websites. Such websites compare the platforms based on relevant criteria that can help you discover the best betting sites in South Africa in no time.

Top Sports to Bet on in South Africa

Let’s take a look at some of the top choices among South African punters.

Football

Football is by far the most popular sport in South Africa, and it is responsible for almost half of all the bets placed in the country. Football offers the punters a chance to choose from a pool of hundreds of different bets, including pre-match options as well as live betting. Also, the sportsbooks available in South Africa feature all major leagues, including the English Premier League, and of course, the local PSL league which is adored by a large number of people in the country. Not only that the nation loves the PSL league, but it is also full of upsets that give excellent odds to passionate players. 

Rugby

With 10 million followers in the country, Rugby definitely gets the most attention from South Africans. This is largely due to the success of the national team which has never fallen lower than the top seven in the World Rugby Rankings. As far as betting is concerned, punters can enjoy matches throughout the year, with a rich selection of betting options, including handicap betting. On top of that, it rarely happens that the result of a match is a draw, so there are only two ways for the game to end, which directly increases the odds for punters. 

Tennis

Many talented tennis players come from South Africa, and the country has also been a host to several world-famous tournaments, bringing the sport closer to the attention of the nation. South Africans love placing bets on famous tennis stars, and luckily for them, the sportsbooks list all the major international competitions including the four Grand Slams. Most punters love how easy it is to predict which player is more likely to win, thanks to the strong domination of favorites in a large number of games. On top of that, tennis is always followed by strong mainstream coverage which makes it ideal for live betting. 

Cricket

Even though cricket hasn’t always been so popular with bookies, the creation of T20 cricket gave it international attention. However, due to the influence of Great Britain, South Africans have been fond of it for a long time. One of the main reasons why punters love trying their luck with cricket is the fact that the games can be extremely long and intense, and the duration of one match can even extend to several days. Fans can always find amazing opportunities to bet on handicaps or specific player behavior, and live betting is available in all matches. On top of that, punters can score excellent odds if they manage to predict the top batter or bowler. 

South Africans are known for their passion for sports, and the fact that the nation is also interested in betting is no surprise at all. The number of bookies is also on the rise, and punters can now enjoy a rich selection of platforms that showcase a wide range of leagues and tournaments. Even though South Africans are also crazy about many other categories, currently most of their attention goes to football, rugby, tennis, and cricket.