Best Betting Apps in South Africa for iOS & Android (2023)

South Africa now has a plethora of betting apps for customers to choose from. This essential guide will help you find the right sports betting app for your needs.

Best Betting Apps in South Africa

We’re careful when using the term ‘best’ because there are no single sports betting app that is perfect for every bettor.

However, in terms of all-around performance, these apps from arguably the best betting sites in South Africa make the grade. Which is the best of the best? That decision is yours.

About Betting Apps in South Africa

With the majority of online bettors in South Africa choosing to use a mobile device, the demand for the best betting apps has never been greater.

Nowadays, all of the top operators have developed native mobile sports betting applications. Those that haven’t typically have a customized mobile web platform instead.

Of course, all betting apps have their independent strengths and weaknesses. Some are better for horse racing, while others are more suitable for soccer bettors.

Equally, you have apps with more free bets than others and some with no deposit bonuses.

With a string of options, knowing which of the best betting apps to choose isn’t an easy decision. However, this article will point you in the right direction.

Are Betting Apps Legal in South Africa?

Mobile sports betting apps are most certainly legal in South Africa. This country has an established system of gambling regulators in various provinces, including:

• Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board
• Gauteng Gambling Board
• Limpopo Gambling Board
• Kwazulu Natal Gambling Board
• Mpumalanga Economic Regulator

As long as the company operating the online betting apps is licensed by one or more of these authorities, they are legal.

Top 3 Betting Apps in South Africa

Accounting for their overall performance, we’ve chosen these three sports betting apps as the leaders in South Africa.

Betway

Betway has established itself as one of South Africa’s top online betting sites. It has apps for Android, and iOS and has now recently launched an app for Huawei.

Users can bet on more than 25 sports, including horse racing, soccer, rugby, and cricket.

Moreover, there’s a respectable welcome package, plenty of regular promotions, multiple payment methods, and 24/7 customer service.

#	Bookmaker	Bonus offer	Bonus
1	Betway ZA	100% first deposit match up to R1000.00 as a Free Bet.	Get Offer

How to Download the Betway App?

The process for downloading any of the apps starts the same. First, you must visit Betway South Africa. Then, click on the menu icon in the top-left corner and select Betway South Africa App.

For iOS

• Click the thumbnail Download the iOS App.
• This takes you to the South African App Store, where you can download the app.
• It will install automatically and be ready to use.

For Huawei

• Click the Huawei thumbnail.
• Once at the Huawei App Gallery, click Install.
• After completion, open the app and log in.

For Android

• When you click the thumbnail, an APK file is downloaded to your device.
• Open the file and click Install when instructed.
• You may need to change your Android settings to allow the installation of third-party apps.
• Once installed, you can open the app and start using it.

Hollywoodbets

All South African bettors are familiar with Hollywoodbets. It’s dominated horse racing betting in the country for years, and it also supports many other sports with equal passion.

Curiously, Hollywoodbets is yet to develop a native app. Instead, it has a specially-customized ‘mobile’ web platform. This is accessible through any mobile browser without the need to download additional software.

#	Bookmaker	Bonus offer	Bonus
1	Hollywoodbets ZA	Get a R25 Sign Up Bonus and 50 FREE Spins!	Get Offer

Bet.co.za

With a wide variety of sports like horse racing, soccer, rugby, and cricket, Bet.co.za delivers a comprehensive online betting experience.

Moreover, this operator has far more promotions than most other South African bookmakers, which also helps it stand out.

Its sports betting app is a PWA (progressive web app). Users don’t need to download any software, and it’s accessible through your regular mobile browser.

You’re able to add a shortcut icon to the home screen of your device that makes it more convenient when you want to place a bet through the Bet.co.za app.

#	Bookmaker	Bonus offer	Bonus
1	Bet.co.za ZA	Get a 100% Deposit Match up to R1000	Get Offer

How Did We Choose the Best Betting Apps?

When choosing a mobile sports betting app – either native or web-based – there are several considerations to think about. Below, we share the criteria that Funfanatico looks for.

Licensing

Before anything else, we check the licensing status of the sport betting apps. For bettors in South Africa, the operators need to be licensed by WCGRB or another provincial regulator.

Fair Bonuses

Sports betting apps in South Africa have some bonuses and promotions, ranging from free bets and matched deposits to prediction contests and boosted payouts. However, it’s not about the number of offers but the quality.

We assess them for fair terms and conditions to ensure players are getting a good deal.

Sports and Markets

South Africa is a sport-loving nation, and the best betting apps have to meet those expectations. Soccer, horse racing, cricket, and rugby are priorities, but we are looking for a more extensive spread.

The bookmakers we select cover 20+ sports with events happening worldwide. Furthermore, our team assesses the depth of markets, so you’ll find soccer matches with 100+ betting options, tote pools for racing, and much more.

Odds

The best betting value doesn’t come from bonuses and promotions, but rather it’s the betting odds. Therefore, we also choose the best betting apps based on the odds they offer.

Of course, there is a margin with all markets, but it should be between 5% – 10% for virtually all bets.

Payments

Local payment methods are essential for sports betting apps to thrive in South Africa. These range from voucher top-ups, card transactions, bank transfers, and mobile wallets, among others.

This is another criterion that we use when selecting the top apps in the country. Also, we find out if they are any fees involved for players.

Customer Support

All online bettors will have a query at some point in time, which is why high-quality customer support is of the utmost importance. Our team checks the methods of contact, such as live chat, telephone, and email.

In addition, we rate the operational hours. Our preference sways towards operators with 24/7 support.

Best Betting Apps with the Sign Up Bonus

Sign up bonuses are now commonplace within the South African online betting industry. With multiple bookmakers targeting the same customers, operators try to capture a player’s attention with these offers.

Some sites pamper new customers with free bets upon registration, whereas others prefer matched deposits. For the latter, Bet.co.za has one of the leading offers, with players able to claim 100% up to R1,000 on their first deposit.

The wagering requirements are 6x, which is competitive based on industry averages.

Best Apps with Free Bets

If you’re a sports betting enthusiast, there are few promotions better than free bets. These offers come in different shapes and sizes. For instance, Hollywoodbets has a straightforward R25 free bet offer for newly-registered customers.

Another example is the Betway free bet welcome bonus, which is worth 100% up to R1,000. To qualify for this bonus, the new customer must place bets equal to 3x the amount of their first deposit.

Once that qualifying requirement has been met, they get the free bet.

Best Soccer Betting Apps

Whichever sports betting app you choose, soccer betting will be available. Punters can wager on the action from the DStv Premiership, as well as all of Europe’s top leagues, Asia, South America, and many other places from around the world.

In addition to the various leagues, cups, and competitions, the best betting apps for soccer also boast a plethora of betting markets for each game, which include pre-match and in-play bets.

Betway South Africa is a top app for soccer. It comes equipped with various features to enhance the user experience, such as cash out, statistics, build-a-bet, and live streaming.

Moreover, many matches from the world’s top competitions have boosted the odds.

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps

For South Africans who are passionate about horse racing, there are several top sports betting apps to choose from. Without question, the web-based Hollywoodbets app is the strongest performer in this category.

It covers all local racing, in addition to action from the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, France, Canada, and the USA.

Also, there is regular betting against the bookmaker and tote betting available, which means punters can often find higher odds with this bookie.

Another stellar feature of Hollywoodbets is that it streams hundreds of live races every week. Therefore, you can place a bet and then watch the race to see if your horse wins. Punter’s Challenge is also available on mobile.

This is a free-to-play horse racing contest with cash prizes for the winners.

Best UFC Betting Apps

Fight fans can enjoy betting on the UFC through their favourite apps. Whether it’s a regular Fight Night card or a big PPV, you never have to miss it.

Bet.co.za is a frontrunner for UFC betting. Its mobile platform is easy to use, responsive, and fast, which is the perfect combination for new and experienced online bettors. Bet.co.za also offers stats on all the big UFC fights, which helps to plan your bets more effectively.

Plus, it has cashed out, and bet boosts are on tap.

Best Online Cricket Betting Apps

As one of the world’s top cricketing nations, it’s no surprise that this is a popular sport to bet on. The best betting apps cover all formats of the game, from test matches and one-day internationals to Twenty20 and the Hundred.

Hollywoodbets is a good choice if you want to bet on cricket. It covers all global events, both international and domestic.

Moreover, there’s a legion of match markets like a top bowler, top batsman, over/under totals, players to score 50/100, and many more.

Best Live Betting Apps

Live betting, also called in-play betting, is both exciting and tense. Punters have unique betting options, such as intervals, meaning that you don’t need to bet on the whole match.

It goes without saying, all sports betting apps now offer live betting. Bet.co.za provides in-play betting on several sports, including soccer, cricket, basketball, tennis, golf, and esports.

Its user interface has different viewing modes, so bettors can see an overview of all the events, select specific ones to look at in more depth, and preview the upcoming schedule.

Also, most events have a match tracker, meaning you can follow the action and find more acute betting opportunities.

Best Android Betting Apps

The best betting apps focus more on the Android operating system as it’s the most popular one in South Africa.

Even operators without downloadable sports betting apps, such as Hollywoodbets, ensure that their web-based mobile platforms work seamlessly on Android devices.

With a dedicated sports betting app, users can benefit from additional features like push notifications and faster load speeds. Also, some apps are data-free, so you can place your bets without using all of your monthly internet quotas.

Best iOS Betting Apps

Although there are not as many iOS users as Android (users), there are still more than enough for the best betting apps to take notice. Betway is the ideal choice for customers with an Apple device who want to bet through a native app.

Its iOS sports betting app can be downloaded directly from the App Store to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. It packs all the same features that you get on the full desktop website, including build-a-bet, cash out, stats, bet boosts, and live streaming.

Furthermore, the best betting apps have hassle-free payment methods and exceptional customer support.

Betting Apps in South Africa FAQs

Browse through our sports betting app FAQs below for more information.