From Tradition to Technology: How Sports Betting Has Evolved in South Africa

Edna Boykin
December 30, 2024

Sports betting in South Africa is one of the largest contributors of revenue, generating about ZAR35.91 billion as recorded in 2022-23 by the National Gambling Board. This accounts for about 60.5% of all the revenue earned in the country, around 51.2% more than the previous year.

The transition from traditional sports methods to modern technology has enabled this growth and allowed punters to explore the excitement that comes with online sports betting. South Africans have always been sports enthusiasts with a great passion for different games like cricket, football, hockey, and baseball.

Betting on these sports has become their favorite activity, especially with technological advancements like mobile betting, cryptocurrencies, and other gamification features.

In this article, we shall see how sports betting has evolved in South Africa, from traditional to modern forms, and what sports South Africans are most fond of making wagers on.

Historical Context of Sports Betting in South Africa

Long ago, at least as far back in history, sportsbooks in South Africa weren’t even a concept. It was only in 1996 that South African sports betting history began to take shape with a new government entering office and introducing the National Act.

It included various provisions for regulated gambling activities, but even then, sports betting was highly regulated and restricted to betting since the National Gambling Act made provisions only for legal casinos, national lotteries, and other types of gaming.

In 2004, the National Gambling Act was amended which regulated sports betting outside of horse racing. It further provided online sports betting platforms and allowed citizens to legally wager on their favorite sports, like cricket, basketball, football, rugby, and so much more.

Land-based sportsbooks have been highly influenced by the emergence of online betting sites. People started to switch to online betting machines, resulting in a decline for most land-based sportsbooks. Still, most players would enjoy the feeling of a place in a land-based sportsbook and keep better control of wagers from physical bookies.

Advancement of Technology in Sports Betting

It is no wonder that technologically enhanced systems have huge impacts on South Africa’s sports betting sector.

Sports betting evolution South Africa has experienced a dramatic rise in the number of online betting sites and other mobile applications, making entertainment readily available. This way, the value of the sector has climbed to $736.30 million by 2023.

Mobile betting apps have really become more accessible and much more user-friendly and will probably grow more in years to come, allowing players all throughout the country to wager more conveniently from their smartphones and tablets.

The most optimized mobile apps and website will provide unparalleled betting opportunities, including live betting features so that participants can wager on sports as that event unfolds in real-time.

Other technology advances are blockchain and crypto betting which enable players to get an advanced and transparent betting experience when making use of crypto in transacting.

Additionally, AI technology has expanded options to provide more personalized and tailor-made betting experiences such that it has enhanced personalization by recommending bets that bring a feeling of satisfaction and increase the participation rate.

What Kind of Sports Can We Bet On?

Like all the other cultures, South Africans are also very fond of the marriage between betting and sports. The four top favorite sports of South Africans on which they love to bet are –

Cricket

Cricket is the most favorite sport in South Africa. It has a long history among South Africans, with the game coming to the country for the first time when the Napoleonic Wars broke out. The British also heavily influenced the sport. The first ever cricket match was recorded in 1808 in Cape Town.

The llocal and international arenas do have a lot of say in how the activity takes shape in cricket betting.

Cricket South Africa, or the CSA, governs all professional and even amateur cricket and oversees all three tiers – Test matches, One-Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20).

The CSA association successfully made cricket legends like Jimmy Cook, Andrew Hudson, and Jacques Kallis in ODI, but for the fun fact, South Africa only belongs to a few selected on the global level that can play Test matches. To get competitive betting odds and access to different betting markets, check the best cricket betting sites.

Football

Football, or soccer, is South Africa’s second most popular sport. It was first brought into the 19th century by the British. Due to the apartheid, which led to racial segregation, four football associations were created, and they are as follows –

At present, SAFA oversees the national teams and leagues in South Africa. There are two significant leagues for football betting, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and National First Division (NFD) run by the National Soccer League, not by SAFA.

To place bets for football betting, select the most well-recognized and best football betting sites on the internet that provide access to the premier leagues and tournaments.

Hockey

Hockey has attracted both young and experienced punters in South Africa, whether it’s field hockey or ice hockey.

Many hockey betting sites have come up with hockey leagues and tournaments including the World Championship and the Hockey Africa Cup of Nations.

Both men’s and women’s teams in South Africa are members of the African Hockey Federation and have qualified for the Olympics four times.

MLB (Major League Baseball)

Baseball is also a very popular sport, with the most wagered tournament being Major League Baseball. The sport is played in every province of South Africa, backed by favorable factors like the mild climate of the country, allowing year-round play as well as the country’s diversity, which have contributed to the game’s popularity.

Baseball was introduced in the 20th century but is now one of the most loved sports that South Africans enjoy betting on. You will find some of the best MLB betting sites in South Africa, including DraftKings, Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, and Bet365, which are best for beginners and mobile betting.

Regulatory Landscape of Sports Betting in South Africa

The betting industry in South Africa is largely regulated under the National Gambling Act of 2004 and complemented by other provincial laws. This act makes the National Gambling Board, which is the regulatory authority and ensures consumer protection and fair practices.

Each province in South Africa has its unique gambling board that monitors the bookmakers and issues licenses. Some of the boards are the Gauteng Gambling Board (GGB) and the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB).

The boards oversee not only the operational requirements but also the sports betting platforms to ensure that they meet all the operational and licensing requirements.

Online sports betting in South Africa is only allowed if it’s conducted through a licensed operator. Bookmakers need to be watchful while offering their betting platforms and apps to support only the allowed activities, such as live betting or fixed-odds betting on regulated platforms.

Every sportsbook, therefore, needs to obtain a valid license from the gambling authority to offer betting products and services lawfully to its registered users.

The Future of Sports Betting in South Africa

South Africa has experienced an increase in sports betting, particularly since the technological changes occurring in the country. With the increased use of smartphones and tablets, mobile apps have been developed, which currently dominate the sports betting industry.

Now, every sportsbook is attempting to provide a flawlessly optimized and well-managed mobile app to allow for on-the-go betting from any part of the country at any point in time.

In addition, the acceptance of cryptocurrencies to make deposits and withdrawals has also triggered a significant growth of sports betting in South Africa, and that trend will only continue to trend positively ahead.

More advances in personalization and gamification will provide unique user experiences, which will result in higher engagement rates.

Therefore, with the exponential growth of sports betting in South Africa driven by advanced technologies and popular online sports betting platforms, the future is bright for sports betting in the upcoming years.

Higher growth rates are sure to attract the notice of many businesses who are looking forward to entering the betting market and revolutionizing the sports betting world in South Africa.

Conclusion

The sports betting landscape of South Africa projects a vibrant and dynamic arena that is rich with prospects for both novices and experienced funds. The growth of the betting industry is highly influenced by technological advancement and favorable regulatory changes that only seek to make the betting scene more transparent and fair for the citizens. This has also led to the emergence of the best sports betting sites South Africa.

As this industry continues to grow, the role of South Africa on a global level becomes integral as it combines traditional values with modern strategies for punters eager to make wagers and savor the excitement of the sport.