South Africa's Gambling Act of 1965 banned all forms of gambling in the country. However, this did not include horse racing which was exempt due to being classed as a sport. Nonetheless, in the modern world this is not enough for South African people who would love to have a bet on their favourite sport or team.
Below we will take a look at how you can bet online with SA's best bookmakers in 2026 and find out more about the legality of online sports betting South Africa.
1. Legal background on Sports Betting in SA
As highlighted above, since 1965 it has been possible to place bets on horse racing but only at the racetrack. The National Gambling Act 2004 was introduced and this prohibited online operators offering casino, poker and bingo games. The good news for sports betting fans is that online bookmakers did not fall under this legislation and online sports betting is lawful in South Africa.
The only stipulation is that the business holds a provincial bookmaker's licence or is using a website which has the necessary licensing in place. An increasing number of international online bookmakers have been obtaining a licence to offer their services in South Africa. We will take a look at some of these shortly in the South Africa legal sportsbooks section.
2. Why it is Good to Have Bonus Codes in 2026?
Firstly, we should take a look at why it is good to have a promo code for legal Online Bookmakers in South Africa, or any online gambling website for that matter. When purchasing a new item online, such as a television for example, you want the best price. If you find the same television for sale at half price on one website, why would you buy it at full price on a different website?
2.1 Best Bookmakers for South Africa
The same applies when it comes to online sports betting South Africa. When making your initial deposit, if there was a chance to have it doubled for free, you would want to take advantage of that offer. That is exactly where bonus codes come into play and you will find some fantastic promotions for our top betting brands in South Africa.
Best Bookmakers in South Africa
1XBET
Bonus Sports
Exclusive Bonus 130% up to $145/€130 (or currency equivalent)
bet365
Bonus Sports
Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus Bets
William Hill
Bonus Sports
Bet £10 get £30 in free bets
And if you would rather play slots than bet on sports, don't worry - you can use promo codes also in online casinos. You can find the most attractive offers in our article about the best legal online casinos in South Africa.
3. South Africa Sports Bonuses and Promotions
3.1 Betway South Africa
One of the best betting sites in South Africa is Betway and you only have to look at the website domain to realise their commitment to South African online sports betting. The ‘co.za’ extension is specifically for South African gamblers yet offers the same great selection of sports betting markets you will find on any of the other international versions of the website.
You will find competitive odds across all of the major sports when using Betway South Africa. This includes live betting and you will find events on which to bet in-play on a daily basis including football, tennis, cricket, rugby union, basketball and many more. The website is clear and easy to use plus Betway is licensed and regulated through the Western Cape Gambling Board so you know you are in safe hands.
Before you create your account don't forget to use our bonus code which is ‘johnnybet’. By clicking on our link and using the code you can claim a welcome bonus of R25 when you sign up. This is a limited offer and you do not have to make a deposit, so act now before you miss out.
3.2 1XBET South Africa
Another of the SA betting sites you should definitely be checking out is 1XBET. This is a Russian based bookmaker and although they have not been licensed locally, they do hold an international license. Punters in South Africa have been using the website successfully for some time.
You will find a huge selection of betting opportunities at 1XBET, with football leading the way in terms of depth. The odds are competitive, as they have to be for a European based bookmaker and the website is a breeze to use. It is possible to bet on the PSL and other South African sports and the dedicated live betting section of the website is packed with betting opportunities on a daily basis.
New users from South Africa can claim an exclusive bonus after joining the brand. Simply click follow our links and and use the code ‘JBMAX’ to become eligible for the offer at one of the best sports betting websites in South Africa.
Before we continue with the leading online betting bookies SA, a quick note about bet365 South Africa. bet365 was once available in the country but this has changed and at the time of writing you will not find bet365 in South Africa for sports betting. This may change again in the future so keep an eye on this page for further details.
You cannot bet online with SA's best bookmakers and ignore one of the biggest names in the business worldwide, William Hill. Their reputation proceeds them but unfortunately, at the time of writing they are not one of the legal online bookmakers in South Africa. Much like bet365, this may change at any time so bookmark this page to be the first to know when it does.
Legal Online Bookmakers in South Africa
South Africa's Gambling Act of 1965 banned all forms of gambling in the country. However, this did not include horse racing which was exempt due to being classed as a sport. Nonetheless, in the modern world this is not enough for South African people who would love to have a bet on their favourite sport or team.
Below we will take a look at how you can bet online with SA's best bookmakers in 2026 and find out more about the legality of online sports betting South Africa.
Contents
1. Legal background on Sports Betting in SA
As highlighted above, since 1965 it has been possible to place bets on horse racing but only at the racetrack. The National Gambling Act 2004 was introduced and this prohibited online operators offering casino, poker and bingo games. The good news for sports betting fans is that online bookmakers did not fall under this legislation and online sports betting is lawful in South Africa.
The only stipulation is that the business holds a provincial bookmaker's licence or is using a website which has the necessary licensing in place. An increasing number of international online bookmakers have been obtaining a licence to offer their services in South Africa. We will take a look at some of these shortly in the South Africa legal sportsbooks section.
2. Why it is Good to Have Bonus Codes in 2026?
Firstly, we should take a look at why it is good to have a promo code for legal Online Bookmakers in South Africa, or any online gambling website for that matter. When purchasing a new item online, such as a television for example, you want the best price. If you find the same television for sale at half price on one website, why would you buy it at full price on a different website?
2.1 Best Bookmakers for South Africa
The same applies when it comes to online sports betting South Africa. When making your initial deposit, if there was a chance to have it doubled for free, you would want to take advantage of that offer. That is exactly where bonus codes come into play and you will find some fantastic promotions for our top betting brands in South Africa.
Best Bookmakers in South Africa
And if you would rather play slots than bet on sports, don't worry - you can use promo codes also in online casinos. You can find the most attractive offers in our article about the best legal online casinos in South Africa.
3. South Africa Sports Bonuses and Promotions
3.1 Betway South Africa
One of the best betting sites in South Africa is Betway and you only have to look at the website domain to realise their commitment to South African online sports betting. The ‘co.za’ extension is specifically for South African gamblers yet offers the same great selection of sports betting markets you will find on any of the other international versions of the website.
You will find competitive odds across all of the major sports when using Betway South Africa. This includes live betting and you will find events on which to bet in-play on a daily basis including football, tennis, cricket, rugby union, basketball and many more. The website is clear and easy to use plus Betway is licensed and regulated through the Western Cape Gambling Board so you know you are in safe hands.
Before you create your account don't forget to use our bonus code which is ‘johnnybet’. By clicking on our link and using the code you can claim a welcome bonus of R25 when you sign up. This is a limited offer and you do not have to make a deposit, so act now before you miss out.
3.2 1XBET South Africa
Another of the SA betting sites you should definitely be checking out is 1XBET. This is a Russian based bookmaker and although they have not been licensed locally, they do hold an international license. Punters in South Africa have been using the website successfully for some time.
You will find a huge selection of betting opportunities at 1XBET, with football leading the way in terms of depth. The odds are competitive, as they have to be for a European based bookmaker and the website is a breeze to use. It is possible to bet on the PSL and other South African sports and the dedicated live betting section of the website is packed with betting opportunities on a daily basis.
New users from South Africa can claim an exclusive bonus after joining the brand. Simply click follow our links and and use the code ‘JBMAX’ to become eligible for the offer at one of the best sports betting websites in South Africa.
Before we continue with the leading online betting bookies SA, a quick note about bet365 South Africa. bet365 was once available in the country but this has changed and at the time of writing you will not find bet365 in South Africa for sports betting. This may change again in the future so keep an eye on this page for further details.
You cannot bet online with SA's best bookmakers and ignore one of the biggest names in the business worldwide, William Hill. Their reputation proceeds them but unfortunately, at the time of writing they are not one of the legal online bookmakers in South Africa. Much like bet365, this may change at any time so bookmark this page to be the first to know when it does.