Welcome to our guide to live betting sites in South Africa. Our team of experts have analysed the sportsbook scene in South Africa, to find the best live betting sites. We’ve ranked our favourites and will reveal the sites that excel in certain sports. Let’s start with some information on the welcome offers and free bets available at the top live betting sites.
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- All
- Welcome Bonus
- Live Betting
- Betting Tournament
- Acca Bonus
- Acca Insurance
- Live streaming
- Reload bonus
- Enhanced odds
- Acca Boost
- Bet builder
- Free Bet
- Best Odds Guaranteed
- Cashout
- VIP Programme
- E-sports
- More Filters
Top Rated
R25 Sign Up Offer
22/04/22R25 Sign Up Offer
- Free Punters Challenge game
- Horse racing analysis and tips site
- Bet Builder available
9.6
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11Once you activate your Hollywoodbets account and you will receive a R25 Sign-up Bonus! For more information, contact our helpline on 087 353 7634. Terms and conditions apply.
First Deposit Bonus 100% Up To $100
22/04/22First Deposit Bonus 100% Up To $100
- The Masters’ sports betting tournament
- Live streaming
- Regular sports promos and bonuses
9.5
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11This offer is only available to new customers, who have registered and made their first real-money deposit at Sportaza. THe Bonus is 100% of a player's first deposit bonus up to 8,000 INR. In order to qualify for the bonus, hte player nmust play through the full amount of hte first deposit at least once with odds no less than 1.50. All bets must be settled.
Up to $100 in Bet Credits
22/04/22Up to $100 in Bet Credits
- Global gambling giant
- Comprehensive in-play section
- Great range of sports offers
9.5
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim Bonus11Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
R300 First Deposit Bonus
07/09/23R300 First Deposit Bonus
- Receive birthday bonus
- Bet on 60+ different sports
- Win prizes by betting live on Barcelona
9.4
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11Register with 1xBet. Fill in your personal profile in My Account and enable the function "Take part in bonus offers". Deposit any amount from 1$. The bonus is automatically credited to a customer's account after they make a deposit.
Up to R1,000 welcome bonus
07/09/23Up to R1,000 welcome bonus
- Enjoy daily price boosts
- Create Bet Builders with special offer
- Win money playing fantasy football
9.3
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim Bonus11T&Cs apply. 18+
100% Bonus Up To R1,000
22/04/22100% Bonus Up To R1,000
- Great tips at Bet Central
- 50% boost to acca bets
- In-play cricket and tennis bonus
9.2
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11The bonus amount must be wagered 6 times (Sports bets must be taken at single bet min odds of 7/10 or 0.70, Multiple Min Odds of 12/10 or 1.20 and each leg must be 2/10 or greater) prior to bonus funds and associated winnings becoming withdrawable.
100% Bonus Up To R10,000
07/09/23100% Bonus Up To R10,000
- Well designed in-play section
- Acca boost and acca insurance
- Cashback on Tuesdays
9.1
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11Make your first deposit. Rollover your first deposit 5 times with bets where the odds are greater than 7/10 (0.7). Only bets placed on pre-match and in-play sports will count to the Welcome Bonus rollover requirements. Once you have fulfilled the rollover requirements, we will then match your first deposit with a 100% bonus. The maximum bonus amount that can be claimed in this promotion is R1 000.
100% Up To $100
22/04/22100% Up To $100
- Loyalty rewarded with Yonicoins
- Big e-Sports section
- Slick website
9.0
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11Bet on multiple games (total minimum betslip : 1.85 ; 2 items minimum ; one item must be at minimum 1.40 odds). Wager 10x on the bonus amount. If the wager is not reached after 14 days, or if the bonus is cancelled, the bonus winnings and the associated bonus are deleted. - The minimum bet is 1 to be counted in the wager
R50 Sign Up Bonus
07/09/23R50 Sign Up Bonus
- Losing Leg Refund on accas
- Win huge jackpots in Supapicks game
- Statistics section
8.9
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11R2,000 welcome bonus. Please note that stake will not be returned to your bonus wallet.
Best Runner Boosted Odds Twice A Week
22/04/22Best Runner Boosted Odds Twice A Week
- Win money in betting tournaments
- Enjoy Bet Builder and Cashout
- Get bonus for betting on virtual football
8.9
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11Opt-in is not required for this promotion. This promotion is available for selected runners each Wednesday and Saturday (Wed 16.30 - 19:00 & Sat 12:00 - 16:00 (GMT+2) Single bets only. Max stake per customer: €10.Winnings have no wagering requirements and can be withdrawn immediately.
List of Best Live Betting Sites for South Africa
Here’s a little more information about our favourite live betting sports websites.
- HollywoodBets – South African betting giant
- Sportaza – Enter ‘The Masters’ betting tournament
- Bet365 – Global brand available in South Africa
- 1xBet – Bet live on Barcelona and win prizes
- BoyleSports – Daily price boosts available
- Bet.co.za – Live cricket and tennis betting bonus
- Playa Bets – Acca boost and acca insurance
- YoniBet – Great for live eSports
- SupaBets – Big jackpot in SupaPicks
- NordicBet – Cashout on your live bets
Reviews of Top Live Betting Sites
You’ve seen our list of the ten best live betting sites. Now we’re going to take a look at the top five of that list in more detail, as we review the premier online live betting sites available in South Africa.
1. HollywoodBets – R25 Sign Up Offer
HollywoodBets are our number one pick of the top live betting sites available in South Africa. It’s a brand that’s extremely well known in South Africa, as they have a large number of bricks and mortar betting shops throughout the country. They are particularly focused on the sport of kings, so fans of horse racing live betting are well catered for.
There’s a brilliant tips site, giving betting advice for horse racing and other sports. You can enter a horse racing betting tournament, while there’s plenty of other promotions for existing users. With a new live betting section featuring coverage of a range of sports, HollywoodBets have everything needed to keep you in control, once the action starts, including live streaming.
What We Like:
- Established South African betting giant
- Superb for horse racing
- Very good tips site
- Live streaming
What We Don’t Like:
- Could have a bigger welcome bonus
2. Sportaza – First Deposit Bonus 100% Up To $100
Sportaza are an exciting newcomer to the South African sports betting scene. Launched in 2021, Sportaza have achieved a lot in a short amount of time. They have a well designed site, which is very easy to navigate around, though the page loading time could be improved. The live section appears in the centre of the screen on the sportsbook home page, making it very easy to find what you want and filter through the different sports available.
One of the tabs allows you to see markets with boosted odds and there are plenty of other bonuses available for loyal customers. There’s lots of other promotions available, such as reload bonuses, cashback and an acca boost. Another aspect we like is their loyalty program, in which you can earn points, buy virtual football cards and win cash prizes. Though new on the scene, Sportaza already has one of the best live betting sports sites, currently available in South Africa.
What We Like:
- Lots of regular bonuses for existing users
- Well designed website
- Live section has page with boosted odds
- Soccer cards loyalty program
What We Don’t Like:
- Site can be a little slow to load
3. Bet365 – Up To $100 In Bet Credits
Bet365 are a massive global betting company, hailing from the UK. Founded in 2000, they’ve become one of the biggest names in the ultra competitive UK sportsbook market and have made great strides across the world. Their size is evident in the quality of their offering. The in-play section covers all the sports you’d expect and provides links to statistics and live streaming when available. When there’s no streaming of the event, Bet365 provide a handy graphic that shows exactly what’s going on.
There’s a huge range of regular offers, such as enhanced odds with Bet Boost, early payouts and money back deals. They’re nicely spread across various sports, rather than just for football, which is often the case. If we were evaluating Bet365 from a global perspective, it might lead the way in the sports live betting sector. As it is, we’re evaluating the appeal to a specific territory and Bet365 lack the South African focus to compete with our top two.
What We Like:
- Size of company reflected in their offering
- Links to stats and streaming in live section
- Bet Boost gives you enhanced odds
- Regular promos are spread across different sports
What We Don’t Like:
- Lack of South African focus
4. 1xBet – 200% Bonus Up To $130
1xBet are another company that operate on a really big scale. There’s a huge amount of sports and markets to bet on. When it comes to their live section, like Bet365 they can offer statistics, live streaming and latest scores. 1xBet are good at localising their content and they are a great option for live betting cricket fans, as they have their own dedicated cricket page.
It would be nice if this localisation extended to the promotions on offer, but sadly they remain generic, though there are a lot of them. There’s deposit bonuses, rebates, tournaments and even a bonus for your birthday. With so much going on at 1xBet, they’re a fine choice for anyone in South Africa looking for live betting sites.
What We Like:
- Take live betting on cricket seriously
- Wide range of offers for regular users
- Live section is comprehensive
- Get a bonus on your birthday
What We Don’t Like:
- Promos could reflect South African interests
5. BoyleSports – Bet $10 Get $40
BoyleSports is brought to you from Ireland and was founded way back in 1989, when John Boyle opened his first betting shop. Since then it’s grown into a big global brand with a massive web present. It’s particularly good for sports when there’s shared passions between Ireland and South Africa, such as rugby, football and horse racing.
There’s a wide range of other sports available in the in-play section, with a handy tab that lists the events that feature live streaming. The welcome bonus triples your initial stake, while the promotions for existing are plentiful, if somewhat weighted towards horse racing. There are however, plenty of daily specials available, across a wide range of sports, featuring boosted odds.
What We Like:
- Triple your initial deposit
- Regular promos are great for horse racing fans
- In-play section has live streaming tab
- Daily specials give boosted odds
What We Don’t Like:
- Needs more promos for different sports
Ranking the Best Live Sports Betting Sites in South Africa
Having read our reviews of the top live betting sites in South Africa, you might be wondering how we came to our conclusions. Here are some of the criteria that we examine, when ranking live sport betting sites.
- Number of Live Betting Sports
The range of sports offered is something that we give consideration to. Live football betting tends to be very well covered on every site, but we like to see a variety of other sports. Sports played over a long period of time, such as cricket, golf and tennis, lend themselves to in-play betting and in South Africa, comprehensive rugby coverage is a must. Then there’s US sports, while some online live betting sites even cover eSports events in-play.
- Types of Live Betting Markets
Beyond the number of different sports covered, we look at how many of the markets and bet types are turned in-play. Modern sportsbooks often have a huge amount of markets available before events start, even on relatively obscure football matches. We like live sports betting sites to turn a high percentage of these markets in-play once the action begins. These days, if someone makes a bet pre-game, they will expect to be able to follow that market in-play.
- Competitiveness of Live Betting Odds
Having a wide variety of sports with lots markets turned in-play, is not much use unless the odds are competitive. Odds comparison sites make it very easy for punters to see where the biggest prices are on offer. This can differ from market to market, which is why it’s a good idea to be signed up to a number of different sportsbooks, so that you can take advantage of the best odds. When events are turned in-play, we expect online live betting sites to continue to offer the sort of value, that they did pre-game.
- Offers & Promotions
Welcome offers tend to catch the eye when people are choosing between the best live sports betting sites. The highest amount of offer, does not necessarily make for the best deal. We examine the terms and conditions thoroughly, to ensure that the rules of the qualifying bet and the wagering requirements, are not too rigorous. Just as important as opening offers, are promotions for existing customers. Sportsbooks should offer a number of regular bonuses and we like to see ones aimed at live in-play events.
- Quality of Live Streaming
Sports betting sites with live streaming are becoming the norm, rather than the exception. Live streaming is the perfect compliment to in-play wagering, so it’s no surprise that so many live sport betting sites have adopted this technology. Of course, quality is key. The best live streaming betting sites don’t suffer from delays or buffering issues.
- Strength of Security
When you entrust your money and personal details to online live betting sites, you expect them to be protected. All of the sites that we recommend are fully licensed, which means that they have to abide by a number of rules and regulations that protect the customer. They also use the latest security technology to keep the site from hackers and other online sports betting dangers.
How Does Live Betting Work
The gambling industry has been transformed by the advent of online live betting sites. Previously, bettors had right up to the start of an event to place a wager. Once the action started, there was nothing left to do but cross their fingers and hope for the best.
When sports live betting was introduced, punters were put back in control. If a pre-event bet wasn’t going their way, they had the opportunity to make a move that could at least limit their losses. Live betting sites got their traders to produce constantly changing odds, that reflected what was happening during the live sports event.
This opened up extra business. For example, you might not have much of an opinion on the outcome of a tennis match and decide not to place a bet. Yet within ten minutes of the game starting, you may well have an opinion of how it will unfold and with live betting on tennis, you can place a bet on the outcome.
The top live betting sites have created products to compliment the in-play betting action that they offer. A Cash Out function is now common and allows users to take the betting option of ending their wager early for an agreed sum, while the event is still taking place. Sports betting sites with live streaming are also common these days. Being able to watch a live sports event and simultaneously place bets on it, is very beneficial for the user..
List of Live Betting Sports
Increasingly, online sportsbooks are global operators, trading in many different countries across the world. The best live betting sites, create different websites and offerings for the individual territories that they trade in. This allows them to maximise business, as they have tailored their content to the specific need of the country.
In the case of South Africa, there are specific sports that we expect to see and for events within those sports to be turned live. For a different country, there would be totally different expectations. So for a bookmaker operating in the US, we’d expect to see American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey featured heavily.
These are the sports that we would expect to see covered on live betting sites in South Africa.
- Football live betting
- Live cricket betting
- Rugby live betting
- Tennis betting live
- Golf live betting
- Live horse betting
- eSports live betting
Live Cricket Betting Sites in South Africa
Live cricket betting sites are extremely popular, with South Africa being one of the biggest cricketing nations on the planet.
The international team are known as the Proteas and their test match, one day games and Twenty20 contests are huge events in South Africa. Naturally, South African punters want to bet on these games and with the advent of live cricket betting sites, they are able to do so throughout the matches.
Domestic competitions include the CSA 4-Day Series, the Momentum One Day Cup and the Mzanzi Super League. Cricket fans can also place bets on foreign competitions such as the IPL, where many of the best South African players feature, along with cricket from nations such as Australia and England. There’s always a cricket match taking place somewhere in the world and thanks to live betting, you can always place a wager on it.
Here are our three favourite live cricket betting sites.
- 1xBet – 200% Bonus Up To $130
- bet.co.za – 100% Bonus Up To R1000
- HollywoodBets – R25 Sign Up Offer
Live eSports Betting Sites in South Africa
An unpredictable trend in the gaming industry has been the rise of eSports live betting. The growth of viewers watching people compete against each other in video games, spilled into being able to bet on these contests.
The natural evolution of eSports events appearing on gambling sites, has been for the action to be turned in-play, allowing fans to watch and bet at the same time. Major sporting institutions have created their own eSports teams, while the individuals competing have become unlikely celebrities.
Games that you can bet on include titles such as Call of Duty, Counter-Striker and the FIFA series. It will be interesting to see how the world of eSports betting develops, because there is surely potential for sportsbooks to host video games, where players can bet against each other when playing, just as they do with casino games.
Here are our three favourite live eSports betting sites.
- YoniBet – 100% Up To $100
- 1xBet – 200% Bonus Up To $130
- Sportaza – First Deposit Bonus 100% Up To $100
Live Football Betting Sites in South Africa
Go to any sportsbook in South Africa and you’ll see football events prominently displayed. Football is typically the first sport listed on live betting sports sections.
Though South Africa have been historically more successful on the international stage in sports like cricket and rugby, football is the biggest sport in the country. South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010 and the South African Premier League has become a popular competition since being founded in 1996, featuring teams such as Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Of course, football is the global game and there are huge leagues in Europe such as the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A, which provide a regular schedule of matches to bet on live, featuring the world’s best players. The cream of Europe compete in the Champions League, while on the international stage, the South African national side compete in the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
Here are our three favourite sites for betting live on football.
- Bet365 – Up To $100 In Bet Credits
- Sportaza – First Deposit Bonus 100% Up To $100
- BoyleSports – Bet $10 Get $40
Live Golf betting Sites in South Africa
South Africa has a rich history in the game of golf. The most successful South African golfer of all time was Gary Player, winning nine major titles between 1959 and 1978.
Others successful South African golfers who have won majors include Ernie Els and more recently, Louis Oosthuizen. Having such figures to root for has made golf a popular spectator sport in South Africa.
With tournaments stretching over four days and often featuring huge movements on the leaderboard, golf is the perfect sport to bet on. There’s a huge range of markets available, with the vast majority being turned in-play by live betting sites.
Here are our three favourite live golf betting websites.
- Bet365 – Up To $100 In Bet Credits
- HollywoodBets – R25 Sign Up Offer
- 1xBet – 200% Bonus Up To $130
Live Horse Racing Betting Sites in South Africa
As has been the case in many other countries, the betting industry in South Africa has been built upon the sport of horse racing.
Though other sports have grown in popularity with betting fans, horse racing remains one of the biggest sports to bet on, providing a reliable daily schedule with equine action across the world. The Sun Met is the biggest race in South Africa, while the Summer Cup, the L’ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Durban July also attract huge interest.
Across the world, there are regular meetings and large horse racing events to be found in nations like Australia, France, UK and USA. Live horse racing betting sites allow you to continue to place bets even when the race starts. For longer races, this is a very valuable service.
Here are our three favourite live betting horse racing sites.
1. HollywoodBets – R25 Sign Up Offer
2. Bet365 – Up To $100 In Bet Credits
3. BoyleSports – Bet $10 Get $40
Rugby Live Betting Sites in South Africa
Rugby is a very popular sport in South Africa, with the national team amongst the best of the world in the code of rugby union.
The Springboks have won the Rugby World Cup on three occasions, which includes the most recent event in 2019. Along with New Zealand, South Africa have the most World Cup wins, with three apiece, South Africa also compete in the annual Rugby Championship against New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, winning the competition four times.
Club rugby is also a big spectator sport in South Africa, with competitions like the Currie Cup and international tournaments such as Super Rugby and the United Rugby Championship. With other rugby loving nations adding to the schedule, there’s always plenty of games available to bet on at live betting sites.
Here are our three favourite live betting sites for rugby.
- BoyleSports – Bet $10 Get $40
- Bet365 – Up To $100 In Bet Credits
- HollywoodBets – R25 Sign Up Offer
Tennis Live Betting Sites in South Africa
At just about every sportsbook, tennis live betting is covered in great deal.
The men’s ATP Tour and women’s WTA Tour, put on tournaments throughout the year, across the world. Often there will be more than one elite tournament taking place in any week, which along with lesser competitions such as the Challenger Tour, adds up to a massive amount of games available to watch and bet on.
A high percentage of games on tennis betting live sections, are available for streaming, which adds to their popularity on live betting sites. The eyes of the wider sporting world come towards tennis four times a year when the majors are played. The Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open are the biggest tournaments in the sport, with the regular season built around these huge events.
Here are our three favourite live betting tennis sites.
- bet.co.za – 100% Bonus Up To R1000
- Sportaza – First Deposit Bonus 100% Up To $100
- HollywoodBets – R25 Sign Up Offer
Best Betting Sites with Live Streaming and Odds
Increasingly live betting sites are offering live streaming across a wide range of sports.
It makes perfect sense. If users can watch live events directly on the sportsbook, it’s easier for them to place bets. They are also likelier to spend much longer on the bookies’ website if there’s content to watch, than would be the case otherwise.
The events that are available for live streaming are generally the ones not being shown on major TV stations in South Africa, though there are some occasions where they are shown on multiple platforms. Football, cricket, rugby, tennis and golf tend to dominate the streaming sections of live betting sites in South Africa, with new products such as eSports and other sports from around the world, also being available.
In our opinion, here are the three best live streaming betting sites.
- HollywoodBets – R25 Sign Up Offer
- Bet365 – Up To $100 In Bet Credits
- 1xBet – 200% Bonus Up To $130
Top Live Sports Betting App in South Africa
If live betting sites have allowed users to bet on events in real-time, betting apps have opened up the possibility of gambling, wherever you are.
Betting apps allow you to bet from your phone, making your location irrelevant. When combined with the capability of placing live bets, this really opens up the possibilities. You can even enjoy a wager, while attending a live sports event.
You can use a mobile browser to access live betting sites, but most sportsbooks now offer dedicated apps for iOS and Android devices. They’re more stable and quicker to use. Our favourite live sports betting app product is the one available from BoyleSports, which is universally praised.
How to Win at Live Betting
One of the major differences when using live betting sites for in-play bets, is that time is of the essence. When you’re placing a bet before an event, you have more time and it’s unlikely that prices will radically shift.
The odds in live betting, reflect what’s happening during the event and naturally, things can change fast. That means that there’s not always much time to make a decision when placing a live bet, but with betting experience the process will become easier and you’ll find yourself making the right calls more frequently.
Many live betting sites offer the opportunity to cash out during the event. If you’re offered a guaranteed sum during the action, it’s the safer option to take it, rather than to let the bet ride out. The winnings will never be as big, but a cautious approach can make for slow and steady returns.
Our Top Live Betting Tips
In this section we are going to give you some live betting tips, to help you to make it a profitable pursuit.
Tip 1: Do Your Research
Many live betting sites feature statistics sections, with links available within the market information. They can be invaluable, as can be the advice from tipsters. Sportsbooks often feature their own tipping sites now, while you can also find independent ones. You don’t have to slavishly follow tipsters of statistical trends, but the more information that you can arm yourself with, the better.
Tip 2: Watch What You’re Betting On
With so many sports channels showing events 24/7 and live betting sites featuring their own streaming sections, there’s rarely a time when you can’t watch the action unfold. Knowing the score is not the same as watching a sporting event and appreciating the patterns of play. Again, the more information you have on the event that you’re betting on, the more likely it is that you’ll make the correct, informed choice.
Tip 3: Be Cautious Rather Than Brave
The very idea of live betting sites was to give users more control of their betting destiny. Rather than placing a bet before an event and waiting to see if it came in, they could now trade and try to lock it a profit, or at the very least keep losses to a minimum. The ability to cash out your bets, makes this even easier. We think it’s better to regularly guarantee smaller profits, than to wait for a full payout and potentially get nothing.
The Last Word
We hope you enjoyed our guide to the best live betting sites in South Africa. As you’ll have learned, there are plenty of options for South African sports betting fans these days.
South African-based live betting sites and global operators, compete alongside one another. This gives South African bettors the choice between more localised offerings and a service with a wider reach. Depending on your favourite sports to bet on, either or a mixture of both of these type of sites, could be the answer to your live betting needs.
Of all the live betting sites in South Africa, we feel that HollywoodBets is hard to beat right now.
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Dan Fitch
Dan Fitch
