How to Pick a Legitimate Betting Site in South Africa (Avoiding Scams)

Why It’s Crucial to Choose a Legitimate Betting Site

Your safety and security are the most critical aspects of placing bets online. This is why it's advised to only register with licensed betting sites in ZA. The aim is to keep them in check to safeguard your identity and finances, as well as prevent scams. Scam websites often lack fair play and tend to delay withdrawals. 

All bookmakers are expected to own a licence and comply with the online gambling laws in South Africa. Any betting site that fails to display a license from a reputable regulatory body on its website is likely a scam. 

Additionally, legitimate South African sportsbooks have the domain name ending in “co.za.” Any platform that has a different domain address is usually illegal.  

How to Check if a Betting Site is Licensed in South Africa

Based on our research, it's easy to know if a betting site is licensed in South Africa. The first method to verify betting licence SA is to check if the bookie displays a license from a reputable body like the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB). You'll usually find the licensing information, including the license number, at the footer of the betting site's website.

Another method is to check the official website of the regulator for the list of all the sportsbooks licensed by the body.

You may also find sportsbooks licensed with other notable licensing bodies listed below.

• Mpumalanga Economic Regulator 

• Gauteng Gambling Board 

• Northern Cape Gambling Board 

• Eastern Cape Gambling Board 

• KwaZulu-Natal Gaming and Betting Board 

• Limpopo Gambling Board 

• North West Gaming Board

• Free State Gambling, Liquor and Tourism Authority

Key Features of Safe and Trusted Betting Sites

Many illegal platforms are now imitating legitimate ones to confuse bettors. Here are some key features to look out for when assessing whether a website is safe and trustworthy.

SSL Encryption

Aside from licensing information, a legal betting site must have SSL encryption to protect your information. You'll need to provide sensitive information, such as your name, address, phone number, and email address, when you sign up. Therefore, it's essential that the bookie keeps your information and banking details safe.

It's part of the legal requirements for a betting site to have SSL encryption before getting a licence. It also prevents cloning and phishing, making it harder for scammers to access your account and identity.

Responsible Gambling Tools

Providing responsible gambling tools is also one of the criteria for obtaining a license in South Africa. You should check if the betting site has a link to the National Responsible Gambling Programme, which supports those with gambling addiction problems.

Legitimate bookmakers also provide responsible gambling tools like deposit, loss, and time limits to help you stay in control. You can use these tools to set a limit on your spending on the platform. You may also sign up for self-exclusion to take a break from 24 hours to 6 months.

Clear Terms and Conditions

Most illegal betting sites don't have terms and conditions on their platform. Those that have provided vague information that is usually unclear.  

It's part of the legal requirements for all betting sites to provide clear and accurate terms and conditions that are accessible to all customers. Account and bonus terms must be clearly presented, while the conditions for deposits and withdrawals must also be stated.

If a bookmaker lacks a “terms and conditions” page, it's likely a scam website. Clear terms serve as a contract to build trust between you and the betting site. 

Local Customer Support

The available customer support channels also indicate if a bookmaker is legitimate or not. A licensed betting site offers local customer support, allowing bettors to easily reach out if they encounter any issues.

Check the “Contact Us” page to find the various channels available. Most provide support through live chats and email addresses. They should offer local phone line support instead of an international number. 

Support should be available 24/7 to cater to your needs. You can also test their response time to see how fast they respond.

Red Flags: How to Spot a Scam Betting Site

Although many scam betting sites can camouflage, the red flags are always there. Here are some of the betting scam warning signs to watch out for.

• Lack of Licensing: Once you access a bookmaker website, scroll to the bottom of the homepage to check its licensing information. You may also check its terms and conditions. If you cannot find any indication of a reputable license, the website is likely illegal.

• Poor design: Most legal bookmakers have a smooth design with a simple user interface. Poor designs could be an indicator of a scam betting site.

• Unrealistic bonuses: Most betting sites without a reputable license offer unrealistic bonuses to attract customers. However, most of these bonuses have underlying terms and conditions that can be difficult to claim. 

• No contact information: Illegal betting sites do everything to avoid direct contact with you. If you cannot find any customer support channel information on the site, it's likely a scam website. Some bookmakers only provide support via live chat and email addresses. We recommend only those who also have a phone line.

• Bad online review: Another method to avoid fake betting sites is to check what others are saying about them. Search the bookmaker's name + “scam” or “review” on search engines like Google. You can find honest reviews about their services on platforms like Trustpilot and Reddit.

Top Legitimate Betting Sites in South Africa (2025)

Finding a legal betting site in South Africa is not difficult. Hundreds of them own a licence with the South African government. We've reviewed a wide range of betting sites and listed three of the best ones below. 

Bettabets 

Bettabets is a registered bookmaker in South Africa with a registration number 2011/123025/07. It owns an Mpumalanga Economic Regulator license with the license number 9-2-1-09303. It offers both sports and casino games. You can also contact their representatives via phone, live chat, or email.

Mzansibet

We recommend Mzansibet because it holds a license issued by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, with the license number 10144175-016. It's registered under SMS2Bet Betting Services (Pty) Ltd with the registration number 2009/007749/07. You can easily verify their legitimacy.

Betway

Betway operates under Raging River Trading (Pty) Ltd with the registration number 2011/134505/07. It owns a Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board license with the number 10181496-011. Its name speaks for itself, having branches across the world.

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Responsible Gambling 

One way to determine if a bookmaker is legitimate is to assess its stance on responsible gambling. All licensed bookmakers must provide tools that help players to wager responsibly. They allow customers to set wager limits and take the gambling self-assessment test. They also support self-exclusion, allowing customers to take a break for 24 hours or 6 months.

If you're below 18, it's illegal to register or wager with a licensed betting site. You'll be asked to submit your government-issued ID and utility bill to undergo FICA verification. This is a compulsory process for all bookmakers.