When it comes to sports, South Africa probably has one of the most remarkable stories out of any country in the world. As much as South Africans love sports, the country was isolated from the world of sports for more than three decades due to well-known reasons.
However, it was sports that played a crucial role in unifying the whole country. The famous Rugby World Cup win over its fierce rival of New Zealand in 1995 will forever be remembered as one of the most powerful moments in the history of sports, not just in South Africa, but in the world.
The sports and outdoors sector has been on the rise in South Africa ever since, and it’s expected to grow even further in the following decade.
Sports betting has been growing in popularity as a pastime activity as well, especially after the 2008 Act allowed for bookmakers South Africa to operate legally in the country as long as they have a valid license issued by the National Gaming Board. In this article, we’ll talk about the top sports to bet on at South African bookmakers, including the best betting lines, betting types, and odds.
Soccer
Soccer, or Associated Football, is the most popular sport in the Rainbow nation, especially after Bafana Bafana’s success in the mid-2000s. The country even hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and statistics show that a staggering 81% of the South African population are interested in soccer.
Indeed soccer provides numerous betting opportunities, both domestically and internationally. The English Premier League is the favorite league among South African sports bettors, providing highly contested matchups from the middle of August to late May. There are multiple betting opportunities for soccer enthusiasts in the national competition level as well, including the highly anticipated 2023 African Cup of Nations, which SA qualified for.
Rugby Union
Given the popularity of this sport among South Africans, one would think that it’s impossible not to be a Rugby Union fan if you live in SA. And that’s indeed true, with over 650,000 registered Rugby Union players within the country and multi-level competitions.
Rugby Union enthusiasts can bet on many leagues and competitions across different bookmakers South Africa has in line, including betting on countless betting lines for United Rugby Championship matchups.
Cricket
The first cricket match in South Africa was played in 1808, which means that the sport dates a few centuries in the country. Widely regarded as one of the world’s leaders when it comes to cricket, it’s a massively popular sport that provides an abundance of betting opportunities.
Besides the Cricket World Cup, bettors can place wagers on multiple international leagues and competitions, including the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League, and more with hundreds of betting markets every day.
Tennis
Although not as popular as the other sports in this list, tennis has been played in South Africa for over a century and has been the birthplace of some of the best players in tennis history. The list includes names such as Louis Raymond, Kevin Curren, and Kevin Anderson – many of whom have had great success in both the Open era and the Closed era.
Many betting enthusiasts prefer betting on tennis, and bookmakers often offer boosted odds and specials for big tennis matches, especially during the Grand Slam tournaments.
Basketball
Basketball has never been as popular in South Africa as the other sports mentioned on this list, but the sport has been getting a lot of attention lately, especially among the younger generations. However, several South African players have made it to the NBA – the best basketball league in the world – which influenced the popularity of the sport in the country.
Moreover, it’s always been a popular sport among bettors, especially during the playoffs. The competitiveness of the games provides lucrative betting options, and many South African bookmakers offer hundreds of betting lines for NBA matches.
