How to Bet on Soccer in South Africa

To bet on soccer in South Africa, open an account with a provincially licensed bookmaker, complete FICA verification, deposit an amount you can afford to lose, pick a match and a market, enter your stake and confirm the bet slip. That is how to bet in five steps. The rest of this guide explains each step, the markets you will see on a PSL or Premier League match, and the settling rules that catch beginners out.

Step 1: choose a licensed bookmaker

Online sports betting is legal in South Africa only with a bookmaker licensed by a provincial gambling board, such as the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board or the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator. The licence notice sits in the site footer and should name the board, the licence number and the operating company. If a site shows none of these, do not open an account. Our betting sites ranking lists only licensed operators and explains how each one is scored.

Step 2: register and complete FICA

Bookmakers are accountable institutions under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, so they must verify who you are. Expect to provide:

• a green ID book, smart ID card, passport or driver's licence;
• proof of address no older than three months, such as a utility bill or bank statement;
• sometimes proof of the bank account you will withdraw to.

Some bookmakers verify you before your first bet, others before your first withdrawal. Uploading clear photos when you register saves delays later. You must be 18 or older to open an account.

Step 3: deposit and set a limit

Licensed bookmakers accept a mix of methods such as EFT, instant EFT, cards and vouchers bought for cash; each operator lists its own. Set a deposit limit in your account settings at the same time as your first deposit. Deciding your budget before a match is much easier than deciding it during one.

How to bet: reading soccer odds

South African bookmakers show decimal odds. The number tells you the total return per R1 staked, including your stake. A R100 bet at 2.50 returns R250: R100 back plus R150 profit. Lower odds mean the bookmaker rates the outcome as more likely. To see the probability a price implies, divide 1 by the odds: 2.50 implies 40%. Our betting odds calculator does the sums for singles and accumulators.

The soccer markets you will see most

Most bookmakers also offer player markets, such as anytime goalscorer, and bet builders that combine several markets from one match. Bet builders pay more because every part must come in, so treat them like small accumulators.

Filling in the bet slip

Tap a price and it is added to your bet slip. With one selection you have a single. Add selections from other matches and the slip offers a multi, or accumulator, where the odds are multiplied and every leg must win. Then:

1. check each selection, the market and the odds;
2. enter your stake and look at the potential return;
3. confirm, and keep the bet reference until the bet settles.

Our guide to the bet slip shows how to read one after settlement and what to do if a result looks wrong.

Live betting and cash out

In-play betting lets you bet while the match is running. Prices move with every attack, and a bet can be rejected if the odds change while you confirm. Many bookmakers offer cash out, which settles your bet early for an amount they set. It can limit a loss or lock in part of a win, but the offer always includes the bookmaker's margin, so it is not free insurance.

Settling rules that catch beginners out

• Normal time only. Unless a market says otherwise, extra time and penalties do not count, which matters in cup matches.
• Postponed or abandoned matches. These are often voided, and in an accumulator the void leg usually counts at odds of 1.00 while the rest stands. Check your bookmaker's rules.
• Palpable errors. Bets placed at an obviously wrong price can be voided under the terms.

Habits that help

Compare the price for the same selection at two or three licensed bookmakers; small differences add up over a season. Keep to markets and leagues you follow closely, keep stakes small and flat, and be wary of long accumulators, where the margin multiplies with every leg. Our betting strategy guide covers value and staking in more depth. If you are also curious about games at bookmakers, the slot reviews section explains how they work and their disputed legal status.

Betting is for adults 18 and over only, and it is entertainment, not income. If it stops being fun, the National Responsible Gambling Programme offers free counselling on 0800 006 008; see our responsible gambling page for limits and self-exclusion.