Over the past five years, the usage of smartphones in South Africa has experienced a significant surge. This rise has created tremendous opportunities for sports enthusiasts in the Rainbow Nation to engage in on-the-go gambling through free betting apps on their mobile devices. Numerous top-notch online sportsbooks catering to South African bettors provide dedicated betting apps, and we are here to guide you through the cream of the crop. Our focus extends to crucial aspects like functionality, layout, app-specific offers, general site features, and much more!
Here at Today Soccer Predictions we made a list of the best betting apps for South Africa.
- Betway App: Betway is one of the most popular and trusted sports betting apps in South Africa. The app is user-friendly and offers a wide range of betting options, including pre-match and live betting on various sports, as well as virtual sports and casino games. Betway is licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board and is known for its excellent customer service and responsible gambling policies.
- 10Bets App: 10Bets is a popular sports betting app in South Africa that offers a range of betting options, including sports betting, horse racing, and lotteries. The app is user-friendly and offers live streaming of sports events, as well as a variety of promotional offers and bonuses. 10bet is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority.
- Yesplay App: Yesplay is a global sports betting brand that is licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board in South Africa. The app offers a wide range of betting options, including pre-match and live betting on various sports, as well as virtual sports and casino games. Yesplay is known for its competitive odds and excellent customer service.
- Playabet App: Playabet is a popular sports betting app in South Africa that is licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board. The app offers a range of betting options, including pre-match and live betting on various sports, as well as virtual sports and casino games. Playabet is known for its user-friendly interface and competitive odds.
- Supabets App: Supabets is a South African sports betting brand that is licensed by the Gauteng Gambling Board. The app offers a range of betting options, including pre-match and live betting on various sports, as well as virtual sports and lottery games. Supabets is known for its competitive odds and extensive range of betting markets.
Dedicated Betting Apps vs. Mobile Browsers
The majority of the betting sites we’ve encountered are optimized for smartphones and tablets. This ensures that when accessed through the internet browser on your phone, they adjust perfectly to the portrait phone screen, as opposed to the horizontal computer screen format.
This begs the question: “Why download an app in the first place?” It’s certainly a valid inquiry, which is why we’ve compiled a list of pros and cons to compare betting via an app versus using a mobile browser. Here are the main advantages and disadvantages of mobile apps:
Pros of Mobile Apps:
- Enhanced User Experience: Betting apps are designed specifically for mobile devices, offering a seamless and user-friendly interface tailored to the needs of mobile users. They provide smooth navigation, quick access to features, and optimized performance.
- Push Notifications: Mobile apps can send push notifications, allowing users to receive real-time updates on the latest odds, promotions, and results. This ensures that you stay informed and never miss out on important opportunities.
- Faster Loading Speeds: Betting apps are built to deliver faster loading speeds compared to mobile browsers. This ensures a more efficient and responsive betting experience, especially when time is of the essence.
- Offline Access: Some betting apps offer offline access to certain features or previously viewed information. This can be useful when you’re in an area with poor network coverage or want to quickly refer to past bets or results without an internet connection.
Cons of Mobile Apps:
- Storage Space: Downloading a betting app requires storage space on your device. If you have limited space or prefer to reserve it for other applications, installing a new app may be a drawback.
- App Updates: Betting apps often require regular updates to fix bugs, introduce new features, or enhance security. Users need to ensure they keep their apps up to date to enjoy the latest improvements.
- Device Compatibility: Some betting apps may not be compatible with certain older devices or operating systems. This limitation can restrict access for users with outdated technology.
- App-Specific Restrictions: Certain features or functionalities may be exclusive to the app version, meaning that mobile browser users may miss out on certain promotions, offers, or betting options available only on the app.
Ultimately, whether to use a dedicated betting app or a mobile browser comes down to personal preference and specific requirements. Consider the advantages and disadvantages outlined above to make an informed decision based on your preferences and needs.
How Do We Evaluate the Best Betting Apps?
South African bettors are fortunate to have a solid selection of sports betting apps to choose from. With so many appealing options available, it can be challenging to determine which one deserves your patronage. Therefore, we find it useful to share the criteria we employ when compiling any list of sports betting apps:
- Platforms: Android remains the dominant mobile operating system in South Africa. However, we strive to feature sites with apps available for both iOS and Android, such as 1xBet, which offers apps for both platforms.
- Security: Our top priority is endorsing only safe, reliable betting sites and apps. We ensure that they are licensed by reputable authorities like Malta, the UK Gambling Commission, or the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board in South Africa. Betway exemplifies this standard, being one of the most recognized and trusted sites and apps.
- Coverage: While horse racing, cricket, and soccer typically dominate sports betting in South Africa, we also champion betting apps that offer a broader range of activities. Playa Bets, for instance, provides extensive sporting markets in the USA.
- Odds: While no bookmaker can claim to offer the best odds across the board, we compare prices among all the apps we feature to ensure their prices are generally fair.
- Welcome Bonuses: Many South African bookmakers, like SportingBet, provide attractive welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions. However, Supabets offers the best new customer deal, potentially granting punters a bonus of up to R5,000!
- Existing Customer Promotions: After attracting new customers with welcome offers, online betting sites aim to retain them through a variety of multi-sport betting promotions. While betting apps with free bonuses are rare, those offering special deals related to specific sports are more common. Bet.co.za stands out as the best example, thanks to its wide range of deals on both their website and app.
- Usability: User experience is a key attribute of a sports betting apps. Therefore, any bookmaker with an app that frequently crashes or is difficult to navigate will receive lower ratings from South African bettors. Betway app for example is a highly regarded app even among the most demanding punters.
- Customer Support: While you may not need to contact customer support often, a responsive and helpful support team is crucial when required. SportingBet, for instance, excels in providing quick and relevant assistance.
How to Download Android Betting Apps in South Africa?
When it comes to downloading betting apps on Android devices in South Africa, Google Play is usually the go-to platform. However, it’s worth noting that many of the best betting apps are currently unavailable on the Play Store due to the regulation of the play store.
This means that downloading betting apps on Android requires a slightly different approach. Nevertheless, South African sports fans will quickly adapt and get the apps up and running in no time.
To begin, users need to decide which South African sports betting app they want to download. With plenty of choices available, the one we reccomend on this page are the best you can find on the market.
Android users will need to make a small adjustment in their device settings to enable the download of betting apps from sources other than the Google Play Store. Here’s how:
- Go to your device’s Menu.
- Select Settings.
- Tap on Security.
- Enable the option for Unknown Sources.
Once this setting is enabled, you can download the APK file of the desired betting app directly from the bookmaker website. It’s important to ensure that you only download the app from a trusted and verified source, such as the operator’s official website.
Note: Android categorizes apps downloaded outside of the Google Play Store as unknown, so you’ll need to confirm each app download.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to download a betting app on Android:
- Visit the website of the betting site you’ve chosen
- Find the page for the betting app and click on the “Download” button
- A pop-up message will appear on your screen, accept it and continue
- Confirm and install the betting app
- Open the app and start placing your bets
How to Download Betting Apps on iOS (Apple)?
For Apple users, the App Store is the primary platform for downloading iOS betting apps in South Africa. The process of downloading apps from the App Store is designed to be quick and straightforward, usually taking just a couple of minutes depending on the file size.
One example of a South African betting app listed on the App Store is Betway.
To download betting apps on iOS, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store on your iOS device.
- Search for the desired betting app using the search bar.
- Once you find the app, tap on it to access its page.
- Click on the “Download” or “Get” button.
- After downloading the app click install on your device.
- Launch the app and start enjoying mobile betting.
The App Store offers a variety of sports betting apps to choose from, so sports fans in South Africa can download multiple apps to try them out and find their preferred options.
Most betting sites in South Africa prominently display a link to their app on the App Store on their website, making it easy to locate and download iOS betting apps.
Betting Apps FAQs
Are betting apps legal in South Africa?
Yes, using betting apps in South Africa is completely legal as there are no laws prohibiting their use. Online sports betting has been authorized in the country for a while, and apps are one of the approved methods for sports fans to place their bets.
Which are the best betting apps in SA?
The choice of the best betting app may vary based on personal preferences and specific features desired by South African sports fans, such as live streaming or round-the-clock customer service. However our expesrts at todaysoccerpredictions had a great experience with Betway, Hollywoodbets, 10bet and Yesplay. (see review’s unders South African betting sites)
Why are there no South African betting apps on Android?
There are few South African betting apps available on the Google Play Store due to strict government regulations, Google’s policies, and companies opting for mobile websites instead, as they offer a wider reach compared to the Play Store.
