How Does Sports Betting Work in South Africa?

Sunbet
08/20/2024

For avid sports fans, there’s nothing better than your team winning. Except for when you’re winning right alongside them! 

Sports betting is as old as the sports themselves. It’s all part of the game, helping to build up your excitement and keep you on the edge of your seat until the final whistle. And for South Africans who are already passionate supporters of their teams, it just makes sense. Sports betting can be the way you turn a casual interest into a rewarding hobby. 

If you need sports betting explained - from the what and why to the odds - keep reading.

What is Sports Betting?

Sports betting is exactly what it says: placing bets on sports. But it’s also so much more. It’s all about putting your sports knowledge to the test and experiencing the thrill of watching your predictions unfold in real-time. 

At its core, sports betting involves predicting the outcome of a sporting event and placing a wager on that prediction. If your prediction is correct, you win a payout based on the odds set by the bookmaker. It’s a simple concept, but the real fun comes from the mix of strategy, research, and a bit of luck.

For some, sports betting is straightforward. They give their best guess and take the results as they come. For others, it involves the latest stats, and following team performances to make informed bets. 

When talking about the basics of sports betting, you’re going to come across a few terms that are important to know: 

• Bettors: People who place wagers on the outcomes of sporting events (that’s you!) 
• Bookmakers: Licensed entities that set the odds, accept bets, and pay out winnings 
• Sportsbooks: Platforms or venues (either online or physical) where bettors can place their wagers

How Sports Betting Works in South Africa

Sports betting in South Africa is much like anywhere else in the world - with some added local passion, of course. 

You need to find a reputable sportsbook, like Sunbet, that offers a wide range of betting options and competitive odds. 

Sports betting in South Africa isn’t just limited to regional leagues and competitions - you can still bet on international games and sports. As long as you know how to bet on sports online, you’re not limited by geography.

What are the Different Types of Sports Bets?

Any sports lover knows that win, lose, and draw aren’t the only ways a game can be defined. Sports betting is much the same, with a variety of ways to bet. Knowing the difference can make all the difference. 

1. Match Winner (Moneyline)

Great for beginners trying to figure out how sports betting works, Match Winner is also known as a Moneyline bet, and is the most straightforward option. Decide which team you think will win and place your bet, that’s it. If your chosen team or player wins, so do you!

2. Point Spread

This option is where you put your insights and niche knowledge to the test because you’ll be betting on the margin of victory. The bookmaker sets the margin (the spread) that the favourite must win by for bets on them to pay out. 

For example, if the spread is -3.5, the favourite needs to win by 4 points or more. If you bet on the underdog, they need to win outright or lose by less than the spread for you to win.

3. Over / Under (Totals)

Are you confident in your score predictions for a game? Go for the Over / Under (also known as the Totals) bet. This bet involves predicting whether the total number of points, goals, or runs scored in a game will be over or under a specified number set by the bookmaker. 

For example, if the total is set at 2 goals, you bet on whether the final score will be more or less than that.

4. Parlay (Accumulator or Acca)

The Parlay bet is high risk but high reward because it combines multiple bets into one. To win, all your selections must be correct. While this bet is riskier, the potential payout is much higher than individual bets, since the odds of each selection multiply together.

5. Prop Bets (Specials)

Prop Bets focus on specific events within a game, rather than the outcome. For example, you might bet on which player will score first, how many corners there will be, or even how long the national anthem will last before a match. These bets add extra fun and variety to the betting experience.

Sports Betting Odds Explained

The next sports betting concept to understand is betting odds. 

Odds represent the probability of a particular outcome in a sporting event and determine how much you stand to win if your bet is successful. Odds are typically presented in three formats: decimal odds, fractional odds, and American odds.

• Decimal: This format is the most straightforward and popular in South Africa and Europe. The number represents the total payout for every R1 bet, including your original stake. For example, if the odds are 3.00, you’ll receive R3 for every R1 wagered.
• Fractional: Commonly used in the UK, these odds are displayed as fractions, such as 2/1. This means that, for every R1 you bet, you’ll win R2, plus your original stake. So, a bet at 2/1 would return R3 in total for every R1 wagered.
• American: Often used in the United States, these odds are displayed with a plus (+) or minus (-) sign. Positive odds (e.g. +200) show how much profit you’d make on a R100 bet, while negative odds (e.g. -150) indicate how much you need to bet to win R100.

The higher the odds, the less likely the bookmaker believes that outcome will happen, resulting in a greater potential payout. Lower odds indicate a higher probability of the event occurring, with smaller potential winnings.

On Sunbet.co.za, you’ll typically see odds displayed in decimal format. But you can easily switch to fractional or American odds using the drop-down menu at the bottom of a betting page, ensuring that you’re comfortable with the format that best suits your betting style.

How to Place a Sports Bet Online with Sunbet

Your VIP access to online sports betting starts with a Sunbet account, so make sure that you’re registered and verified before your match starts. Don’t worry - it’s a quick and free process. You’ll just need to log in and deposit money into your account before you’ll be able to place your wager. 

Head over to the sports betting page and navigate to your preferred sport, either by using the categories or the direct search. A quick tip before you place a bet - look at the different sports promotions to see what specials you can take advantage of. These promotions can extend to soccer, rugby, cricket, golf, tennis, and horse racing. It’s the Sunbet way of making your betting experience more rewarding. 

Once you’ve found your sports event or match, click on the odds related to the bet you’d like to place. To place a single bet, enter the amount you want to bet in the block provided. To finalise it, click the ‘Place Bet’ button and you’re all set. You can also place another bet with your current selection by clicking ‘Keep Selection in the Betslip’. 

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