Biggest Betting Companies in Africa

Updated:

Starting your experience with an Africabet website is indeed an intricate process. The scope of betting sites in Africa these days is truly inexhaustible, and one may feel stuck while searching for a profitable and reliable sportsbook. Here’s where a helping hand comes in. If you wish to start betting on sports in Africa but don’t know where to start, this article will sort everything out in a heartbeat.

List of Africa betting sites

Found: 14 Bookmakers

Rank Bookmaker Bonus Claim
1

22bet

Welcome Bonus up to €122

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

2

1xBet

Deposit bonus up to €100

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

3

20bet

Sign up offer up to €100

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

4

Bet365

Up to €100 in bet credits

#AD. Open an account with bet365 today and bet on a huge range of markets with the world’s favourite online sports betting company.

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

5

Ivibet

100% bonus up to €150

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

6

Melbet

Sign up offer up to €100

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

7

Megapari

100% up to 130$ with code 'MIGHTYPARI' & take part in Billionaire's Megarace

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

8

Betwinner

Welcome package up to €100

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

9

Powbet

100% up to 100€

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

10

Paripesa

100% up to 100€

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

11

Sportaza

100% bonus up to 50€

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

12

Freshbet

100% bonus up to 500€

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

13

1Bet

100% up to €100

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

14

Mostbet

125% bonus up to 3,500 MAD

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

Africa online sports betting – The ultimate guide

Updated:

Africa online sports betting

There are now numerous websites for betting in Africa, and many punters from African countries can benefit from the variety of markets and exclusive bonus features available on these sites. However, if you're a newbie who has recently entered the sports betting industry in Africa, you might be wondering where to start and how to place your first bet. If you've landed on this page, you're in the right place. In this review, we will break down the entire range of betting possibilities for new punters and present some of the most trusted and recognized betting companies in Africa. And if you're interested in bonus perks and other exclusive offers, we have a separate section for that, so keep reading until the end.

History of sport betting Africa

History of sport betting Africa

Before you browse through the available websites and select a sportsbook for yourself, let's take a moment to trace the history of sports betting in Africa. Sports betting is believed to have existed for thousands of years on the continent, although it has evolved and taken on various forms over time. The more modern form of sports betting began to develop 70 years ago, with the rapid spread of football and football wagering across the continent.

The current laws surrounding gambling and betting in Africa depend entirely on the country in which you're betting. For instance, in South Africa, full legalization of wagering activities occurred in 2004, and more than half of the population now participates in sports betting on a regular or occasional basis. On the other hand, Kenya introduced the first regulation of such activities almost 40 years earlier, in 1966. However, there are still many jurisdictions, mostly in Muslim countries, that prohibit all forms of betting and gambling activities.

Before you start placing your wagers on sports in Africa, we recommend conducting some research and checking the gambling and sports betting laws in your country.

When it comes to the legality of sports betting in Africa, the situation is ambiguous: all forms of wagering are almost completely prohibited in Muslim countries, while there are still a fair share of states that allow and regulate betting activities.

Here are some interesting facts about sports betting in Africa:

  • Since its inception, the sports betting scene in Africa has mostly focused on horse racing and football bets.
  • South Africa is considered to have the most developed sports betting market on the continent.
  • In Nigeria, almost 60 million adults participate in sports wagering on a regular basis.
  • Gambling and sports betting activities are illegal and prohibited in all Muslim countries.
Table about sport betting Africa
🌍 Country All Africa
👌 Language Arabic, Berber, Hausa, Yoruba, and many others
💲Currency South African rand (ZAR), Kenyan shilling (KES), Nigerian naira (NGN), Ethiopian birr (ETB), and many others
Popular sports Horse racing, football, boxing, cricket, rugby
⚖️ Is betting legal Depends on the country
🏢 Regulator Depends on the country
🧾 Gambling taxes Depends on the country
💳 Most popular payment methods Visa or Mastercard, Skrill, Payz, Entropay

Top-3 best bookmakers in Africa

To place your first wager on sports, you have to pick a trusted Africa bet website before that. In this list, we have gathered the best Africa betting sites and highlighted their main advantages for punters.

  1. Website #1 in Africa – Betway

    Betway is a major company that offers its services for profitable and safe sport betting Africa. Since its establishment in 2006, the bookmaker has largely expanded and now operates in dozens of countries all over the world. Apart from its decent scope of sports types that exceeds 25 options, you can also find and bet on major tournaments and leagues, such as NFL, NBA, NCAA football, NHL, MLD, and many more. Besides, the sportsbook provides its users with up-to-date mobile applications. We will break them down in more detail further in this review.

    Website 1 in Africa – Betway
  2. Website #2 in Africa – FafaBet

    FafaBet is one of the newest betting platforms on the market but it has already gained the trust of many African punters. The parenting company of FafaBet is TaichiTech Limited, a famous iGaming developer based in the United Kingdom. FafaBet holds the UKGC license and offers a safe and diverse sports betting experience, as well as a variety of other gambling services.

    Website 2 in Africa – FafaBet
  3. Website #3 in Africa – 888Starz

    Another relatively new platform for sportsbet Africa, 888Starz was launched back in 2020. Despite its little experience, the sportsbook has already attracted a lot of devoted customers due to a large variety of offered markets, unique bets like Politics and special events, generous promotions, crypto payment options, and even official Android and iOS apps. There is even a market for promo codes, where you can find unique limited offers for different types of promotions.

    Website 3 in Africa – 888Starz

How we test & review betting sites in Africa

All the bookies that we recommend to African punters definitely go through certain research first. In fact, we check every website according to a number of crucial factors that constitute every decent bookmaker. Let us break them down for you one by one.

  1. Odds

    It’s not a secret that odds make up an important part of any wager on sports. While looking for the best betting platforms in Africa, we always make sure to compare and contrast the displayed odds and margins on various events. Picking a betting website with strong odds is a major factor in constructing your tactic, so we’re trying our best to simplify this task for you.
  2. Mobile compatibility

    Mobile betting has long ceased to be a novelty. Punters all over the world are practicing it, placing their wagers on sport events wherever they go. With a completely mobile-optimized bookmaker, you won’t be afraid to skip an important match due to a busy day at work or other bounding circumstances. That’s reason enough for us to look for mobile-friendly bookies and offer them to you.
  3. Available payment options

    Depositing and withdrawing your funds from a bookmaker’s website must be convenient, fast, secure, and, in a perfect scenario, with no charges involved. We’re looking solely for bookies with a decent range of available payment methods. These methods must be legit, familiar to African punters, and, above all, completely secure.
  4. Bonuses and promotions

    Every reliable Africa bet website has a Bonuses and Promotions section, in which punters can find the whole range of available bonus perks. Whether there are free bets, extra cash, cashback, or VIP loyalty programs, we’re looking for consistent and beneficial promotions for bettors. Relatively moderate wagering requirements for bonuses are another upside of a good sports wagering platform.
  5. Bet types

    A decent variety of bet types is another characteristic we look for in a good sports betting website. While you can often come across the most common markets on all bookmaker platforms, very few of them offer special or rare bet types for sport events. That is why we’re looking for bookies who can offer a variety of unique bets and thus make your sports wagering even more fruitful and diverse.
  6. Support work quality

    Nobody wants to feel left out. Whenever bettors seek any help concerning their wagers or certain functions of the website, a good bookmaker must be ready to provide it. A responsive support group will guide you through all the stages of solving your problem, and the inconvenience will be over in the blink of an eye. It’s even more of an advantage if the website has several channels of communication with users: a 24/7 Live Chat, email address, mobile phone, social media pages, and other helpful links.
  7. Trustworthiness

    Even though this point is the last on our list, it certainly isn’t in terms of importance. Before recommending any bookmaker to readers, we double-check its licensing, regulations, and other crucial policies. We also go through various users’ reviews across the web, taking note of their experience with a certain bookmaker.

2 best betting apps in Africa

These days, all bets in Africa can be placed from a mobile device. Mobile betting is flourishing and we are here for this, because what could be better than having a reliable and responsive bookmaker in your pocket whenever you go? Take note of these mobile-friendly wagering sites we gathered for you and pick a sportsbook for your next Africa bet.

#1 Africa betting app – Betway

Betway is a worldwide-famous betting company that has been providing punters with its services since 2006. Having more than 15 years of experience in the industry, it’s natural that Betway managed to develop its official mobile apps for both Android and iOS platforms. The perks you can find there include a scope of more than 25 sports to bet on, a vast live betting section, and convenient banking methods. Besides, the Betway application has received good reviews from users both on App Store and Google Play.

Advantages

Limitations

Some users have reported experiencing glitches in the app

#2 Africa betting app – 888Starz

The official mobile app of 888Starz contains both a sportsbook section and a diverse casino lobby, in case you’ll ever want to try your luck at online gambling. The app is easy to install and can be downloaded in a matter of minutes directly from the bookie’s website. As in the full version of 888Starz, you will get tokens for every placed bet and receive pleasant bonus perks. The app is also crypto-friendly, which adds to its security levels due to blockchain technology, applied in all crypto transactions.

Advantages

Limitations

Many country restrictions

1 Biggest Africa bookmaker. Africa number one betting site

Now that you know almost everything you need to start out with sports betting in Africa, let us introduce to you another sports wagering platform worthy of your attention.

  1. #1 Biggest Africa betting site – SportingBet

    Africa number one betting site, SportingBet is a good choice for everyone, whether you’re an experienced bettor or only starting your journey in the industry. The bookmaker was established back in 1998, and its experience in the industry is worth praise. SportingBet holds its main operating licenses from the UKGC, Malta, and Gibraltar, as well as local licenses in Greece and Romania. The bookie covers almost every continent, with more than 2 million active users all over the world. Among the main perks of SportingBet are its extensive sports coverage, over 30 payment options, live streaming feature, and special bet types for many popular sports.

    Biggest Africa betting site – SportingBet

Bonuses and Promotions for Sports Betting in Africa

Bonuses and Promotions for Sports Betting in Africa

Did you think that we’d miss out on bonus features? Well, not this time. Every platform for sports betting in Africa has got a good range of bonuses to offer. No matter if you’re a new or existing user, you will certainly find the best promotion for yourself.

Deposit Bonuses in Africa

Deposit bonuses are extra funds or free bets that are rewarded after your first deposit on the website. We advise that you study the wagering requirements of your chosen bookmaker carefully, then make a deposit starting from the minimum allowed amount. After all the requirements are met, the bonus will be added to your account. Sometimes, though, you have to claim it manually, but it’s not really a big deal.

Welcome Offers in Africa

Welcome offers are a good start for every newcomer to a sports betting platform. These gifts usually come in extra cash, free bets, or both. In order to become eligible for a welcome bonus on a sports betting website in Africa, you have to register and verify your personal account, as well as complete all steps of the wagering requirements stated by the bookie.

Free Bets in Africa

Apart from welcome packages and deposit bonuses, many websites can also offer free bets. Claiming a free bet bonus is a good way to place some wagers on sports without losing any cash. And, if you’re lucky enough, you may even win some. A win-win scenario, right?

Cashback in Africa

Cashback is often available for a particular sport type, and you can find such promotions as cricket cashback, tennis cashback, basketball cashback, and other decent offers. This bonus gives you a unique opportunity to win back a certain percentage of cash on your losing bet. That is why we recommend you look for cashback offers as soon as you register your personal account with a bookmaker.

VIP offers in Africa

Even though VIP loyalty programs are quite rare to come across, some sports wagering websites in Africa offer such perks to their users. Subscribing for a VIP membership is a good decision if you intend to continue your betting with a particular bookmaker in the long run. This bonus usually consists of levels, which allow bettors to proceed and reach new heights with every stake they place, awarding them generous bonuses and exclusive promotions.

Table about Bonuses and Promotions for Online betting in Greece
Bookmaker Offer Advantages Registration Link
100% First deposit match up to R1,000
  • Lots of online betting markets
  • Free bet and payout promotions
  • Various cash out options
Get bonus
150% welcome bonus up to R5000
  • 20+ sports to bet on
  • Fully licensed bookmaker
  • Good odds on football
Get bonu

Welcome bonus up to 1,736 ZAR/ 14,800 KES/ 290,000 CDF

  • Good sports coverage
  • Generous welcome offer
  • Android and iOS apps
Get bonus
New customer bonus up to R3,000
  • Ideal for soccer accumulators
  • Live streaming supported
  • Choose from 30 payment methods
Get bonus
  • Bet with Visa or Mastercard in Africa

    Betting with your Visa or Mastercard is considered one of the safest payment methods. The money is transferred directly from your credit or debit card to your bookmaker’s account, with no third parties involved.

  • Bet with Skrill in Africa

    If you find betting with your bank card inconvenient or don’t want to reveal any personal information, betting with an e-wallet instead may be a good option. Consider Skrill, a time-tested digital wallet that has been operating internationally since 2001.

  • Bet with Payz in Africa

    Payz is a payment option that you can find on almost every sportsbook, and African bookmakers are no exception. Founded back in 2000, Payz is a trusted provider of payment solutions that offers its services in more than 170 countries worldwide.

  • Bet with Entropay in Africa

    Another good solution for your digital payments, Entropay is an experienced company that has been operating since 2002. You don’t have to submit your debit card details while making payments via Entropay, which doubles the safety of this payment option.

FAQ

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Is online sports betting legal in Africa?

The legality of sports betting fully depends on the country you’re wagering from. While it is strictly prohibited in all Muslim countries on the continent, players from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and other countries can enjoy legal and regulated betting activities.
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How do I find a trustworthy bookmaker in Africa?

To find a reliable and time-tested sports wagering company, check out the list of bookmakers presented in this review.
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What are the most popular sports to bet on in Africa?

The most popular sports to bet on from Africa are football, boxing, cricket, and rugby.

1 ratings, average 5 out of 5

Review Author

Kate Richardson

Kate Richardson

Strategic Betting Analyst: Expert in Developing and Implementing Data-Driven, Profitable Sports Betting Strategies.