Some of the more unique casino games available online are often overlooked by players, possibly due to the fact they are unsure of how they play and pay.
However, one game that is best famed for occasionally turning a very small stake into an enormous winning payout is the game of Keno.
Behind the keno counter sit the keno writer(s) and the operator. The keno writers handle the tickets turned in, mark down the numbers, and take care of the financial transactions. The keno operator sits above and behind the writers. She starts the keno. Browse for your friends alphabetically by name. Numbers 0 to 25 contain non-Latin character names. Note: This only includes people who have Public Search Listings available on Facebook. An icon used to represent a menu that can be toggled by interacting with this icon.
There is nothing complicated about playing Keno, for all you are required to do is to try and correctly predict a series of numbers that you hope will be drawn out of the Keno machine.
The standard Keno game is one on which you are going to be able to pick between one and fifteen numbers from one to eighty, and then the machine will fire out twenty of those eighty numbers, each of which will have been randomly chosen.
Betx Keno Game
The more numbers you opt to put onto your card and the more of them you match the higher your winning payout will become. The stakes on such games are always fully adjustable by players, so you can play for some tiny stake amounts, or if you are feeling brave or very lucky you could always play for high stakes instead.
What you do need to be aware of though is that each set of numbers you can choose to place on your Keno card will have a different payout percentage associated with them.
That information can be quite hard to work out if you are not mathematically minded, and as such I will now enlighten you as to the best bets to place on a range of different online Keno games, based on the RTP of each number groping.
Many NetEnt software powered cryptocurrency accepting casino sites have a game called Jungle Keno, and you can chose to place two to ten numbers on your card on that game. The best bet to place however is the nine number spot as that bet offers a long term expected RTP of some 96.28%.
Microgaming, Top Game and also Rival powered casino sites have a standard Keno game on offer which boasts a fairly industry standard set of betting opportunities and winning payouts. On those games you can place from one to fifteen numbers on your Keno card.
However, the RTP’s of each number grouping does vary quite significantly, but the one with the best payout percentage and paybacks is the thirteen number bet on which a payout percentage of a reasonable 94.90% is on offer to players.
The Playtech designed Keno game is very similar to the NetEnt variant, for you can pick from two to ten numbers to have in play on each card you play off.
The best bet to place though on their version of this game is the eight numbers bet which has a payout percentage of 92.75% which is not very high but it is the best RTP when compared to each of the other bets you can place!
Real Time Gaming powered casinos have a Keno game offering you the chance of placing one to fifteen numbers on your card, but as the best paying one is the eleven numbers bet which has a rather low RTP of 86.75% you will probably be best off never playing their Keno game online!
There is arguably now a huge presence of online sports bookmakers or sports betting sites in South Africa, which enables the placing of bets in just a few clicks. Of course, this is a deviation from the old days, only some decades ago, where the only options were limited to a few brick and wall bookies scattered across the country. Fortunately this has changed for the better.
As the online bookies have grown in popularity and are now numerous, punters may find it to be a mammoth task to decide on the best sports betting sites to use. We aim to make this process simpler – in this article, we discuss some popular South African sports betting sites and their features, with the ultimate objective of establishing the best overall value from each bookmaker.
Sports Betting Sites – Basis of comparison
Our comparison of bookies for this article makes use of a standard template, which gives each an equal footing as basis for comparison. We look at the legal and license status, layout and feel of the site, bonuses, deposit and withdrawal options, markets and the overall rating of each bookie. Detailed reviews of each bookie have been done in different articles and can be found under the overview of each bookmaker included.
Top Sports Betting Sites in South Africa
We’ve listed the below bookmakers in order of popularity with punters. We’ll be starting off with the bigger and more known brands, eventually reaching smaller brands as this list continues to grow. If you are looking for more bookmakers then visit our comprehensive list of all bookmakers in South Africa, where we cover all bookmakers within our borders.
Hollywoodbets
Hollywoodbets are clearly an all-time favourite bookie of many South Africa Punters with their progression from brick and mortar-based services to online betting. They now offer online sport besting features with a valid license from the Gambling and Racing Board. Their online interface may not be the most polished of sites but let that not fool you, as the mobile betting experience is vastly superior to their desktop site.
They provide a fast user experience with a wide selection of sports, market options at highly competitive odds. Still on entertainment value, they provide several promotions including a R25 sign-up bonus for no deposit at all. It, however, falls short of some bonus offerings by major bookies in South Africa.
Other than that, the banking options are very wide, providing the punters with options such as VISA/Mastercard, EFT, instant EFT, Holly Top Up Voucher and 1 Voucher.
- Read our full Hollywoodbets Review
Betway South Africa
With a huge international footprint, Betway continue to impress and woo fans across the country. They are legally registeredpresently operates under the license of the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board since their operation in 2017.As with their international sites, they also offer a solid user experience by giving a well-designed interface with ease of navigation. They also offer a handful of promotions including the Betway R25 welcome bonus with favorable wagering terms among other promos on offer.
The banking options are also quite wide, offering the user the option of using Vouchers, EFT, MasterCard or VISA enabled cards and even the option of receiving withdrawals via e-wallet! One of the most popular deposit methods at Betway is 1Voucher, 1Voucher allows punters with out a bank account to make deposits and then request a voucher withdraw.
- Read our full Betway Review
Sportingbet
Another big name on the South African, Sportingbet has gained popularity among the local punting industry with a good mix of service and betting experience. The bookie is legally registered with the Western Cape Gaming and racing board and is well known thanks to it’s international exposure.
It is a marvel to navigate through Sportingbet’s well-developed site using both desktop and mobile devices. There is a generous welcome bonus offer matched at 100% of the deposit amount up to a maximum of R2,000 with minimal wagering on the bonus.
The market and sports options are equally wide, and the punter will have enough choice. Likable features include the Build a Bet feature which allows players to combine some markets on the same match to build odds for a single match, and a cash out facility to settle bets before the matches finish. When it comes to money matters, Sportingbet offers a wide selection of options including 1Voucher, EFT, Instant EFT, and card options.
Sportingbet are also one of the first bookmakers in South Africa to offer fully legal online roulette games. These are a load of fun and a good addition to the Sportingbet Dream Catcher and the various other Betgames on offer.
- Read our full Sportingbet Review
Sunbet
Another big name in the local sports betting industry comes in the form of Sunbet. The bookmaker has a backing of the Sun Entertainment group and is legally registered with the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board.
Sunbet are currently offering an exclusive bonus through Best Sports Betting, new punters who use promo BSB will get R200 in free bets on their first deposit of R50 or more. You can claim this offer with the 100% deposit match bonus, which we discuss further below.
The bookie’s page features a blue and white colour palette, with remarkable user experience and well-designed features. The sports and market options are very wide, spoiling many punters with a good choice. Additionally, they provide a cash out feature to minimize on losses in the event of changing game circumstances.
Additionally, both android and iOS applications are available for download from the app store. Coming to bonuses, Sunbet also offer reasonably good bonuses with the top one being the 100% welcome bonus up to a maximum of R1,000.
In terms of banking, the bookmaker offers the options of EFT, Instant EFT, Mastercard and VISA cards for making deposits and withdrawals. Sadly, the use of vouchers is not yet available with the bookie but is in the pipeline.
- Read our full Sunbet Review
World Sports Betting / WSB
World Sports Betting (WSB) are another big bookie in South Africa for punters to keep an eye on. WSB are regulated by the Gauteng and the National Gambling Boards and operate with valid licenses. The WSB desktop web page is not the most modern, but there is indeed great value in content offering and navigation speed. As well as a solid mobile site that has recently gone through an upgrade.
Whilst the user interface is somewhat basic, they offer a very wide selection of games including some sports such as skiing and sailing among other major sports. Additionally, WSB offer horse racing, lotto and Betgames, which are also accessible from their site and very simple to use.
When it comes to bonuses we found WSB to be extremely generous, with a flagship matched bonus up to a total of R10,000 for new player deposits. They also continue to offer other promotions that are regularly updated on their site. On payment gateways, WSB offer options of credit/debit cards when making deposits plus options of bank EFT and bank cash deposits.
- Read our full WSB Review
Playa Bets
Another interesting bookie on the South African market is Playa bets, who offer a refreshing website with a modern feel. They are legally registered with the KZN Gambling and Licensing board, making them a legal sports betting provider. In terms of the web page design, you would have to give credit to them as the green colour palette with the modern feel appears to be well polished. The pages are easy to navigate through as the icons are well visible. For mobile device users, there is an application available for both Android and iOS devices.
Betx Keno Online
Playabets have a wide selection of sports on offer, and to add on that, punters can also place bets on Keno and Lucky Numbers. Market options are also wide, as they offer up to 700 options for major football games such as EPL fixtures.
On the promotion end, Playabets are on the top-notch with their top offering being the welcome bonus matched at 100% of deposit amount up to a total of R10, 000. That’s not all – they provide more promotions that are frequently updated on their site.
On payment gateways, Playabets go ahead to bring options that seek to satisfy all market niches. One can deposit through debit or credit cards, EFT, Instant EFT, Cash Deposit, OTT Voucher, 1voucher or through a deposit made in the Playabets physical shop.
- Read our full Playa Bets review
GG Gaming
GG Gaming is a sports bookmaker on offer for the South African market proving to offer enough formidable competition to some established bookies. They are registered under the laws of the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, ensuring the safety and security of players.
The betting interface is fairly simple with a modern touch and a blue colour palette. Navigation across the pages is also made easy by such a design and easily visible icons and buttons. Coming to sports offerings, they are reasonably wide although one feels there is room for more improvement. Additional features include Betgames and Lucky numbers that punters can place bets on.
One of GG Gaming’s strong points is that they have stated several times that they will not limit punters accounts, making them an attractive proposition for big spending punters.
- Visit GG Gaming
- Read our full GG Gaming Review
Supabets
Supabets are another bookie who occupy the south African market share in both perspectives of the physical and online betting. The bookie is indeed licensed to operate under the laws of the Mpumalanga Gambling Board.
The user interface is basic but nonetheless is very fast to browse through. The sports and market options are also very wide, giving punters much-required choice. The welcome bonus is where Supabets get superior over other bookies – they offer a whopping 100% matched bonus up to a maximum of R10,000.
Looking at banking, Supabets offer a reasonable amount of options for making transactions including options such as EFT, Instant EFT, vouchers, debit and credit cards.
- Read our full Supabets Review
Gbets
Another bookmaker with a modern feeling website comes in the form of Gbets who offer punters with an opportunity to place bets on their site. The bookmaker is registered legally with the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board. The web interface is modern, with a black and yellow colour yellow theme. Navigation across the page is fairly simple because of clearly visible icons and buttons. The sports options are good, covering most common sports and leagues across the world. There are options to place bets on Betgames and Horse Racing.
Sadly, Gbets do not impress when it comes to promotions – there is no promotion offer at the moment. However, a chat with customer care revealed that there is an upcoming deposit bonus offering in the first week of December 2019. We certainly hope to see this soon to be on par with some major bookies. Coming to banking options – they provide fair options of deposit options such as debit/credit card, EFT and Instant EFT.
- Read our full Gbets Review
Betxchange / Betx
BetXchange are another notable bookmaker in South Africa registered under the laws of the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board. BetXchange is owned by Keith Ho Racing and offers a modern, visually appealing betting interface. The home page is easy to navigate through with various options clearly visible to the punter. There is a very wide selection of sports across various countries and leagues. BetXchange also offer horse racing and lotto for punters who may have such a preference.
Betx are very generous when it comes to promotions – BetXchange equally compete with some bookies who have top welcome bonus offerings. There is a matched deposit offer at 100% up to a maximum of R10, 000 for the first customer deposit as well as many other moneyback and enhanced odds specials. Coming to payment gateways, they offer the standard options of EFT, Instant EFT, credit/debit cards and cash deposits.
- Read our full Betx Review
Tabular comparison
All the above mentioned sports betting sites compared in one handy table, for your convenience. Kindly note the Betway 125% offer is no longer available.
We’ll be adding to this list soon as we have several more bookmaker write ups in the pipeline. Which of the listed sports betting sites is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Bookmaker | License | Betting Platform | Mobile App | Bonus & Features | Deposits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Betway | Registered with the W. Cape Gambling and Racing Board. | Solid experience, user friendly site, easy to navigate through | iOS and Android | Welcome Bonus offering matched at 125 % of deposit up to R1, 000. Wide market options covering most of major sports. Cash out facility for bets before match is completed | EFT, VISA, Mastercard, OTT Voucher, 1 Voucher, payouts via ABSA Cash Send and FNB e-wallet are possible. |
Hollywoodbets | Registered with the KZN Gambling and Racing Board. Licence Valid | User interface not the most polished, but navigation is easy and very fast. Solid betting experience | Basic feature phone app(.jad) | Deposit free sign up bonus of up to R25. Very wide sports and market options. Blog with betting tips and predictions. | EFT, Bank deposit, Credit/Debit cards, Payfast, Holly top Up Voucher, Instant EFT, 1Voucher |
Sportingbet | Registered with the W. Cape Gambling and Racing Board. Licence Valid | Simple design, easy and very fast to navigate through the website. | App for iOS and Android devices | Matched welcome bonus at 100% of deposit amount up to R2, 000. Build a bet feature plus cash out facility for changing circumstances | 1Voucher, Instant EFT, EFT, VISA and Mastercard |
Sunbet | Registered with the W. Cape Gambling and Racing Board. Licence Valid | Simple and very functional user interface, matching blue colour pallet. Seamless navigation | App for iOS and Android devices | Matched bonus at 100% up to a maximum of R1, 000. Very wide sports and market options | Instant EFT, EFT, VISA and Mastercard |