Founded in 2016, Firstbet is a relatively new betting platform. The site has around 20 sports with a focus on football, boasting over 750 markets and average margin of 5-6% for top matches. Additionally, the support team is known for their swift responses to customer queries, but not available 24/7. Firstbet lacks live streaming and match tracker features, as well as mobile apps. Overall, the bookmaker needs to improve a lot before it can compete with leading South African betting sites in several areas.
Firstbet Pros & Cons
- Two Welcome bonuses
- Horse racing betting
- Cash Out
- No live streaming
- No mobile apps
- Not many sports
Firstbet: Editorial Rating
Firstbet Welcome Bonus & Offers
Bet R30 Get R30
Firstbet Security
Firstbet, trading under the name of BANZOSTAR (PTY) LTD with registration number 2016/131538/07, holds a licence from the Western Cape Gambling & Racing Board. This licence, bearing the number 10185107, was issued on 30 June 2017.
Firstbet states that the security of your personal data is a top priority for them. However, they mention that no online transmission or electronic storage method is entirely safe. While Firstbet employs robust and commercially accepted measures to safeguard personal data, they do not guarantee absolute security.
Firstbet Sports Betting Markets
Football, tennis, basketball, cricket, and rugby are among the 20 sports you can bet on at Firstbet South Africa.
Football. As with many betting sites in South Africa, football dominates the line-up at Firstbet. It has comprehensive coverage of over 50 countries and more than 1400 events. While it covers a vast array of international matches, it notably doesn’t feature championships from South Africa. For high-profile football matches, bettors have access to over 750 outcomes to bet on. With intuitive filters, making sense of the multitude of combinations becomes easier, ensuring that every bettor, from novice to expert, can find their ideal bet. Whether you’re into main markets, combination bets, or more niche options, Firstbet Football has it covered.
Tennis. Tennis section is divided by countries and not by tournaments, which is unusual. There are many tennis tournaments available at Firstbet, such as Grand Slams, ATP, WTA, Challengers, and UTR. For US Open games, over 60 pre-match markets are offered, such as Match Result, First/Second Set Winner, First Set Correct Score, Set Betting, First Set Total Games Over/Under, and etc.
Horse Racing. The Horses section is located under its own tab, separate from other sports. There are horse races from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and France. All seven racecourses that operate in South Africa are covered by Firstbet. Betting options range from Antepost to last-minute bets.
Firstbet Payment Methods
South Africans have multiple options to deposit and withdraw funds on Firstbet. You can deposit using credit/debit cards, Instant EFT via CallPay, 1 Voucher, OTT Voucher, and Blu Voucher. However, withdrawals are available to EFT and Cash Send options only.
How to Make a Deposit at Firstbet
To deposit on this South African betting site, follow the instructions below:
- Log into your Firstbet account.
- Click on the “Deposit” tab at the top left of your page.
- Select your preferred deposit method.
- Follow the instructions on the screen.
You may use the following payment methods: Credit/debit card, Instant EFT via CallPay, 1Voucher, OTT Voucher, and Blu Voucher. The minimum deposit is R10 for all of them, and no maximum limit is applied. All topping up is immediate.
How to Withdraw from Firstbet
Follow these steps to request a withdrawal at Firstbet:
- Sign in to your account. Ensure your FICA documents have been submitted. You can only withdraw once you’ve received FICA approval.
- Click on the “Account” tab at the top.
- Choose “Banking”.
- Click on “Withdraw”.
- Verify your bank details. Ensure they align with the account proof given during the FICA process. New bank accounts for withdrawal require an additional proof of account.
- Input the desired withdrawal amount and continue.
| Payment method | Withdrawal time | Minimum Withdrawal, R | Maximum Withdrawal, R |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Up to two working days | 60 | N/A |
| Cash Send | Up to two working days | 100 | 3 000 |
Firstbet Odds
Firstbet’s odds have been tested at various levels for several major sports. The betting site has average odds compared to other South African bookmakers. The margin on the English Premier League is around 5%. However, on the EURO qualifiers, the margin was more than 12%, which is very high. Interestingly, the margin on the Over/Under market for some matches was even lower by 2-3 times than on the Winner market.
As for other sports and events, the tennis margin for top matches at the US Open Men Singles is from 5% to 6%, and the same is true for basketball at the FIBA World Cup. In these cases, the house commission for totals jumps above 7%, which is already moderately high. Rugby Union World Cup margins for 1×2 and O/Us markets are around 6% to 7.5%.
Let’s calculate Firstbet’s margin for the English Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton on December 11, 2024. We’ll use the following formula: Margin = (1 – (Odds1 * Odds2 * Odds3) / ((Odds2 * Odds3) + (Odds1 * Odds3) + (Odds1 * Odds2))) * 100%. Given the odds of 1.23 – 6.00 – 14.00, the commission will equal 4.86%. The O/Us margin for this match is 4.81%.
Firstbet Live Betting & Live Streaming
Firstbet’s live betting section isn’t that extensive, with only a few football, basketball, cricket and baseball events in play at the time of writing. Live video streaming is not available. Only some core statistics and graphical representations are available during matches.
Firstbet SA Mobile App
Firstbet does not have a mobile app for Android or iOS. Only the mobile version of the website is available to clients on these platforms.
Conclusion
Firstbet is a mid-tier betting option in the South African market. It provides a decent selection of sports and markets, especially for football, but falls short in critical areas. The lack of live streaming, match trackers, and mobile apps significantly impacts our rating. While competitive on some football markets, its odds vary greatly across events, with margins on certain markets reaching above-average levels.
The bookmaker’s bonuses are attractive but don’t stand out compared to competitors like Betway or Gbets. Deposit options are sufficient for most users, but withdrawal methods are limited. Responsive and helpful customer support doesn’t work 24/7. Compared with leading bookmakers in South Africa, Firstbet requires considerable improvement to close the gap. It is best suited for casual bettors who prefer football and horse racing but not for those seeking advanced features.
FAQ
How Long Will It Take to Withdraw from FirstBet?
The sportsbook will review your withdrawal within 24 hours after submitting the request. In total, the process will take up to 2-3 working days.
How to Get FirstBet’s No Deposit Bonus?
After registering your account, the R30 Free Bet is automatically added to your bet slip. To use it, log in, choose the stake you want to back and add it to your bet slip. Then select the free bets tab at the top right, click REDEEM and the submit button.
