SportPesa South Africa, licensed by the Western Cape Racing and Gambling Board, opened its doors in 2014. It was the first betting company to sponsor a team in the Premier Soccer League, Cape Town City F.C. SportPesa has also partnered with mobile operator Cell C to pioneer USSD and SMS betting in South Africa, making it easier for customers to manage their accounts.
SportPesa Pros & Cons
- Apps for Android and iOS
- Betting blog on the website
- Comprehensive FAQ section
- No Welcome bonuses or promotions
- Less than 15 sports and few markets on offer
- Navigation could be smoother
SportPesa Online Betting: Editorial Rating
SportPesa Legal and Safe in South Africa?
SportPesa South Africa is a licensed bookmaker, regulated by the Western Cape Racing and Gambling Board. They support responsible gambling and strictly prohibit anyone under 18 from participating. For those who may need it, help is available through the National Responsible Gambling Helpline at 0800 006 008. SportPesa takes the confidentiality of your bets and winnings seriously and has measures in place to ensure the safekeeping of your personal details.
SportPesa: What Sports Are On Offer?
SportPesa South Africa ain’t the place for endless sports options. Here’s the list of sports you can bet on:
Soccer. At SportPesa South Africa you can place bets on championships and cups from over 60 countries. There is also the option to bet on the South African Premier League and MTN 8. For top-tier soccer, they’ve just over 250 markets. Plus, they’ve got detailed stats from Sportradar and match previews on their blog.
Tennis. Tennis ain’t left behind either. You’ve got stats and around 40 betting markets for top games, but you can only bet on big tournaments like ATP, WTA, Davis Cup, and the Grand Slams. Their blog also serves up previews and predictions for tennis events.
Basketball. For top-tier matches, SportPesa offers over 150 different markets to bet on. SportPesa focuses its basketball betting mainly on the most notable tournaments, such as NBA, WNBA, FIBA friendlies, etc. Real-time stats and graphical representations of the game can provide insights into the flow of the match, player performance, and other critical factors that can influence the outcome.
SportPesa Payment Methods
SportPesa South Africa gives you a handful of ways for deposits and withdrawals:
How to Make a Deposit to SportPesa
Depositing money into your SportPesa account is straightforward. Here’s how:
- Go to the “Deposit Funds” section.
- Choose your deposit method: Voucher, Credit/Debit Card, or EFT.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the deposit.
The minimum deposit for all methods is just R1, with a maximum of R1 000 000. All topping-ups are processed immediately. Note: USSD is only for MTN and Vodacom subscribers. SportPesa won’t accept Capitec and FNB deposits via USSD.
How to Withdraw from SportPesa
Withdrawals at SportPesa South Africa are available via EFT Bank Transfer, FNB Ewallet and USSD. Here’s how to request a payout from your account:
- Click on the withdrawal link on the top right of the website.
- Choose between FNB eWallet and Bank Transfer.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the withdrawal.
The minimum withdrawal amount for all methods is R100, with a maximum of R1 000 000 for Bank Transfer and R5 000 for FNB Ewallet and USSD. SportPesa withdrawal can take up to 48 hours to reflect in your account. Note that for withdrawals exceeding R5 000 per day or R25 000 per month, you’ll need to upload documents mentioned in SportPesa’s T&Cs.
SportPesa Odds
SportPesa’s odds are quite low compared to other South African bookmakers, with an average margin of 6-7%, even for top football games. Soccer Over/Under market margin goes beyond 7%. Basketball NBA and WNBA odds for both 1×2 and totals are low, too, with the “house edge” of 7-8%. The best prices at SportPesa are for tennis (WTA and ATP), where the bookmaker takes 5-6% from the winning market bets amount and 7-8% from O/Us stakes.
Let’s calculate the margins for the English Premier League match between Wolverhampton and Liverpool, held on September 16th, 2023. For the 1×2 market, we use the formula: Margin = (1 – (Odds1 * Odds2 * Odds3) / ((Odds2 * Odds3) + (Odds1 * Odds3) + (Odds1 * Odds2))) * 100%, and get the result of 6,29%. The formula for two outcomes is: Margin = (1 – (Odds1 * Odds2) / (Odds1 + Odds2)) * 100%, and we get here 7.74% for this match O/Us.
Live Betting & Live Streaming at SportPesa
SportPesa does offer live betting, but don’t expect many sports and markets. The bookmaker has live stats and infographics to keep you in the loop, but the selection of live matches is quite limited. The majority of the time, you can bet in-play only on soccer, tennis and basketball.
SportPesa SA Mobile App
If you like to bet on the move, SportPesa has mobile apps for Android and iOS, both developed by SPS SPORTSOFT LIMITED. The apps require 8.5 MB and 81.7 MB of free space, respectively, with Android version 4.4 or later and iOS 11.0 or later.
To get the SportPesa Android application, you’ll have to download the APK file from their site. The iOS app is available on the official App Store.
SportPesa’s apps offer easy navigation and allow you to switch between football, basketball, tennis, and other sports in the upper menu. The selected market feature lets you toggle between key options: 3-Way, Double Chance, and BTTS. The “Show odds under” filter refines your view to preferred odds ranges. It works fast without delays.
Conclusion
SportPesa does the basics but struggles to impress. It has some decent Android and iOS apps, a blog with betting tips, and a solid FAQ section, but it’s a letdown in some key areas. The odds, bonuses, and market variety could be better, and with only 12 sports and average odds, the top football margins of 6-7% do not stand a chance against the other South African bookmakers. The lack of bonuses or promotions is a big negative.
This bookie best suits players who like simple betting and a good mobile app. But experienced bettors and those looking for better odds or more markets might find it disappointing. SportPesa is already doing well in the market but needs significant improvements to become a top-tier choice.
FAQ
How can I bet using USSD or SMS with SportPesa?
SportPesa allows USSD and SMS wagering for MTN and Vodacom users. Simply register, fund your account, and use their codes or SMS instructions to place bets without internet access.
Are SportPesa’s odds low or high in South Africa?
SportPesa’s odds are quite low, with 6-7% margins on top football and up to 8% on basketball. Other bookmakers often offer lower margins, making SportPesa less competitive.
What are SportPesa’s bonuses or promotions?
SportPesa currently doesn’t offer any bonuses or promotions.
