Horse racing betting has long been a favorite tradition in South Africa, stretching back over a century. It was the only legal form of gambling in the country, drawing daily crowds to TAB outlets where punters placed their bets on races from around the globe. The sport’s enduring appeal lies in its blend of strategy, excitement, and the chance to win big.
In the last decade, horse racing predictions and betting tips have become highly sought after as punters scour the internet for the best insights and insider information. It is essential to find a bookmaker that provides both optimal experience and huge returns therefore, we have taken the time to find the best betting sites in South Africa to bet on horse racing.
Best sites to Bet on Horse racing
- Hollywoodbets: R25 Sign up bonus plus 50 Free Spins
- Betway: First deposit match up to R1000 in free bets
- Playabets: 100% First Deposit Match up to R2 000
- Betfred- 100% First Deposit Match up to R5 000
- Sportingbet– Receive up to R3000 Welcome Bonus
Review of Best Horse Racing Sites SA
We have formulated a list of the best betting sites that offer horse racing in South Africa. We will be covering topics like the welcome bonus and any other promotions that are directly linked to horse racing.
Hollywoodbets mobile – horse racing & sports betting
Hollywoodbets is South Africa’s leading and most popular betting platform, boasting millions of registered players. The site has gained a strong following due to its extensive betting options and user-friendly interface. Hollywoodbets offers a welcome package with a R25 sign-up bonus and 50 free spins on selected slot games.
While the R25 bonus may be smaller on the market, its major drawcard is that players can claim it without making an initial deposit. The free bet can be used to make sports or horse race bets. Hollywoodbets started with retail betting shops that only offered horse racing, so they have been actively involved with it for almost three decades. They also sponsor Africa’s richest race, the July Handicap, more commonly known as the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
They also offer an excellent promotion specific to horse racing. The promotion’s name is Irish Objective, and it works as follows: If you back a horse and it wins the race but is later disqualified on a technicality, Hollywoodbets will reimburse your stake in full.
Related Article: Try Spina Zonke Games on HollywoodBets
How to play horse racing on Hollywoodbets
- Register on the Hollywoodbets main site or on the mobile app.
- Log in to your betting account using your username and password.
- Navigate to the Horse Racing section in the bookmaker’s sports menu.
- Choose the specific race meeting that you wish to bet on.
- Pick the Horse you want to bet on or pick the horses if you make a multiple bet.
- Enter the amount you wish to bet and click ‘submit’ to place your bet.
Betway
This bookmaker is one of the premier betting sites in the country and offers an extensive range of sports and live games, such as Betgames, casinos, and Virtual sports. Betway offers a Welcome Bonus with a First Deposit match of up to R1 000 in free bets. New players who complete the Betway registration must place bets three times their deposit amount on odds of 3.0 or greater to qualify. Once these wagering requirements are met, the free bet will be credited to their account.
The Betway signup bonus can be used on sports or on horse races. Betway has one of the best horse racing coverages in the country. Punters can bet on any of the different segments
- Next Off – races that are due to begin shortly.
- Today – races that are due to set off at some point in the next 24 hours.
- Tomorrow – races that are due to set off at some point on the following day.
- Future – races that are planned for a future date.
- Ante Post – fixtures on events where the runners are yet to be known.
How to play Horse racing on Betway
- Register on the Betway main site or on the mobile app.
- Log in to your betting account using your username and password.
- Navigate to the Horse Racing section in the bookmaker’s sports menu.
- Choose the specific race meeting that you wish to bet on.
- Pick the Horse you want to bet on or pick the horses if you make a multiple bet.
- Enter the amount you wish to bet and click ‘submit’ to place your bet.
Playabets
Playabets is one of the oldest betting sites in South Africa. They ran retail betting shops from the 1990s, when horse racing was the only legal form of gambling in the country. They have grown exponentially since joining the online betting market. Their promotions and site design clearly reflect their excellent knowledge of local punters.
New players signing up on the Playabets site need to deposit R50 and R2000, and they will receive their bonus. The bonus funds can be used to bet on sports and horse races. Once you receive your bonus, you must roll over your deposit 1 time on bets with odds of 2 (1/1) or greater and your bonus 4 times on odds 4 (3/1). After these requirements are met, you are eligible to make a withdrawal.
Playabets has a handy feature for horse racing punters. They list the Next Race and Future Races and the Results page under different tabs so it is easily accessible even if you are new to the site.
Related Article: How to Download Playabets app
How to play Playabets Horse racing
- Register on the Playabets main site or on the mobile app.
- Log in to your betting account using your username and password.
- Navigate to the Horse Racing section in the bookmaker’s sports menu.
- Choose the specific race meeting that you wish to bet on.
- Pick the Horse you want to bet on or pick the horses if you make a multiple bet.
- Enter the amount you wish to bet and click ‘submit’ to place your bet.
Betfred
Betfred is one of the oldest betting companies in the world. It was founded in 1967 and mainly was for horse racing betting. They only started operating in South Africa in 2021. Betfred has one of the largest Welcome Bonuses in South Africa. They will match the first deposit of the new player up to R5 000.
The bonus funds can be used on sports and horse racing. You must wager the bonus funds five times over on odds of 1/1 or higher before you can withdraw any winnings. Betfred offers odds boosts on horse racing, and there is racing available to bet on around the clock worldwide, from countries such as the UK, Ireland, France, Hong Kong, the United States and Australia.
How to play Betfred Horse racing
- Register on the Betfred main site or on the mobile site.
- Log in to your betting account using your username and password.
- Navigate to the Horse Racing section in the bookmaker’s sports menu.
- Choose the specific race meeting that you wish to bet on.
- Pick the Horse you want to bet on or pick the horses if you make a multiple bet.
- Enter the amount you wish to bet and click ‘submit’ to place your bet.
Sportingbet
Sportingbet have built their reputation on having the largest sportsbook in the country and have often led the way on the online betting market in recent years. They were one of the first bookies to introduce a R3 000 welcome bonus and also were the first to offer game changing features like Build A Bet and Edit My Bet. The welcome bonus can be used on sports and horse racing. Bonus funds will need to be played through 10 times at minimum total odds of 1.7 before being withdrawn.
Not only do they have the largest sportsbook, they arguably have the widest selection of horse racing events from across the globe. There are a multitude of betting options like Next Race, Tomorrow Races and Future Specials. All these are conveniently located on the main horse racing page on the site.
How to play on Sportingbet
- Register on the Sportingbet main site or on the mobile app.
- Log in to your betting account using your username and password.
- Navigate to the Horse Racing section in the bookmaker’s sports menu.
- Choose the specific race meeting that you wish to bet on.
- Pick the Horse you want to bet on or pick the horses if you make a multiple bet.
- Enter the amount you wish to bet and click ‘submit’ to place your bet.
How to stream Horse racing
The most common method to watch live streaming of horse racing in South Africa is Gallop TV. There are no monthly subscription fees required to watch live streams on Gallop TV. Accessing the live racing action from KZN and international races is entirely free. All you need to do is register at www.galloptv.co.za, and you’ll have full access to a range of content. Once registered, you can enjoy live streaming of KZN and international horse races without any additional costs.
Our top 3 Horse racing Sites
These are our rankings of the top 3 horse racing betting sites in South Africa
- HollywoodBets: It is impossible to look beyond HollywoodBets as the best horse racing betting site in the country. They offer excellent odds as well as having a host of different promotions on horse racing. HollywoodBets also allows punters to access Gallop TV directly from their site to watch all the local and international races through live streaming. There is also a comprehensive results page that you can check to see if you are a winner.
- Playabets: This operator is another wholly South African betting site that began its operations with retail shops that only allowed horse racing. It has transferred that 30 years of experience to its website, which is tailor-made for horse race punters. Playabets has made it very convenient for punters to access race meetings from across the world. Playabets also has a dedicated results page where punters can check how their horses performed.
- Betfred: Betfred’s over 50 years of horse racing experience is clearly evident when you visit their racing page. They offer the most extensive promotions that are specific for horse racing. Some of these offers include Racing Happy Hour where punters get an odds boost between 11.00am and 12.00am daily. Betfred also updates all race results on a dedicated results page.
Tips on How to win
Horse racing will always be a risk as is all gambling but we have developed some helpful tips to help you win more often.
Do your research
To improve your chances of winning in horse betting, it’s important to do your homework before placing a bet. Start by learning about the horse’s performance history, especially whether it has won at the race distance before. For example, if you’re thinking of betting on a horse that has never run 2300 metres before, it might not be a good idea to place a bet on it now. A horse with no experience at that distance may struggle which lowers your chances of winning.
Look at a horses win record
A great way to improve your chances of winning is by checking a horse’s track record at the specific track and distance you’re betting on. For example, if a horse has won three out of four races at 1000 metres, it likely has an advantage over horses that have never won or have only won once at that distance. Horses with strong records over time often perform well in their next race because they have more experience than their competitors.
Betting on the favourite
One common mistake new horse Punters make is not realising how important it is to bet on a horse that is likely to win. When choosing favourites, it’s usually better to bet more money on them rather than less. A favourite is a horse that experts think has the best chance of winning a race. If you bet on a favourite, your chances of winning are pretty good although the odds are not great.
Fitness
Horses that run regularly are generally fit. The longer a horse has been away from racing, the more uncertain its fitness level becomes. If a horse has not raced in 21 days or more, then there’s a question mark hanging over its readiness to compete.
Set a Budget
Before betting, decide how much money you can afford to lose. This amount becomes your betting bankroll. Never bet money that you can’t afford to lose, such as funds for essential living expenses. The most important point to remember is never to chase your losses as this can lead to financial problems.
How to check horse racing results
Top betting sites like Hollywoodbets, Playabets and Betfred have dedicated results pages to check if your bets are winners. The results pages can be found under the horse racing section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a swinger bet in horse racing?
Pick 2 horses in a race and couple them in a Swinger. You win if the 2 horses chosen fill 2 of the first 3 places.
What does sp mean in horse racing?
This stands for Starting Price and is the official odds a horse started the race with. You can ask to place an SP bet with a bookmaker
What is a quartet in horse racing?
In order to win this bet, the punter must predict the first four horses past the line in their exact order. If you back the first four horses in any order, then it is called a Boxed Quartet.
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