With so many different bookmakers to choose from punters in South Africa are spoilt for choice. However that can sometimes be to the punters detriment as you might find yourself betting with a dub bookie. In this article we’re going to cover 5 things to consider when joining a bookmaker.
They should be licensed in South Africa
Many international bookmakers are actively targeting South African punters with tempting offers and matches. Stay away from these, you’ll run into problems when it comes to trying to get your money. It’s a fact that the SARS (South Africa Revenue Service) is actively clamping down on deposits and withdrawals to overseas betting firms, it’s best to stick to a local bookmaker that is approved and licensed in South Africa. That way you’ll have some form of recourse should your relationship with the bookmaker sour.
Are they established?
It’s always beneficial to use a bookmaker that has been around for a few years. We’re not saying don’t sign up with a new bookmaker, just do your homework and use common sense. Brands like Sunbet, Hollywoodbets, Sportingbet and others have been operating in South Africa for years and are tried and trusted.
Additionally there should be lot’s of information on the web with regards to feedback on these, you can always check out our bookmaker review section if you’d like to know more about a certain bookmaker.
Do they offer a bonus?
One of the most attractive aspects to joining a new bookmaker is that juicy deposit bonus carrot that is dangled for new punters. Bonuses are a great way to get extra bang for your buck and most bookmakers offer some form of bonus to new players. Why use these? Well they give you a little more time to try out different markets and offerings, but you need to be aware of the wagering requirements before you use the bonus.
All bookmakers must list the terms of their bonus and we always recommend giving these a read as some punters sign up and get locked into wagering that they either don’t understand or even want. You can see a list of the current deposit bonuses offered by bookmakers here.
Withdrawal times
The main reason punters bet is to make money off their predictions, once they’ve made a few extra bucks they’ll naturally want to withdraw. Which is why it’s important to know how long a bookmaker takes to transfer the winnings to your account. Some punters don’t mind waiting a few days while others want their money instantly, if you are the latter then we recommend having a look at the bookmakers estimated withdrawal time.
Currently you shouldn’t have to wait more than 3 working days before the money is in your account. While this does vary depending on the withdrawal method you shouldn’t be waiting more than 3 working days.
Customer Service
This is one area almost every punter will have to use at some point. You might need to contact them to make sure your account is fica compliant or perhaps you’re disputing a bet that has been settled incorrectly. It’s important that the bookmaker you decided to use has several customer service channels available to you, be it live chat, whatsapp or good old email. The more options the better.
We hope you enjoyed our 5 things to consider when joining a bookmaker article, we left out other factors like odds and markets as we’ll be covering those in another article. Let us know what you think is the most important factor to consider when opening an account at a bookmaker in the comments below. If you are looking for more information on a certain bookmaker then have a read through our bookmaker reviews.
