Sports betting is hugely popular right across the planet and in Africa it really is growing throughout the continent. From South Africa right up to Egypt and everywhere between, online sports betting is a phenomenon. But that’s no real surprise when much of the population are fanatical about the likes of football, horse racing and more.
More and more people are seeking out big-name bookies like Betfred, Karamba and Boyle Sports, with sites like MightyTips a hub for brands operating in Africa. Kate Richardson, the sports expert, has seen the industry grow over the years, with some sports in particularly going from strength to strength. Richardson looks at how African residents bet on sports and the leagues, competitions and tournaments they’re most likely to bet on…
Football
The continent is very much football-mad, with many of the world’s greats hailing from the continent. The likes of Mo Salah, Victor Osimhen and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush all represent African nations, while the likes of Roger Milla, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o have all left the game as legends.
Jurgen Klopp, Salah’s former manager at Liverpool said: “He is LFC’s greatest striker of modern times. A fantastic human being. The best ambassador Egypt could have. A fantastic athlete.”
It’s why most people in Africa will look to European leagues to bet on, like the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, alongside their own domestic divisions, while the Africa Cup of Nations is also a huge draw, the next taking place this December.
Plenty of bookmakers are already offering odds on the tournament, and its hosts Morocco who most are favouring to life the title, with Algeria, Egypt and Senegal also hotly tipped.
Basketball
While eyes are often on the NBA among sports fans, betting odds are also popular for the Basketball Africa League, which has surged in popularity over recent years. Only founded in 2019 in conjunction with the NBA, it puts teams from 12 different nations up against each other in a Champions League-like format.
Al Ahli Tripoli won their first title in 2025, while the league also features the great Moroccan team FUS Rabat and Mali’s Stade Malien, both of whom have 19 national titles to their names. MBB of Johannesburg represents South Africa in the competition.
National divisions are also commonly bet on, but its the more international competitions that gets most fans excited.
Athletics
Sports betting sites in Africa offer a range of sports across athletics, from long distance running, a favourite of the continent, through to the likes of the 100m, javelin, heptathlon and more.
These are usually around the major championships, like the Olympics, World Championships and other big meets, where all eyes are on the likes of Eliud Kipchoge, Caster Semenya and the many other big-name stars of today and yesteryear.
Rugby
Of course, when it comes to South Africa, it’s rugby that the world of sports betting often casts its eyes on, with the Springboks the current number one nation in the world. They have some real talent in their ranks with former England player, Danny Care, particularly impressed with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, whose been described as the next Antoine Dupont. He said: “South Africa probably already knew about it, but they have got a proper global superstar.”
That’s having a big impact on the popularity of the sport, especially in his home nation. World Cups are the most popular to bet on, or test series, with many bookies allowing you to gamble on a wealth of markets. In the same country, the Currie Cup and SA Cup are also popular among sports fans.
Horse racing
Finally, betting on horse racing is a real staple worldwide and its no different in Africa. Flat racing takes place right across the year, with it again most popular in South Africa. It’s often where players can really enhance their betting experience and betting brands are keen to provide players with the best odds.
The King’s Plate, Durban July, and South African Derby are three of the races many keep an eye on, but there are plenty of Grade I, as well as Grade II and III, races throughout the season, perfect to place your bet on.
The Rise of Sports Betting in South Africa
The rise of the gambling industry in South Africa continues to move at a fast pace, with Africans keep to have a punt on everything from football to tennis, cricket and beyond. That’s only going to continue and the best betting sites, like Boyle Sports, Karamba and Betfred are really helping to progress the sports betting market.
Its place in the global betting sphere continues to become more prominent and over time will no doubt match the more established markets like in the UK, particularly if African sport continues to go from strength to strength too, like it is in football and rugby.
Today, customers are getting as good of a user experience than ever before and as we move into 2026, we’re only going to see it establish itself further.
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