Online Betting Boom Reshapes South Africa’s Gambling Market

If you look a little closer at the numbers, the shift becomes even clearer. Data from Statista shows that sports betting now makes up the biggest share of gambling revenue in the country, sitting at over 70%. That wasn’t always the case, which tells you just how quickly things have changed.

Betting online is a lot more convenient than planning a trip to the casino, especially if you don’t live in the city. It has almost become second nature to pick up your phone or log in on your laptop rather than get in a car and drive to your closest casino.

It also changes how often people bet. When it’s this easy to access, betting becomes something people dip in and out of during the day, rather than something planned in advance. That shift in behaviour is part of what’s pushing more activity online.

It is much more convenient to pick up your phone or log in on your laptop than get in a car and drive to your closest casino. A lot of that comes down to how the market is regulated.

But it’s not only about convenience. The way the market is regulated also plays a role here. In South Africa, online sports betting is legal and widely available, while online casino gambling is still mostly restricted. That gives betting a clear advantage when it comes to growing online.

Casinos, on the other hand, haven’t disappeared. They’re still part of the market and still draw players in. But they’re no longer the main focus. Over time, they’ve been losing ground as more of the activity moves online.

The overall market is still huge. Estimates put total gambling turnover at around R1.5 trillion for the 2024/25 period, which shows just how big the industry has become. The difference now is where that money is being spent.

It also shows how quickly the market has adjusted. What used to be driven by physical venues is now shaped far more by digital access, which continues to pull new players into the space. Right now, it’s moving online — and there’s nothing to suggest that changes anytime soon.