The Trendiest Sports to Bet On in South Africa

Sports, like all other forms of entertainment, are subjective. Some people like action movies, while others prefer romantic comedies. Some listen to classic rock, while others can’t get enough of K-Pop. The same goes for sports: some can’t go a day without soccer, others prefer motor racing, boxing or even athletics.

But not when it comes to betting, apparently. As sportsbooks in South Africa would be quick to confirm, betting trends are rarely subject to personal tastes. Some of them are seasonal, while others are popular all year long.

Rugby

Speaking of seasonal – rugby betting is trending in South Africa (and not just there) every four years. The reason is the Rugby World Cup, where the Springboks tend to perform very well. This year, the Springboks will have a chance to defend their title in France, a place that’s a good omen for them, as they have won the last edition of the World Cup held there. With the beginning of the Rugby World Cup drawing close, the bettors’ appetite for rugby bets will continue to grow, and stay high for the duration of the event – or at least until the Springboks remain in the competition.

Soccer

Every day of the year, soccer matches are played somewhere in the world. Even during the height of the global pandemic, when soccer was suspended pretty much everywhere, there were still exceptions – most notably the top-flight football league of Belarus – that was still playing. But people don’t like to bet on just any soccer – they prefer to place their bets either on their own national leagues or the top soccer leagues in Europe. And these are seasonal.

The DStv Premiership – officially, the South African Premier Division – season lasts from August to May. And the top European leagues – the French Ligue 1, the Spanish La Liga, the Italian Serie A, the German Bundesliga, and the English Premier League – all return to the turf in August, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that soccer betting is trending around this time of the year.

Horse Racing

Those unfamiliar with the sport may not know, but horse racing is another seasonal sport. Or, to be more precise, certain forms of horse racing are. In the UK, the big races (like the Grand National, the Ascot Gold or the Epsom Derby) are held in the summer, while in the winter, there are regular races on all-weather tracks, and jumps run from October to April. In Australia, the racing season begins on August 1st, and ends in June, with the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

What are the trendiest sports to bet on in South Africa? Aside from rugby, which’s trending because of the upcoming World Cup, these are soccer and horse racing – trending all year long, offering fun and betting opportunities to every South African sports fan out there.