Sports Betting Surpasses Lottery As The Biggest Gambling Market In SA

Gambling in South Africa is undergoing major changes. Though, perhaps the biggest change overall is the enormous boost in countrywide popularity. Gambling statistics in South Africa show a boost in betting across the board, with numbers steadily rising year-on-year. 

The primary reason for this increase in activity is the adoption of technology. Smartphone adoption in South Africa is amongst the highest in the world, with the average user now more tech-savvy than ever before. With smartphone usage increasing, online gambling is also enjoying a parallel increase.

The Growth of Sports Betting in South Africa

As far as the most popular forms of gambling go, South Africans gravitate toward lotteries. The National Lottery, established in 2000, has familiarised the country with the traditional lottery system. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that smaller, online casino-based lottery games are also popular. Online casino games like slots, bingo, keno, and scratch cards work the same way as the lottery and are booming in popularity across SA.

However, as of April 2023, the South African gambling market is undergoing a landmark shift. According to data about sports betting in South Africa, there is a new king. A dramatic market change is now seeing sports betting emerge as a more popular option than lottery games.

How Much Does The Average South African Gambler Spend On Gambling?

Dive deeper into gambling statistics in South Africa, and you’ll see how fast and dramatic the change is. 

According to a recent 2024 Statista report:

• The average South African sports betting enthusiast spends roughly R4,773.95 annually on wagers. 

• The average lottery enthusiast spends around R4,000 per year.

The gap isn’t wide, but the lottery no longer leads the pack. If you look back to 2023, the numbers are very different. A 2023 report saw sports betting at R4,150 per year per player and lottery at R4,242. 

Meanwhile, online casinos have been seeing a boost of their own over the same period. Although online casinos still see far less annual attention than lottery and sports betting, they’re quickly closing the gap.

Gambling Statistics In South Africa

In 2024, roughly 4 million South Africans are active gamblers. That number is expected to increase dramatically to 5.3 million by 2027. 

Throughout 2024, the online gambling market is pegged to generate around US$736.30 million. If the current trend remains stable and growth continues at around 8.2% annually, this means that in 2027, revenue will soar to US$1,006.00 million.

In more detail, South African sports betting data suggests that sports betting alone will have a total volume of US$350.50 million in 2023. You can compare that number to the United States, the biggest sports betting market in the world, which currently has a volume of US$19,140.00 million.

On a per-person basis, the average revenue per person (ARPU), accounting for online users only, amounts to around US$290.60 in 2023. If the online migration continues, South Africans betting exclusively online should hit 3.52 million by 2027. The current online gambling market penetration, as of April 2023, sits at 5.0%.

Why Is Sports Betting Growing In Popularity?

South Africa has always enjoyed an enormous focus on sports. Rugby, cricket, and soccer draw nationwide attention, with supporters not only cheering on local teams but also popular international teams. Importantly, this popularity existed long before the technological revolution. The adoption of smartphones has only allowed South Africans to express enthusiasm for sports by betting on them.

As far as the sports betting industry is concerned, the market is currently seeing a major push. Sports betting South Africa data shows that betting sites are stepping up advertising dramatically, with a focus on easily accessible online platforms. Again, although sports have always been enormously popular, it is only now that many locals are starting to embrace the online world fully.

Sports betting sites in South Africa are now also, for the first time, sponsoring local teams. It’s now common to see a betting brand advertised on a team jersey, firmly putting the branding into sports fan consciousness. This sponsorship trend is expected to increase going forward.

Local broadcaster SuperSport is respected globally as amongst the best in the world. SuperSport covers all sports across all demographics, enjoying a monopoly on sports broadcasting. The proudly South African organisation is also getting into betting as they can clearly see the returns it offers to bettors and sportsbooks. MultiChoice, owner of SuperSport, is set to launch SuperSportBET by the end of 2023. 

Online Gambling In South Africa Set To Keep Growing

The gambling statistics in South Africa point to an obvious fact: the market is set to see a meteoric rise in the coming years. 

With smartphone penetration increasing, online gambling awareness on the rise, and a major push from marketing, the South African online gambling market is set to soon be amongst the biggest in the world. There is no telling how big the market will get, though trends indicate no limit in sight.

Additionally, the country is also set to make landmark decisions as far as regulations are concerned. As of June 2023, the local government is on the verge of introducing official regulations. Regulations will, of course, push the growth even higher, allowing locals to engage in gambling in a safe, secure online environment. 

It’s an exciting time for online gambling in the country and no doubt a time of increasing prosperity for online sportsbooks and casinos.