The Ballie's Table Our method
- Pass or fail. A bookmaker either holds a current provincial bookmaker licence or it doesn’t. We don’t score, rate or rank.
- Official sources first. We look the operator up on the National Gambling Board verified operators register, which is built from data supplied by the nine provincial licensing authorities. Where we can, we also compare it with the licence details on the bookmaker’s own site.
- We show our source. Every listing has a “Licence source” link, so you can check the details yourself.
- No source, no listing. If we can’t find a licence for a bookmaker’s online site, we leave it out. We don’t guess.
- Where sources disagree, we say so. If the register and the bookmaker’s site show different details, we show the register’s and note the difference.
- We re-check regularly. Licences are renewed and sometimes lost. We re-check the list against the register and update it when something changes. Last full check: 22 October 2026.
How to check a licence yourself
- Scroll to the footer of the bookmaker’s site. Note the name of the board, the licence number and the company name.
- Open the National Gambling Board register and search for the company or brand name.
- Check that the board and the licence number match what the bookmaker shows.
- If you can’t find it, or the details don’t match, contact the provincial board before you deposit anything.
The provincial boards also publish their own licence lists. Two that license many online bookmakers are the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board and the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator.
What’s legal online in South Africa
Online sports betting is legal in South Africa when you use a bookmaker licensed by a provincial gambling board. Bookmaker licences are issued province by province, by the provincial boards, under national and provincial gambling laws.
Online casino gambling is not legal in South Africa under the National Gambling Act, even when a site looks professional. That’s one reason this site covers licensed sports betting only.
This is general information, not legal advice.