Month: September 2020

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Qualification for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France

Qualification for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France

France is gearing up to host the tenth men’s Rugby World Cup, to take place in 2023. Incidentally 2023 marks the 200th anniversary since William Webb Ellis supposedly invented rugby. The 2023 RWC will happen from 8 September to 21 October 2023 with Stade de France hosting the final fixture of the tournament.

The qualification process for France 2023 was confirmed in June and is accessible on the official Rugby World Cup website.

Twelve Qualifiers so far

In total, 20 countries will compete in 2023 Rugby Wold Cup. Twelve have qualified directly by finishing in the top three in their pools at the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup. These are England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, France, Italy, Fiji, Japan, Argentina, and of course South Africa. This leaves room for eight more nations to secure a place in the international rugby showcase.

How the Qualification Process Works

According to France 2023’s official website, the qualification process for the remaining eight teams is structured in such a way that all non-qualified unions have as equal a chance as possible of securing a spot in the next Rugby World Cup. The process involves a series of regional and cross-regional qualifying tournaments, which will begin in 2021.

A round-robin Final Qualification Tournament in November 2022, involving four teams from different regions, will determine the final qualifier.

Africa

Of the eight available places, there is a sure space for one direct qualifier from Africa. This will be the team who wins the Rugby Africa Cup 2022. The runners-up will enter the Final Qualification Tournament.

Americas

The Americas have two guaranteed places in the championship; the winners and runners-up of the regional qualifier tournament will receive direct places at France 2023. The team that comes third in the Americas tournament will move on to the Final Qualification Tournament.

Europe

Europe also has two guaranteed places for direct qualifiers in the 2023 RWC. The region will send the two teams that do best across the 2021 and 2022 editions of the Rugby Europe Championship. As with the Americas qualifier, the team that comes third in the Rugby Europe Championship will compete in the Final Qualification for a space in the RWC.

Oceania and Asia

Tonga and Samoa will represent the Oceania region which can send only one direct qualifier to France 2023. The two countries will compete in a home-and-away contest; the winners qualify for France 2023 as Oceania 1. Meanwhile, the losing team will not automatically go on to the Final Qualification Tournament. Instead it will face the winners of the Oceania Rugby Cup 2021 in a play-off. The winners of this contest will represent Oceania 2 to compete with Asia’s team in a home-and-away play-off (the Asia/Pacific play-off). The winners of this event will qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup; the losers will play in the Final Qualification competition for one last shot at a place.

The winners of the Asian Rugby Men’s Championship 2021 will be the team to represent Asia at France 2023.

France will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup

France won the vote to stage the 2023 RWC in 2017 after the Word Rugby Council carried out a secret ballot to choose the World Cup host. South Africa, the initial favourites to host, did miss out.

France’s win was controversial and met with much backlash. After all, the Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) Board had recommended South Africa. Adding to the storm was the fact that France had contested this recommendation and reportedly lobbied for council votes.

Despite this controversy, organisers of the France Rugby World Cup are positive. Further, they expect great things for the upcoming event, which is predicted to be more competitive than ever. Claude Atcher, chief executive of France 2023, is excited by the growing popularity of rugby worldwide. “The success of Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan and performances by the host nation is a testimony of rugby’s expansion globally.” said Atcher, adding that the World Cup in 2023 “will be the best tournament ever delivered.”

The World Cup pool draw should happen this year. Although whether more international matches will happen this year depends on the COVID-19 situation. The dates for the 2021 events are also affected and not yet confirmed.

In the meantime there are quite a few ruby matches available to place your bets on. Have a look at our best betting sites for rugby betting online. Pick your favourite bookmaker, open you account and have enjoy rugby betting online.

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Cricket 101 – A Beginner’s Guide to Cricket

Cricket 101 – A Beginner’s Guide to Cricket

To a newbie, cricket may look like a confusing, complicated, and rather dull game. With so many players, fielding positions, and odd-sounding terms like “biffer”, “sticky wicket” and “Howzat!”, it’s no surprise that a novice watcher of cricket may feel stumped, so to speak. Our short beginner’s guide to cricket is here to help.

Let’s start with the above terms. Biffer is a slang term for an attacking batsman (who guns for lots of runs and plays ‘aggressively’); a sticky wicket is a wet pitch that makes play difficult; and “Howzat!” is something players shout as an appeal to the umpire to dismiss a batsman.

An entire glossary of cricket terms would certainly be overwhelming. And if we are honest, a cricket spectator only needs to know a few of them, plus some rules, to understand what’s going on. Next to that, the game itself is quite straightforward.

Therefore, we break cricket down into its simple basics.

The Game in a Nutshell

Two teams of 11 players compete with one another on a rectangular pitch in an oval field. A game involves a bat and ball and the aim is to score more runs than the other team. The team that scores the most runs wins.

Both teams take turns batting and fielding, swapping at the end of each innings. The batsmen try and get as many runs as possible before getting out.

There is a set of three stumps called a wicket on each side of the pitch. The batting team will always have two batsmen on the field who stand opposite each other, one in front of each wicket. One batsman is the hitter.

A player from the opposing team will bow to the batter in an attempt to dislodge his wickets while the player tries to hit the ball with a bat. If the batsman hits the ball, the batter guns it to their teammate’s wicket to tag it, swapping places with their partner who races to their wicket to tag it. This is a single run. The two players run back and forth tagging the wickets as many times as possible before the fielders get the ball or attempt to run them out.

If a batter misses a ball and it hits the wicket behind them, they are out.

Two umpires stand on the oval and officiate the match, and they make the decisions when it comes to dismissals, how fair a ball was, and other important aspects of the game.

Three formats of international cricket games

Below are the main things you need to know about the three formats and the differences between them:

Test MatchTwenty20 MatchOne Day Match
Red ballWhite ballWhite ball
At least seven hours per day of playThree hours per day of playAbout eight hours per day of play
Teams wear whitesColoured uniforms are wornTeams wear coloured uniforms
One match lasts up to five days (in the past many lasted longer)Typically in the eveningsUsually starts in the early afternoon
Played in daylightPlayed partially under floodlightsPartly played under floodlights
90 overs a side each day20 overs a side50 overs a side

Some Basic Cricket Terms

No beginner’s guide to cricket would be complete without an overview about the basic cricket terms:

Run: The name for points in cricket. Players score runs by hitting the ball bowled at them away from the wicket and running between the two wickets on each end of the pitch. They also automatically score four to six runs when they hit the boundaries (the ball goes beyond the edge of the playing field) with the ball. In this instance, they get four runs if the ball bounces before it crosses the boundaries, and six if it doesn’t bounce.

Over: This is a set of six consecutive fair ball deliveries bowled towards a player at one wicket. At the end of the over, the fielding team switches to the opposite direction, bowling towards the other wicket for another over. Closing the latter, the teams change bowling direction again.

The number of overs a team gets changes depending on the game format. In One-Day Internationals, each team bowls a maximum of 50 overs. During test matches each team gets no more than 90 overs on each day. In short and speedy Twenty20 cricket, there are 20 overs a side in a game.

Dismissal: This is when the fielding team ends a batsman’s turn at batting by getting them out. Umpires can dismiss batsmen for various reasons, including when they are bowled out or caught out.

Innings: Matches are divided into innings, which are segments of time in which one team bats while the other bowls and fields. A match has two innings, except for test matches which have four innings. An innings ends when all batsmen on a team are out.

The answer is very. Cricket isn’t just beloved in South Africa, India, and the UK. The sport has a total 2.5 billion fans worldwide, making it the sport with the second-largest global fanbase (football has the largest with a whopping 3.5 billion fans).

On Sports Show’s 2020 list of the 10 most popular sports in the world, cricket placed number 2, again just below football. When Sports Show was curating the list, they measured the popularity of each sport according to several criteria, including global fanbase size, viewership, top athletes’ average salaries, number of pro leagues, social media presence, gender equality, and more.

It should be said that cricket is only super popular in around 15 to 20 countries, and these make up the larger part of the sport’s fanbase. Nevertheless, the cricket fever is slowly spreading across more and more nations. Therefore, we should see a more diverse and widespread fanbase of the sport soon enough.

We hope our beginner’s guide to cricket has been helpful for you. If you want to put your knowledge to the test have a look at our best betting sites for cricket betting online.

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The Greatest International Soccer Tournaments Hosted in SA

The Greatest International Soccer Tournaments Hosted in SA

South Africa has proven its mettle when it comes to hosting major international sporting events, including soccer tournaments.

There have been ups and downs for the country. Allegations that the South African Football Association bribed its way into hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup somewhat tainted the fond memories we all have of that event. However, despite the questions surrounding the scandal that remain to this day, South Africa has nevertheless staged some impressive soccer spectacles.

On a few occasions, the SA soccer team has also performed well on a global scale. Bafana’s win at the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations will not soon leave our memories.

Let’s go back in time and recount the highlights from three notable international soccer tournaments hosted in South Africa.

1996 Africa Cup of Nations 

It has been widely said that 1996 Afcon was the golden hour of South African soccer. Bafana kicked off strong. They owned the pitch in the opening game against Cameroon at Joburg’s Soccer City, where they won 3-0. Later, in the final, also at Soccer City, South Africa defeated Tunisia 2-0, coming out as the victors – a first continental championship victory for the country. This was thanks to a star performance by Mark Williams. He scored both goals for Bafana after coming off the sub bench 65 minutes into the match. It was a moment of glory made all the finer when then-president Nelson Mandela’s stood by team captain Neil Tovey as he lifted the trophy and cheered for Bafana.

Luke Alfred and Ian Hawkey’s book Vuvuzela Dawn: 25 Sports Stories that Shaped a New Nation includes quotes from Clive Barker, the team’s coach at the time. According to Barker, Mandela often met with him and the Bafana team in private in the months leading up to Afcon to give them “inspiring” talks. The president’s expectations were clear, which Barker said “brought extra pressure”. The team’s win was not only a joyous moment for the nation. It was also a “huge relief” for Barker and Bafana.

2010 FIFA World Cup

South Africans are not likely to ever forget the excitement of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the sheer pride that came with seeing their country host the world’s most popular sports tournament. So much about the 2010 World Cup was nothing if not iconic. Shakira and Freshlyground’s performance of Waka Waka at the Kick-off Celebration Ceremony; K’Naan’s catchy anthem, Wavin’ Flag; the calabash-shaped Cape Town Stadium, which wowed the world; and, of course, the sound of the notorious vuvuzela that became synonymous with the event.

Let’s not leave out one of the most unforgettable moments of the event: Siphiwe Tshabalala’s outstanding opening goal for Bafana Bafana in Johannesburg. Although the end of the match saw the team drawing with Mexico 1-1, that one stand-out goal was enough for South Africans. For them, Bafana were the winners that day.

After that, Bafana Bafana faced Uruguay in Pretoria and lost 0-3. They later played France in Bloemfontein and defeated the shamefaced team 1-2. This performance wasn’t enough to see South Africa through to the knockout stage. Nevertheless, Bafana went out on a high note after this victory. France supporters were less happy; the team’s elimination followed what had been a tumultuous and winless tournament for them.

The excitement carried over into the rest of the tournament all the way to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final in Soccer City, Joburg. Spain played Holland and beat them 1-0 in overtime, taking home the trophy.

2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations South Africa

The 29th Afcon in 2013 saw Bafana Bafana draw nil nil with Cape Verde in the opening game at Soccer City. This was a let-down for South African fans, who had expected more. Bafana bounced back in their following game and defeated Angola 2-0. Come their next match against Morocco, the South Africans were back to drawing; the match ended in a 2-2. However, this was enough to see Bafana through to the quarterfinals, a step further than in the 2010 World Cup.

Bafana were knocked out in the quarterfinals against Mali at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. They lost 3-1 in the nail-biting penalty shootout after an initial 1-1 match draw. The disappointment was palpable; things had looked promising for South Africa earlier. They had been the first to score – Striker Tokelo Rantie had lobbed the ball into the goal just over 30 minutes in.

By this point, Mali had turned up the heat. But at half-time the score had still been 1-0 to SA. The Eagles were not going to give up easily. In the 58th minute Seydou Keita, Mali’s top striker, headed the ball into the South Africans’ net.

With the score still sitting on 1-1 after 90 minutes, the two teams had to play extra time. In the penalties, Siphiwe Tshabalala managed to score a penalty goal for the team, but Mali ultimately crushed South Africa.

The South African team may have fallen short of expectations, however the nation redeemed itself by impressing with its hosting. South African Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani commended the high standard SA had set for Afcons to come.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Final took place between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, with Nigeria coming out on top as the victors after winning 1-0.

South Africa has been great in hosting big international soccer tournaments and we believe it’s time for another one.

Enjoy soccer betting online

Soccer is one of our favourite sports and betting on it is always fun. To get into the action pick on of the betting sites for soccer betting online, select your match and place your bets.

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From Past to Present: The History of Horse Racing in South Africa

From Past to Present: The History of Horse Racing in South Africa

Horse racing in South Africa goes all the way back to when British colonists first arrived in the Cape in 1795. The first recorded organised horse race in South African history was at the Green Point Common in Cape Town in 1797.

For a proper overview about the history of horse racing in South Africa let’s first look at the main actors, the racehorses themselves.

It all goes Back to a Sturdy Little Pony

There were once no horses in southern Africa. The first horses came along in 1652 when the Dutch settled in the Cape and introduced horses from Java, a breed called Timor Ponies. They were hardy creatures known for their stamina and so were perfect as working horses. The Afrikaner military even used them as remounts during the Anglo-Boer War. After four decades, the Timors in the Cape cross-bred with English thoroughbreds, Persian stallions and South American stallions and became known as Capers. These would later breed with thoroughbreds and become the first racehorses in South Africa.

The First Jockeys of the Cape

The South African Jockey Club unfairly banned people of colour from racing in 1920. This ban only ended when apartheid did. Before this, however, the jockeys who rode in early races were mainly people descended from the Khoikhoi. Only a few jockeys were white, and these were British settlers.

From Humble Beginnings to Millions of Rand

As horse racing was far from being the multi-million-rand industry it is today. Early racing events were much more modest. Over time, as the sport’s popularity picked up, they slowly evolved into the annual social highlights we know them today. In 1802, the country’s first racing club, the African Turf Club, was founded in Cape Town.

But it was when horse racing enthusiast Lord Charles Somerset arrived in the Cape in 1814 and became the governor that the sport really blew up in the region. Somerset persuaded the area’s wealthy families to invest in breeding and take part in racing, and suddenly the industry had money. Lord Somerset established a government stud with many thoroughbreds he imported.

Races took place in Green Point and, by 1863, also in Kenilworth. Wat is today Kenilworth Racecourse only began staging races in 1882. Green Point stopped being a venue in 1893,. By this time horse racing and breeding had expanded across the country, mainly to Port Elizabeth, KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng.

Johannesburg became the new horse racing centre in the early 1870s when settlers uncovered gold and diamonds in its mines. Money flooded into the area – money that went into racing and breeding. At this point, South African racehorse owners began taking their thoroughbreds overseas to race.
Joburg was the new horse racing hub of SA. Nevertheless, Kenilworth Racecourse continued to thrive. It became the venue of one of the country’s major horse races: the Cape Metropolitan Stakes, today called the Sun Met and also for many years known as the J&B Met.

A Day at the Races: SA’s Major Grade 1 Race Days

There are 32 G1 races in South Africa, but the three most famous horse racing events are the Vodacom Durban July, the Sun Met and the Summer Cup. Let’s have a little look at the history of these annual events, which are as much human fashion shows and a fun day out as they are horse races.

Africa’s Greatest Racing Event – The Vodacom Durban July

Held at Greyville Racecourse, Durban’s longest-running sports venue, many regard the prestigious Vodacom Durban July as the greatest horse racing event on the continent. It first started in 1897 and was initially 1600m long but later became the 2200m length it is today. In 2014, a black jockey won the race for the first time, making South African history. The jockey, S’manga Khumalo, won on racehorse Heavy Metal.

Africa’s Richest Race Day – The Sun Met at Kenilworth Racecourse

The most famed annual summer horse race in SA, the Sun Met was originally known as the Metropolitan Mile. It originally took place in Green Point before moving to Kenilworth Racecourse. The first race was in 1883. As the name suggests, the race was originally a mile long. This distance was lengthened first to 1800m in 1915 and 2000m in 1948. The race remains 2000m-long to this day.

Originally run as a handicap race, in 1973 organisers decided to change the Met to a conditions race. Along with this, the organisers introduced several races for fillies into the event.

The day became known as The Sun Met in 2017.

This year on its 158th edition, the Met offered a total of R15 million in prizes. The prize money for the winning horse alone was R3 million. No wonder the Sun Met is known as Africa’s richest race day.

The Kenilworth Racecourse, a left-handed course, is well-known for having three tracks. These are the old course, which measures 2700m around, the new course, which is 2800m in circumference, and a 1200m-long straight.

Joburg’s Premier Horse Racing Event – The Gauteng Summer Cup

The discovery of gold in Gauteng in the 1880s brought British settlers to the province, and alongside arrived horse racing. The first Summer Cup was called the Johannesburg Handicap. It took place in 1887, the year after the first-ever horse race in the province. Hence this race is nearly as old as Joburg. The Summer Cup takes place at Turrfontein Racecourse. It is one of the most popular and fast-growing feature races in Joburg.

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The Most Famous Horse Racing Events in South Africa

The Most Famous Horse Racing Events in South Africa

You’ll see the cream of the crop show up to these days – both equine and human. Celebrities, style trendsetters, socialites, and influencers flock to race days to enjoy the atmosphere and seize their share of the limelight. Racegoers from all over the world fly in to attend them. Here are the horse racing events South Africa is best known for.

The Hollywoodbets Durban July

If it weren’t for the thoroughbreds parading in the paddocks and thundering down the gruelling 2200 metre track, one might mistake the Durban July for a fashion event. The race day draws in thousands of impeccably dressed attendees. Everyone is coming for the themed fashion competitions, shows and the chance to show off their ensembles.

The Durban July is more than a horse racing event. It is internationally recognised as the greatest race day in Africa. Held at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse in Durban, it’s a showcase of SA’s top-performing thoroughbreds and a spectacle to behold on both the racing and fashion front.

The Durban July has taken place annually without fail since the very first race day 124 years ago. It was no different this year despite the pandemic, which has caused many major sporting events to cancel. The stands were missing the usual throngs of spectators in 2020. Nevertheless the races featuring the country’s top-performing racehorses went ahead as planned.

The Gauteng Summer Cup

Since its inception in 1887 the Gauteng Summer Cup has grown to be the largest, glitziest annual horse racing event in the province. It is very special due to a number of factors. Firstly, it is the only horse racing day with a halftime show. Secondly, there is R2 million in prize money up for grabs. Plus, it has been rebranded the People’s Race due to its diverse entertainment offerings and inclusivity.

The Grade 1 racing event takes place at Turrfontein Racecourse every year. It offers a programme of 12 races, including five group races. These are all run on a course of 2000 metres, a distance that requires speed and stamina.

Of the country’s major horse races, the Summer Cup is the only one that welcomes children. It offers family entertainment, including a carnival with a Ferris wheel and a Family Zone.

Along with the electrifying race line-up, spectators can also enjoy the fashion shows, silent disco, music, and dance performances and more at Joburg’s oldest horse race.

The Sun Met

The Sun Met, run every year at Kenilworth Racecourse, is one of Cape Town’s favourite summer events. It is known as Africa’s Richest Race Day and lives up to this moniker. The winner of the primary race takes home R3 million in prize money.

Fifty-thousand racegoers showed up at the 158th Sun Met in February this year to spectate, bet and revel in the fashion and elegance of the event. Along with the fashion showcases and races, another drawcard of the Sun Met is the music entertainment and dancing, which particularly takes off after the sun goes down.

The Sun Met, which initially had the name the Metropolitan Mile, began as a race run on a mile-long track in Green Point. It was first run in 1883.
The length of the race was extended to its current 2000 metres in 1948.

The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate

Another highlight on Cape Town’s horse racing calendar, the Queen’s Plate is an immensely popular social affair. It’s all about class, hats, and a strict blue and white dress code. Like the Sun Met, it takes part at Kenilworth Racecourse and ends in a huge afterparty.

First run in 1861, the Queen’s Plate is Africa’s oldest horse racing event. The prize for the first race day was 500 sovereigns and a silver plate from Queen Victoria, explaining the event’s name.

Now, the event has a purse of R1.5 million. Live jazz, photo opportunities, best-dressed competitions and champagne flutes are as big on the agenda as the horse races.

With sponsors like Cartier and BMW, it’s obvious that the event’s sophistication has not gone unnoticed internationally. If anything, it’s worth going to witness the sea of blue and white.

Betting on the top horse racing events in South Africa

Even if we can’t make it to the races ourselves, we all love to place bets during these top 3 events. Many bookmakers feature special offers. Have a look at our top online betting sites for horse racing to find your best deal.

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South Africa’s Esports Teams to Watch

South Africa’s Esports Teams to Watch

South Africa’s esports scene has been exciting to watch over the years. Its evolution has been slow, but it’s growing bigger every day. We can even say that the quality of competitive esports gaming in SA is on par with international standards. Some teams consistently shine in the arena so lets have a closer look at South Africa’s esports teams.

Energy eSports

Origins: Founded in 2012 by Kasim Ahmad, the MGO’s Managing Director

Divisions: CS:GO, Dota 2

Regular winners of local Dota 2 and CS:GO events and boasting a female CS:GO team, Energy eSports is one of the country’s best teams. They have gone from strength to strength since their inception, competing internationally as well as nationally.

The team took third place in the CS: GO event the 2018 DreamHack Mumbai Invitational held in India. They came just behind the Indian runner-up and Bravado Gaming who stole the trophy.

Bravado Gaming

Origins: Bravado was initially founded as a competitive Counter-Strike team in 2002. It disbanded after a brief period. but was restored and re-formed as a competitive MGO by Andreas and Dimitri Hadjipaschali in 2006.

Divisions: Fortnite, Call of Duty, FIFA, CS:GO, CS:GO Finesse

With strong female and male divisions, Bravado Gaming has competed in just over 200 competitions and won 143 of them. They have also competed in international events both overseas and at home and won or placed second against teams from the US, India and more. In 2018, Bravado scooped first place in the DreamHack Mumbai Invitational CS: GO, proving themselves the gold standard for SA gaming.

White Rabbit Gaming

Origins: Founded in 2010 by Alwyn ‘SwiTch’ Venter, owner and Managing Director

Divisions: Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Call of Duty (console), PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC), League of Legends

One of the SA’s most prominent multi-gaming organisations, White Rabbit Gaming holds multiple trophies and participates in various game titles on a professional level.

The syndicate has been sending teams overseas and across the border to compete internationally for years. Just last year, White Rabbit sent their team to represent South Africa in Morocco in the 2019 ESWC Africa finals for League of Legends, and they progressed all the way to the Grand Finals. They came in second place after Morocco’s own team, The Black Lotus.

White Rabbit was also one of SA’s first MGOs to actively support and promote female gamers. They picked up female-focused organisation Amaryllis Gaming to create a female division of White Rabbit.

White Rabbit Amaryllis

Origins: Established in 2016 by owner Ashley “BrinkeR” Groves as Amaryllis Gaming before joining with White Rabbit Gaming in 2018.

Divisions: CS:GO, Dota 2

Amaryllis arrived on the competitive gaming scene in 2016 and is considered to be South Africa’s first all-female CS: GO team. Since then we have seen an unprecedented upsurge in female gamers and teams.

Sexism is unfortunately all too common in the world of online gaming. It is therefore encouraging when all-female teams inspire other female gamers to join the space.

Amaryllis competed in the IRIS League and in the Valkyrie Challenge. The later was SA’s first all-female CSGO invitational, running in 2017 and 2018 before being sadly discontinued.

Goliath Gaming

Origins: Goliath Gaming was formed in 2017 by five individuals looking to transform the competitive gaming scene into a more professional space with higher standards.

Divisions: StarCraft, FIFA, Counter-Strike, Street Fighter V, Dota 2

The founders of Goliath Gaming weren’t messing around when they started up the MGO. They were one of the first MGOs to draft actual legal contracts for their players and pay them salaries. The contracts also meant the players would get signing bonuses.

Goliath Gaming has high-performing squads who have taken home multiple titles across local and international gaming events.

Sinister5

Origins: Created as an amateur team in 2013 by owner Ivo Tzanev

Divisions: CS:GO, Dota 2, StarCraft, FIFA, PUBG

Sinister5 became a competitive MGO in 2016 and entered CS: GO in 2017 when they signed with Gravity. They now boast a much-feared team in the CS: GO arena.

Their Dota 2 squad are nothing to sniff at, either, being comprised of some of SA’s strongest players. Just earlier this year they acquired Travis “Castaway” Waters who is arguably the best Dota 2 player in SA.

In February 2020, Bulgarian owner Ivo Tzanev temporarily relocated the team to Bulgaria. He did this in the hopes that they could focus on their training there and compete in international events. They are now back playing in South African tournaments.

ATK Arena

Origins: Established by Warren Barkhuizen in 2017

Divisions: League of Legends, CS:GO

The ATK Arena team exists under the umbrella of ATK Arena eSports, a competitive esports venue in Cape Town. It has seen much success since its founding. The MGO has sent squads to the US and Europe to compete in international tournaments, and the teams have fared well.

ATK’s League of Legends squad is a fearsome one with its captain Gregory “Neutron” Wessels, a three-time VS gaming champion and esports veteran with six years of experience.

ATK also have one of the top CS: GO teams in South Africa; they were the winners of the first-ever Gamedock Cup (a CS: GO event) which took place in August this year. They defeated Goliath Gaming 3-0 in a flawless game in the Grand Final, in which they did not drop a single map.

Esports is on the rise and so are South Africa’s esports teams. We are really excited to see what our teams will do in the next tournaments. Watch this space!

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How to identify safe websites for online betting

How to identify safe websites for online betting

We have quite thoroughly covered safety in online betting in different articles. The truth is that there are several factors that contribute to you having a safe betting experience. Right through from the betting site having a betting license to you taking certain precautions to limit your own risk. South African betting sites licensed by a Provincial Licensing Authority will have a good combination of these safeguards in place. Let us look at what we consider to be the three most important aspects to identify safe websites for online betting.

1. A valid and current betting license

Gambling and betting regulation exists to protect consumers and to prevent crime. Accordingly, even before registering an account, check that you are doing so on a licensed website. This is by far the most important aspect of safety and the first step in how to identify safe websites. You will usually be able to see on the homepage of the site whether it has a license. Look for either a logo or textual reference to a Provincial Licensing Authority. Some sites will also include the official license number or a link to the digital version of the license. The information may also be included in the Terms and Conditions or About Us sections of the website. If you cannot find this information on the website, get in touch with the support team and ask. No indication of a valid South African betting license for the website? Stay away!

Why is it important for a betting site to be licensed in South Africa?

Quite simply, the laws in South Africa are specific to its residents and citizens. Gambling regulations are a set of rules that betting operators have to abide by and are in place for your protection. These ensure the due identification of customers and prevent financial crime. Additionally, the rules guarantee safe betting according to the South African betting law. Betting on a site that is not licensed in South Africa can have dire consequences. You will not be paid your winnings and you may be liable for prosecution. If the site refuses to pay your winnings, you will also have no official channels to handle your dispute.

2. An established positive reputation

Our number two but equally important point on how to identify safe websites for online betting. Reputation is important since it reflects on the dealings of a betting site with other customers. These customers would in turn reflect on the experience they have had with the betting site. If the experience is generally positive, this will help secure additional business for the betting site. It is therefore in the interest of any business to build a positive reputation. Doing this takes time and it helps being well established. Having retail outlets is a great example. Retail outlets would find it hard to exist without a regular and loyal customer base. A positive experience would ensure returning customers and will allow the operator to expand over time. Nowadays, expansion to the internet is a very natural step. Ideally, the operator will carry these values over to the online betting site.

3. Technical security and how to check that a website is secure

To bet online you have to provide sensitive personal and financial information. It is extremely important for the betting operator to protect your valuable information. A modern standard in doing so is using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to encrypt information transferred over the internet. This is to ensure that your information cannot be intercepted by a third party. Before you enter your personal information on a website, first check that SSL is enabled. A padlock symbol next to the website address will indicate this. If you do not see the padlock, do not proceed. The website you are trying to access may have been compromised or simply does not employ good enough security. The bottom line is, you cannot be sure that your sensitive information will be safe. Seeing the padlock symbol on the other hand, is a green light to proceed.

All systems go

At betandwin.co.za we have made sure that all operators listed on our website are safe for you to bet with. They have a South African license and hence comply with required safety standards . We have also compiled a list of the safest online betting sites to make your search even easier. Have a browse and decide with a little more confidence.

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Gambling law in South Africa

Gambling law in South Africa

An introduction to gambling law in South Africa

At the time of writing, gambling law allows for licensed land-based casinos and betting shops to operate in the country. Some betting shops have also extended their presence to the internet. Therefore, under current South African gambling regulation, traditional land-based casino games are not permitted in online form. Gambling law is however an ever-evolving landscape and we may well see changes in the industry over the coming years. Online properties are required to be duly licensed by a provincial regulator in South Africa. Likewise, games offered on operator websites have to be approved by the licensor.

In line with gambling law you have to be at least eighteen (18) years old to gamble. As a consequence minors may therefore not access the casino floor. They may enjoy the various other forms of entertainment on offer at casino resorts. On-site security personnel control access to the casino floor. Do not take offence if asked for ID. Above all, these measures are in place for the protection of minors and to ensure the continued operation of gambling establishments. This same age restriction applies to national lottery ticket sales as well.

Responsible gambling

Gamble responsibly, winners know when to stop. You may have heard this phrase or seen it on gambling advertisements. This slogan is used by the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) to raise awareness of problem gambling. Being aware of a problem, is the first step to addressing and resolving it. The SARGF hence has various initiatives focused on addressing the effects of gambling related harm. Among other services, they offer counselling for problem gambling. Their services also extend to the training of casino employees on various levels in the gambling industry. Industry employees would learn how to identify and best deal with situations of problem gambling and gambling addiction. See further details and tips on our responsible gambling page.

FICA in conjunction with gambling law

The purpose of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act is to identify and eradicate financial crime. It goes a long way to help shape a better future for all. Under FICA rules you have to identify yourself by providing documentary evidence as proof of your identity. FICA also helps prevent identity theft through impersonation. Therefore, you have to supply different types of documents proving you are who you say you are. This is usually the first step in the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) process as part of new customer onboarding. Under FICA requirements, you have a continued responsibility to keep your personal details up to date. Always keep this in mind should your circumstances change as it helps to prevent account fraud.

Failing to adhere to FICA requirements, could result in your accounts with financial institutions being frozen. This essentially helps prevent fraudulent access to your monetary assets. The regulation offers consumer protection as well as acting as a form of policing to help prevent money laundering. Nowadays, it is virtually impossible to enter into a business relationship without first undergoing the FICA process. Businesses have a regulatory responsibility to initiate the FICA process with consumers and prospective customers. Read more detailed information on the FICA process on our FICA page.

Licensing as part of gambling law

Probably the most important aspect of gambling regulation in South Africa, is licensing. Gambling systems, advertising, premises and staff are all subject to license. Subsequently, it is illegal to offer gambling services in South Africa without a valid South African gambling license. Gambling systems undergo rigorous testing. Licenses are only issued provided that such systems operate in accordance with stipulated guidelines drawn from the imposed gambling law. Regulations in place mainly offer consumer protection, also to hold the industry free from financial crime. The regulator has the power to suspend or even revoke licenses and at times may impose fines. If services offered do not conform to regulatory standards license conditions are applied. See more information on gambling licensing on our betting law page.

Gambling regulators in South Africa

The National Gambling Board (NGB) oversees gambling in South Africa on a national level. Nine provincial gambling boards, one for each province, establish control through the issuing of licenses. Read more information on the different South African gambling regulatory authorities on our Betting Law page.

All bookmakers on betandwin.co.za comply with gambling law and each bookie has a valid sports betting license for SA. Therefore, check out our list of safest online betting sites as compiled by our team.