Established in 2005, Gbets is one of the experienced bookmakers catering to the South African audience. It offers over 1,500 daily markets for sports betting enthusiasts. These options are spread across popular and niche games like football and horse racing.
In addition to being a highly reputable bookie, Gbets is well-known for its casino gaming services. Regardless of which offer you prefer, you can access it on the go via its functional mobile platform. This detailed review explores everything SA bettors should know about the online betting site.
- ✅ Claim R25 free bets upon registration
- ✅ Offers thousands of markets for 40+ sports
- ✅ Data-free option in mobile application
- ❌ No live streaming
- ❌ Poor virtual sports coverage
- ❌ Doesn’t support cryptocurrencies
Gbets Registration
The Gbets registration is straightforward. All you have to do is visit the bookmaker, tap the sign-up button, and fill out the form. We’ve provided a more detailed breakdown of the process below:
- Launch the online betting site on your device.
- Tap the sign-up button.
- On the first part of the registration page, provide your phone number, preferred password, full name, and ID number.
- Enter your date of birth and click “Next.”
- On the following page, provide the necessary information, including your email address.
- Agree to the terms and conditions and submit the form.
Welcome Bonus
New bettors on the sports betting site are eligible for an R25 free bet welcome bonus. They can activate it with the Gbets promo code, GBONUS. Upon activation, the bookie automatically adds the amount to your account.
With this promotion, you can place only a single bet with a minimum odds of 1.50. If this stake is successful, the initial R25 bet becomes void. As such, you can only take out the profit it yielded.
Although you don’t need to deposit to get the bonus, you must pay at least R25 to cash your winnings. You must also play through the deposit at least once before the operator releases your funds. The maximum withdrawable amount from this package is R1,000.
How to Claim the Bonus
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to get the sign-up offer:
- The first step to claiming the welcome bonus is creating an account, following the steps described earlier.
- On the second registration page, there’s a field for providing the promo code.
- Enter the GBONUS combination and fill out other details before submitting the form.
- Now, head to the lobby and place a single stake on a betting market with minimum odds of 1.50.
- If this wager wins, you’ll need to fund your account and play through the amount once before withdrawing.
- Afterward, head to the cashier and request your funds.
Account Verification
In order to claim withdraw any winnings from the welcome bonus, customers are required to verify their accounts. While they don’t have to complete this immediately after creating an account, they must follow through before their first withdrawal.
For this, you must submit copies of the following:
- South African ID
- Driver’s license
- Government-issued passport
- The front and back shots of your smart card ID
After submission, the operator will process these details within 24 to 48 hours. During this wait time, you can still fund your account and place bets. Once your information is accurate, you’ll get a notification about a successful verification.
Other Promotions
The analysis we made showed that the welcome bonus is just one of the many promotions available to South Africans. We found other reload promotions that you can leverage as an existing user. Details of these deals are in the table below:
| Bonus Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Rugby Hero | Place a bet on the First Try Scorer market for any of the bookie’s Rugby Clash markets. If your selected player scores first and uses a hattrick or hits more tries in the match, you receive the deposit bonus. The offer is to double your winnings up to R2,000 paid in real money. |
| Rugby Try Double | Bet on the First Try scorer of any Rugby clash market. If your player scores first and last, you get double your winnings, up to R1,000. |
| F1 Podium Sitter | The bookie celebrates Grand Pix races by refunding bettors up to R1,000 in cash. You get the bonus if you place a win bet and your player doesn’t win but finishes on the podium. R50 is the minimum stake amount to qualify. |
| F1 Full Sweep | Gbets triples bettors’ winnings up to R2,000. The promotion is open to those who place a win bet on the Grand Pix races. Your selected player must start and lead the race from pole position for you to qualify for this bonus. |
| Soccer 0-0 Boost | For this offer, you must place a pre-match bet on the correct score. This stake must be in a match in the EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, or Ligue 1. If the match ends in a 0-0 draw, the bookie refunds your stake with up to R1,000 as a bonus. |
| Soccer Refund | Place a qualifying accumulator and get up to 200% of your stake if the last selection loses. The accumulator must have at least 10 picks, each with minimum odds of 1.3, to qualify. |
| Soccer Multi Boost | The online bookmaker offers up to a 30% boost for all multiple bets with 2 or more selections. Each leg must have odds of at least 1.3 to qualify for the promotion. |
| Soccer Anytime | Place a bet on anytime goal scorer for any football match. If your player scores first, you will receive double your winnings in bet vouchers. The bonus amount is capped at R1,000. |
Gbets Features
During our evaluation of the online sportsbook, we found a few features that enhance the betting experience. These elements range from live betting to helpful predictions for select markets. We’ve discussed each one in detail in the following sections:
Gbets has a “Live Sports” section that houses its live betting markets. Here, punters can place stakes on events while they play out in real-time. It updates the odds for these events based on changes in the game. This allows you to capitalize on varying dynamics and place bets on higher odds.
Unfortunately, our research shows that the bookmaker doesn’t have live streaming. However, it provides a real-time game tracker. This doesn’t compare to a streaming service, but it provides important updates about specific events. Using this option, you can learn how every game plays out and adjust your betting strategy accordingly.
During our review, we found both full and partial cash out options. The full feature allows you to settle your entire bet before the game ends. On the other hand, the partial option makes it possible to take out only half of the stake. The remaining amount is settled once the event ends.
With the cashout function, you can secure your winnings early or minimize losses in unfavorable situations. However, note that they’re not available in every market. If the option applies to a specific stake, you’ll find out from your betting slip.
Besides allowing you to cash out your bets early, Gbets features a bet builder. The function permits users to place multiple wagers on a single match.
In the sports betting lobby, you’ll find two sections: results and statistics. The former details the final outcome of fixtures for various sports. It also lists all the markets for those events and specifies those that were successful. The results page has filtering options that allow you to narrow your search to specific sports and dates.
On the other hand, the statistics section is focused on comparing opposing sides. Here, you’ll find head-to-head match-ups of players and teams. This page outlines their winning chances for the ongoing event and mentions their performances in previous games.
When reviewing the platform, we discovered the Super Bet feature. This allows users to request boosted odds on the bets they want to place. If approved, the lines of that stake are enhanced, so it returns more winnings if it’s successful.
Sports Overview
At first glance, it’s easy to think that Gbets covers a limited number of sports. That’s because it doesn’t list all its disciplines in the left-hand column like many other betting sites. However, upon further investigation, we found that the platform is quite comprehensive. Here’s everything you should know about its coverage:
Betting Markets
There are thousands of betting markets at the online bookmaker. Football, including the Gbets AFCON, takes the lead, with over 1,500 daily options. Other popular options with a good number of daily options are basketball, tennis, and volleyball.
In addition to well-known disciplines, the bookmaker covers niche games like water polo and darts. Overall, there are more than 40 sports to bet on after registering at Gbets.
Odds
Gbets stands as one of the best betting sites in terms of odds. We compared its lines to those of leading bookmakers and found they were on par with these top sites. As expected, prematch markets had better payout rates, while they were slightly lower for live events.
Virtual Sports
We discovered that the platform covers virtual sports under “Jika Sports” on the desktop site. Here, there are betting options for simulated events, including football. Like their regular counterparts, there are in-play and prematch markets, but they’re quite limited compared to those on competitor sportsbooks.
Esports
Although we were disappointed with the lack of comprehensive virtual sports, we were impressed with its e-sports offerings. The bookmaker covers several competitive games, including popular ones like League of Legends, Arena of Valor, and Valorant. For each game, there are many betting options, though this depends on the ongoing events.
Casino Overview
As a member of Gbets, you have access to its casino section. There’s no need to create a separate account to engage in gaming activities. As long as you’ve registered once, you can effortlessly navigate from the bookmaker to the casino on the same platform. The following sections provide more information about the online casino:
Casino Games
Although Gbets range of casino games is limited, these options are from top-tier providers. Hence, they boast excellent quality, exciting gameplay, and several bonus features.
For slots, there are 81 options to choose from. These titles are from two companies: Red Tiger and NetEnt. Some popular releases from these providers that are available on the site are Starburst, Rainbow Jackpots, and Hell’s Kitchen.
The gaming platform offers a more realistic and immersive experience by providing 120+ live games. You’ll find multiple variants of poker, baccarat, blackjack, and gameshows. Its live games are from five reputable developers: Creedroomz, Lottoinstantwin, Evolution, Ezugi, and Betconstruct.
Lucky Numbers
Lotto betting is another facet of the online bookie. You can access this section only after logging into your account. From here, you choose the option you bet on and pick your numbers. If your selection matches those that are randomly drawn, you receive a corresponding payout.
Mobile App
Betting on sports and casino games on the go is possible because of the Gbets app. The operator offers a downloadable version for both iOS and Android devices. You can install the one that suits your operating system directly from the official website. Here’s how to go about it:
- Open your browser and launch the betting platform.
- Scroll to the bottom of the site and click on the app icon.
- For iOS, the process starts immediately; for Android, you must first allow your device to accept files from unknown sources. Based on our observations, the app is secure, so you don’t have to worry about safety.
- Once done, visit the download page and tap on the file.
- Click the install option and wait for the app to run on your device.
While the platform runs well on older operating systems, we advice that you use a newer version. This way, you avoid the lags that are common with older systems. The specifications your device must meet are in the table below.
| Operating System | Android/APK | iOS |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | 7.0 and higher | 10.0 and higher |
| Software Version | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| File Size | 8.5 MB | 9.1 MB |
| Download Link | Download the Android App | Download the iOS App |
After installation, you can log in if you already have an account with the bookmaker. The mobile version allows you to bet on 40+ sports and play over 200 games. All other features, from live betting to results and cashout functions, are available on the mobile application.
An additional element we discovered during our review is data-free betting. This allows you to place stakes even if you don’t have data on your device. There’s no additional setting to activate the function; just download the app to get started.
Payment Methods
During our review, we found that transacting on this platform is easy, thanks to the availability of trusted payment methods. The bookmaker also has a basic website interface that allows new and existing players to navigate the site without hassle. As such, depositing and withdrawing are straightforward, taking only a few minutes to complete.
Deposit Options
When attempting to make a Gbets deposit, you can choose from the following systems:
- Bank transfers
- Cheque
- OTT Voucher
- BlueVoucher
- ForYou Voucher
The bookmaker has a reasonable minimum deposit limit of R20, which suits bettors with varying bankroll sizes. Plus, the platform processes deposits instantly. So, funds reflect in users’ accounts within a few minutes of a successful transaction.
Withdrawal Options
For a Gbets withdrawal, you can use one of the following options:
- FNB Wallets
- FNB USSD
- Standard Bank
- Money Market account (via Shoprite)
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Celbux Instant Payment
- 1Voucher
With these options, you can take out as little as R50. The maximum limit varies from one payment method to another. For example, the threshold is R3,000 daily for FNB USSD and R24,000 monthly for the wallet.
Payout Speed
The gambling site approves withdrawal requests within 24 hours, provided they meet all terms and conditions. For instance, if you’ve claimed bonus money prior to withdrawing, you must meet all wagering requirements before cashing out.
After approval, the operator releases your funds to your payment provider. So, your selected withdrawal method determines how soon you get your winnings. For example, bank transfers could take up to three days, while it takes 24 hours with bank cards.
Security
As a regulated platform, Gbets prioritizes customer safety. To that end, it has implemented various security protocols. One of these is the Secure Socket Layer technology that encrypts every piece of data a player reveals. It establishes a safe connection between browsers and the betting site. This makes it impossible for third parties to access sensitive information.
For further protection, it incorporates account verification, which we explained earlier. Requesting this process is the platform’s way of ensuring that actual account owners get their funds. In other words, it prevents fraud and money laundering activities.
The bookie also takes responsible gambling seriously. That’s why it confirms every bettor’s age to be certain they’re at least up to the 18-year-old threshold. For those struggling with controlling their gambling habits, the platform offers a cooling-off option. Activating this prevents you from accessing your account for a predetermined time frame.
Legal
One factor that contributes to the bookmaker’s credibility is its license. It works under the umbrella of the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, using the number 10179096-012. Therefore, it abides by the regulatory body’s gambling laws. We further verified the certificate to ensure it’s still valid.
Gbets vs the rest
Many online bookmakers have established their presence in the South African betting market. Here’s how they stack up against Gbets:
| Bookmakers | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Gbets | Data-free betting Mobile app for Android and iOS devices Free bets for new users | Doesn’t support cryptocurrencies Lacks live streaming Limited virtual sports coverage |
| Betway | Optimized user interface Cash-out feature Licensed and regulated | Limited reload bonuses Only a few withdrawal options Mobile app lags occassionally |
| Hollywoodbets | Extensive sports coverage Simple registration procedure Mobile-compatible site | No mobile app Limited reload promotions No live streaming |
| 10bet | Processes withdrawals within 24 hours Mobile app is available Features Aviator and other casino games | No cryptocurrency support Poor eSports coverage No live streaming |
| Fafabet | Low minimum bet of R1 Simple user-interface Excellent customer service | Limited eSports markets No live streaming or game tracker No iOS app |
Customer Service
Gbets ensures that bettors can quickly get assistance by providing multiple communication channels. You can reach out to the support team when you have questions about various topics. These range from payment delays to placing bets. Here’s how you can reach out:
All mediums are open 27/7, allowing you to get solutions whenever necessary. There’s also a comprehensive FAQ page that provides answers to gamblers’ common questions. You can check out this page before contacting the customer support team.
What could be improved?
While we found several impressive features at Gbets, we noticed a few aspects that need improvement. One of these is live streaming. The addition of this feature will boost the platform’s image, providing bettors with more options for keeping up with games.
Also, we would like to see more virtual sports for South Africans. Besides these, Gbets is a strong player in the SA gambling market. It stands out with its wide sports coverage, data-free betting, 24/7 customer service, and many promotions.
FAQ
Yes, the gambling platform is legal in South Africa. It has a license from the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board.
Yes, a cash-out function is available at the online bookmaker. However, it doesn’t apply to every market. To learn if it covers your stake, check the bet slip.
The minimum bet you can place at Gbets depends on the sport and market. You’ll find the limit in the bet slip when setting your stake amount.