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How to Check if a Bookmaker is Licensed

A step-by-step guide to verifying that your bookmaker holds a valid South African provincial gambling licence.

Why verify? Only bookmakers licensed by a South African provincial gambling board are legal. Unlicensed operators have no obligation to pay your winnings, protect your data, or provide dispute resolution. It takes 5 minutes to verify a licence, and could save you from losing your money.

Step-by-Step Verification

1

Check the Operator's Website

Licensed operators are legally required to display their licence details on their website. Look for: the provincial gambling board name, licence number, and a link to the board's website. This is usually in the footer or on the "About" page.

2

Contact the Provincial Board

If you cannot find licence details, or want to verify them independently, contact the relevant provincial gambling board directly. Provide the operator's name and ask them to confirm the licence status. Contact details for all 9 boards are listed below.

3

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No licence information anywhere on the site
  • Claims to be "licensed in Curacao", "Malta", or another foreign jurisdiction only
  • No South African contact details
  • No FICA/KYC verification required to deposit or withdraw
  • Crypto-only deposits with no Rand option
  • Domain ending in .com without a .co.za alternative

All 9 Provincial Gambling Board Contacts

Verified Licensed Operators on This Site

Every bookmaker listed on Tips has been verified as holding a valid South African provincial licence. Our reviews include the specific licence details for each operator.

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