How to deposit with vouchers

The three main vouchers

Store lists change, so if one shop doesn’t sell a voucher, ask at the till or use the app. Full details for each are on our 1Voucher, OTT Voucher and Blu Voucher pages, including the brands that accept them.

How to deposit with a voucher, step by step

The process is almost identical for all three.

1. Buy the voucher. Tell the cashier which voucher you want and the amount, pay in cash, and keep the till slip. In an app, buy it from the vouchers or “buy” menu and copy the PIN.
2. Log in to the betting site and open the cashier or deposit page.
3. Choose the voucher (1Voucher, OTT or Blu) from the list of deposit methods.
4. Enter the 16-digit PIN and, if asked, the amount you want to deposit.
5. Confirm. The money should show in your balance immediately.
6. Keep the slip until you see the deposit in your account history. The serial number on it is what support will ask for if anything goes wrong.

Most voucher deposits take under a minute.

Which sites accept vouchers?

Vouchers are a staple at South African licensed bookmakers. In our data, for example:

• Hollywoodbets accepts 1Voucher, OTT and Blu.
• Betway accepts all three.
• Easybet and Goldrush accept 1Voucher and OTT.
• Supabets, YesPlay and PantherBet accept Blu.

Offshore casinos rarely accept South African vouchers. If you want to pay that way, an SA-licensed bookmaker is your best bet; our guide to offshore vs SA-licensed sites explains the other differences.

Withdrawing after a voucher deposit

This is where people get stuck. At most sites, vouchers only work for deposits. To withdraw, you’ll need:

• A bank account in your own name, added to your betting account.
• FICA verification completed (ID and proof of address). See our FICA guide.

A few sites offer cash-based withdrawals, such as OTT’s collect service at some bookmakers or cash-send options. Check the withdrawal page of the site you use. If you don’t have a bank account, check that the site offers one of these before you deposit, or you may not be able to get winnings out.

Vouchers and bonuses

Most South African welcome bonuses accept voucher deposits, but not all. Before you deposit:

• Check the minimum deposit for the bonus. It’s often higher than the voucher’s smallest value.
• Check the list of excluded payment methods in the bonus terms.
• Make sure you’ve opted in or entered any code before you deposit.

Our guide to bonus terms that cost you money covers the rest.

A worked example

Say you want to bet R100 this weekend and claim a welcome bonus that needs a R50 deposit.

1. At Shoprite you buy a R100 1Voucher. You pay R100 in cash.
2. You log in, opt in to the bonus, choose 1Voucher and enter the PIN and R100.
3. The R100 reflects instantly and the bonus is credited.
4. You win, clear the bonus wagering, and have R260 to withdraw. Because you added your bank account and verified your ID when you signed up, you request a withdrawal to your bank and it’s paid out.

If you hadn’t verified, step 4 would wait until you did. If you had no bank account, you’d need a site with a cash withdrawal option.

Problems and fixes

• “Invalid PIN.” Check for typos, especially 0 and O, 1 and I. Make sure you chose the right voucher type in the cashier.
• “Voucher already redeemed.” Contact the voucher company’s support with your serial number. Never share a photo of your PIN on social media or with anyone claiming to “help”.
• Deposit not showing. Wait a few minutes and refresh. If it still isn’t there, contact the betting site’s support with the serial number and the time of the deposit.
• Partial use. Some vouchers keep the unused value (Blu does), others may handle change differently. If you’re depositing less than the voucher’s value, check how its balance works first.

Vouchers vs other deposit methods

Vouchers aren’t always the best choice. Compared with instant bank payments such as Ozow and Capitec Pay, they have strengths and weaknesses:

• Better for privacy: no bank details go to the betting site, and nothing shows on your bank statement except the voucher purchase.
• Better for cash budgets: you can only spend what’s printed on the slip.
• Worse for convenience: you need to buy one first, at a shop or in an app, which is slower than approving a payment on your phone.
• Worse for withdrawals: you’ll still need a bank account to cash out at most sites.

Many players use both: a voucher for the occasional small deposit and a bank method for everything else. Our guide to Ozow and Capitec Pay covers the bank options.

Safety tips

• Treat a voucher PIN like cash. Anyone with the PIN can spend it.
• Buy only from real retailers or banking apps. Vouchers sold on social media or by “agents” are a common scam.
• Never buy a voucher for someone you’ve only met online who promises winnings, tips or a prize.

Why vouchers help with budgeting

Because you pay cash, a voucher sets a hard limit: R100 on the slip is R100 to play with, and nothing more comes out of your account. That makes vouchers a useful tool if you’re trying to stick to a budget. Pair it with a deposit limit on your account so you can’t top up on impulse later. Low minimums also make vouchers the usual method at R5 and R10 deposit sites.

The bottom line

Vouchers are fast, private and accepted at most South African bookmakers. Buy one at a till, enter the PIN, and you’re playing in under a minute. Before you deposit, make sure you can withdraw: add your bank account and verify your ID first. Only deposit money you can afford to lose; if gambling stops being fun, free help is available on 0800 006 008.

See every payment method we cover, including Ozow and Capitec Pay.