PSL betting guide

The competitions you can bet on

The bottom club in the Premiership is relegated, and the second-bottom club goes into a promotion play-off with teams from the Championship. That keeps late-season games at the bottom of the table competitive, which matters for betting.

Popular PSL markets

Match result (1X2)

Back the home win (1), the draw (X) or the away win (2). In the PSL the gap between the top clubs and the rest can be large, so favourites like Mamelodi Sundowns are often priced very short. Short odds mean small returns and a big loss when an upset happens.

Double chance and draw no bet

Double chance covers two outcomes, for example home win or draw (1X). Draw no bet refunds your stake if the game is drawn. Both suit PSL games, where draws are common. They pay less than a straight win, so check the odds rather than assuming they’re “safe”.

Under/over goals

The most common line is 2.5 goals. Many PSL games are tight and tactical, and 0-0, 1-0 and 1-1 are frequent results. That’s reflected in the prices: “under 2.5” is usually shorter in the PSL than in leagues like the English Premier League. Lines of 1.5 and 3.5 are available too.

Both teams to score (BTTS)

A yes/no bet on both teams scoring. Look at each team’s scoring and conceding record at home and away, not just the league table.

Handicaps

Asian and European handicaps give the weaker side a head start, useful when a big favourite plays a struggling team and the straight win price is too short to be interesting.

Player and special markets

First goalscorer, anytime scorer, cards and corners. These carry higher margins, so the prices are usually poorer value. See how betting odds work to check a market’s margin yourself.

Things that move PSL results

• Fixture congestion. Clubs in CAF competitions (Champions League and Confederation Cup) play midweek and often travel across Africa. Rotation is common in the league games around those trips.
• Altitude and travel. Johannesburg, Pretoria and Polokwane sit high above sea level. Coastal clubs from Durban and Cape Town travelling inland, or the reverse, can tire late in games.
• Cup priorities. Late in the season, a club in a Nedbank Cup run may rest players in the league.
• Coaching changes. PSL clubs change coaches often, and a new coach can change a team’s style quickly.
• Weather. Summer storms on the Highveld can make pitches heavy and games slower.
• The derby effect. Soweto derbies between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are hard to predict and often tight, regardless of form.

None of these makes a result certain. They’re reasons to look past the table before you bet.

Single bets vs accumulators

PSL accumulators are hugely popular, partly because SA bookmakers run acca boosts and insurance on them. Remember that each leg multiplies the margin as well as the odds. A five-leg PSL acca at 7% margin per leg carries about a 30% margin overall. Singles and doubles give you a much better price per Rand.

If you do play accas, look at offers that improve them: Hollywoodbets’ Soccer Bonus Bonanza and Money Back Soccer, Supabets’ multibet bonus and Easybet’s losing-leg refund are examples in our data. Our bet calculator shows what an acca really returns, and accumulator in the glossary explains the terms.

PSL betting bonuses

Most SA sign-up offers can be used on PSL games, though some set minimum odds or require multibets. Two examples from our data:

Supabets

SA licensed

7.7/10

Sign-up bonus · sports

Free betR50

Wagering

3x

Min deposit

No deposit

Expiry

15 days

Min odds

3

18+New players · T&Cs apply

Claim bonus

Hollywoodbets

SA licensed

8.2/10

Sign-up bonus · sports

Free betR25

Wagering

1x

Min deposit

No deposit

Expiry

1 day

Max cashout

R1,200

Min odds

1.5

18+New players · T&Cs apply

Claim bonus

See every free bet and our guide to claiming a no deposit bonus.

Where to bet on the PSL

All the bookmakers below offer full PSL coverage, including the cups. Rankings come from our overall betting ratings:

1. 1
   
   1Win

   Curaçao licence
   9.8/10
   Welcome bonus · sports

   500% welcome bonus
   Claim bonusCompareReview
2. 2
   
   Betfred

   SA licensed
   7.3/10
   Welcome bonus · sports

   100% up to R21,000

   + 750 free spins · over 3 deposits

   4xMin R20
   Claim bonusCompareReview
3. 3
   
   World Sports Betting

   SA licensed
   7.9/10
   Welcome bonus · sports

   100% up to R20,000

   5xMin R50
   Claim bonusCompareReview
4. 4
   
   Playbet

   SA licensed
   7.1/10
   Welcome bonus · sports

   100% up to R20,000

   Min R50
   Claim bonusCompareReview
5. 5
   
   SuperSportBet

   SA licensed
   7.8/10
   Welcome bonus · sports

   100% up to R5,000

   3xMin R25
   Claim bonusCompareReview
6. 6
   
   Hollywoodbets

   SA licensed
   8.2/10
   Sign-up bonus · sports

   Free bet R25

   1xNo deposit
   Claim bonusCompareReview

Licensed SA bookmakers such as Hollywoodbets, Betway, YesPlay and Supabets are regulated by provincial boards, so you have a complaints route if anything goes wrong. Offshore sites such as 1Win also cover the PSL and may offer bigger bonuses, without that local protection. Read is online gambling legal in South Africa for the difference.

Live PSL betting

In-play betting lets you bet as the match unfolds. Odds react to every goal, red card and substitution. It’s exciting, but it’s also where impulsive bets happen. Decide your stake before kick-off and stick to it. If you’ve an open bet, you may be offered a cash-out; it’s priced with a margin, so it’s usually a little less than the bet’s fair value.

Bankroll basics for PSL bettors

Treat your betting budget as a separate pot of money for the season, not something you top up from your salary when it runs low.

• Set a monthly or weekly amount you’re happy to spend, for example R400 a month.
• Bet a small, fixed share per bet, such as 2% to 5% of the pot. On R400, that’s R8 to R20 a bet.
• Keep a record of every bet: the match, market, odds, stake and result. After a month you’ll see which markets you actually do well or badly on.
• Don’t raise stakes after losses. A bad weekend is part of football betting; doubling up to win it back is how budgets disappear.

Most SA bookmakers let you set deposit limits in your account settings. Setting one at the start of the season is the simplest bankroll rule there is.

A simple PSL betting checklist

1. Check team news and recent CAF fixtures.
2. Compare the price at two or three bookmakers.
3. Work out the implied probability and ask whether you really believe it.
4. Prefer singles and doubles over long accas.
5. Set a weekly budget and don’t chase a bad weekend.

Bet responsibly

Football betting should add to the fun of the game, not replace it. Use your bookmaker’s deposit limits and time-outs, and if betting stops being enjoyable, call the National Responsible Gambling Programme on 0800 006 008.