Bank cash deposits for betting sites

How bank cash deposits work

This is the old-fashioned way to fund a betting account. The bookmaker gives you its bank details and a personal reference. You take cash to a branch, or to an ATM that accepts cash deposits, and pay it into that account using the reference. When the money arrives, the bookmaker matches the reference to your betting account and credits your balance.

It’s slower and more fiddly than modern methods, but it still has a place: it works for larger amounts, it leaves a clear bank record, and it doesn’t need a card, an app or a voucher.

Where you can deposit cash at the bank

In our data two bookmakers accept bank cash deposits: 10bet and Hollywoodbets. Both are licensed by provincial gambling boards. Hollywoodbets lists bank details for several major banks, so you can usually pick one with a branch or ATM near you.

Offshore casinos, including 1Win, don’t take cash deposits; they’re not set up with South African bank accounts for that purpose.

How to deposit cash at the bank

1. Log in to your betting account and open the deposit page. Choose bank deposit or EFT to see the bookmaker’s bank details.
2. Note your reference. It’s usually your account number or cellphone number. Write it down exactly.
3. Go to a branch or a cash-accepting ATM of the bank listed. Absa, Capitec, FNB, Nedbank and Standard Bank all have cash-deposit ATMs.
4. Deposit the cash into the bookmaker’s account using your reference.
5. Keep the slip. If the bookmaker asks for proof of payment, send a photo of it to support.
6. Wait for it to reflect, usually the same day or the next business day.

Double-check the reference before you confirm. A wrong reference is the most common reason a cash deposit goes missing.

Withdrawals

Cash deposits only go one way. Both bookmakers pay out by bank EFT, and they have faster options too:

• Hollywoodbets: cash payouts through FNB eWallet, Standard Bank Instant Money, Absa CashSend and Nedbank Send-iMali, plus the 1ForYou app.
• 10bet: payouts through Ozow as well as EFT.

Upload your ID and proof of address in advance so your first withdrawal isn’t delayed.

Fees, limits and speed

• Fees: your bank’s cash-deposit fee. Banks charge a fee per deposit or per R100 deposited, and it can be noticeably higher at a branch than at an ATM.
• Limits: set by the bank and the ATM. The bookmaker’s minimum deposit still applies.
• Speed: same day to one business day.

Who it suits

Bank cash deposits suit punters who want to deposit a larger amount in cash and would rather not buy several vouchers to do it. The bank slip is also a solid record if something goes wrong.

For everyday bets, it’s not worth the fee and the wait. Vouchers are instant and free at the till, and if you have a bank account, Ozow or Capitec Pay moves the money in seconds.

Pros and cons

Pros

• No card, app or voucher needed.
• Handles larger amounts than most vouchers.
• Clear proof of payment on the bank slip.

Cons

• Slow: up to a business day.
• Bank cash-deposit fees.
• Only two bookmakers in our data.
• A wrong reference can delay or lose the deposit.

Faster cash alternatives

If you want to bet with cash today, buy a 1Voucher, OTT Voucher or Blu Voucher at a supermarket till, a Kazang voucher at a spaza shop, or pay at a Cash at Shoprite / Checkers Money Market counter. Every method is on our payments page.

Large cash deposits deserve extra thought. Decide what you can afford to lose before you go to the bank, use your account’s deposit limits, and call the NRGP free on 0800 006 008 if you’re worried.