Payfast betting sites

What Payfast is

Payfast is one of South Africa’s best-known payment gateways: the service that sits between a website and the banks and card networks. Thousands of local online shops use it. When you pay through Payfast, you’re taken to Payfast’s own secure page, where you choose how to pay. Depending on the merchant, that can be Instant EFT, a Visa or Mastercard card, Capitec Pay, or a QR-code app.

For betting, that means one cashier button gives you several ways to fund your account. The bookmaker never sees your card or banking details; Payfast handles them and simply tells the site the payment succeeded.

Where you can deposit with Payfast

In our data Payfast is used by Hollywoodbets and LottoStar. Both are South African licensed operators. Hollywoodbets already accepts a wide range of methods; Payfast gives its players a single card-and-EFT checkout on top of options like Ozow, SID Instant EFT and vouchers.

Offshore casinos, including 1Win, don’t use Payfast in our data. That’s typical: local gateways like Payfast work mainly with locally licensed merchants.

How to deposit with Payfast

1. Choose Payfast on the deposit page and enter the amount.
2. You’re sent to Payfast’s secure page. Check that the merchant name and amount are right.
3. Pick how to pay: Instant EFT, card, or Capitec Pay, depending on what’s offered.
4. Approve it:
   • For Instant EFT, choose your bank and confirm in your banking app or online banking.
   • For a card, enter the details and complete the 3D Secure check from your bank.
   • For Capitec Pay, enter your cellphone or ID number and approve the push notification in the Capitec app.
5. You’re returned to the betting site with the deposit already in your balance.

Withdrawals

Payfast is a pay-in service only. When you withdraw from Hollywoodbets or LottoStar, choose bank EFT or one of their other payout options. Hollywoodbets in particular offers cash payouts through FNB eWallet, Standard Bank Instant Money, Absa CashSend and Nedbank Send-iMali, as well as the 1ForYou app. Make sure your FICA documents are approved before you request a payout.

Fees, limits and speed

• Fees: free for the player; Payfast’s fees are paid by the merchant.
• Limits: the bookmaker’s minimum deposit applies, along with your bank’s EFT limit or your card limit.
• Speed: instant for Instant EFT, card and Capitec Pay.

Who it suits

Payfast suits Hollywoodbets and LottoStar players who like having several payment choices in one familiar checkout. If you’ve paid through Payfast at an online shop, the screen will look the same.

It doesn’t add much if you already use Ozow or Capitec Pay directly, and you can’t use it anywhere else in our data. It’s a convenience, not a reason to choose a bookmaker.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Several payment options on one secure page.
• Established South African gateway.
• Free and instant for the player.
• Card and banking details are never shared with the bookmaker.

Cons

• Only two bookmakers in our data use it.
• Deposit only.
• Options vary by merchant, so you might not see Capitec Pay or cards every time.

Alternatives

To pay straight from your account, Ozow and Capitec Pay are accepted at far more sites. If you prefer to pay by card, Visa and Mastercard work at most bookmakers. For cash, use 1Voucher or OTT Voucher. Every method we track is on our payments page.

Set yourself a deposit limit before you play. If gambling starts to feel like a problem, call the NRGP’s free helpline on 0800 006 008.