Everything You Need To Know About Horse Racing And Betting In South Africa

Horse racing in South Africa dates back to 1795 as it was first introduced into the country by the British. The first horse breeds bred in South Africa were popularly known as capers. The capers were later replaced with Thoroughbreds in 1860.

Betting on horses has been there as a form of entertainment for a very long time. The fun is in watching the development of a race, with your fingers crossed while hoping that the horse you placed your bet on wins. Whether it’s your first time or not, the experience of watching horses race is incredibly amazing.

Laws and legislation of horse race betting in South Africa.

As it is with all gambling activities in South Africa, betting on horse racing is regulated by the Gambling Act of 2004. Since 1965, horse race betting has been the only legal form of betting in the country as dictated by an act of government. A couple of amendments have been made over the years which have seen the legalization of other forms of betting. Due to the complexity of the sport, other forms of gambling have grown to be more competitive than the latter. Racing events and racecourses are licensed by the regulatory body. This means that all taxes and levies have to be paid accordingly for this sport to continue its activities.

Regarding the online platforms offering horse race betting, the site has to be licensed to offer gambling services by the jurisdiction of the particular province from which the site fetches its players.

Things to consider before placing your bet

1. Check out the horses from the paddocks:

This is a better way to choose your favorite horse, you don’twant to place your hard-earned money on a horse that ‘having a bad day’. From the paddocks, you can be able to judge the state of the horses. Using your knowledge on horses, you can narrow down to a few horses that look like winners, judging from the way the horses are behaving.

2. Learn the history of the jockey:

The history of the jockey, offered in the match program, will always help you identify talent and ability. Note the horse that your favorite jockey is riding and their winning history. This way you can be able to predict the winner. Consider checking the performance of a jockey with a particular horse, this comes in handy when placing a position bet

3. The odds:

The odds of a horse winning in a race are always available based on the previous matches. Betting on the race favorite to show always have the highest odds of winning. They always have a good return on your wager.

A Beginner’s Guide to horse race betting

1. Indicate the racetrack from which you are betting, that is the name of the track.
2. Identify the number of the race you want to place a wager on.
3. Choose the amount of cash you want to place as your bet.
4. Choose the type of bet. Either the horse, the position, or both the horse and the position you expect the horse to be at the end of the race.
5. Choose the number of the horses you want to bet on. You can choose more than horses to win in particular positions. You win if your horse finishes the race in the position you indicated.
6. Confirm your ticket before leaving the window. If you are lucky, you will return to the window with your ticket at the end of the race to claim your prize.

Conclusion

The South African population is more interested in horse race betting because there are very strict policies against online betting. In fact, there are no overseas gambling sites as it is the case in other African countries. Therefore, horse racing is so popular, making bettors to love placing bets on the races. Other parts of Africa are known for online sports betting because their governments allow foreign based companies to offer their services. Nonetheless, South Africans have found peace in the sport and they enjoy wagering, just like all other betting enthusiasts.

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