Online sports betting now dominates South Africa gambling spend, SpendTrend26 report
The report analysed 2.6 billion credit card transactions across 12 million cards between 2021 and 2025.
South Africa.- Online sports betting has become the dominant form of gambling spend in South Africa, according to the latest SpendTrend26 report released on April 23 by Discovery Bank and Visa.
The report, which highlights a major shift in how consumers engage with gambling activities, analysed 2.6 billion credit card transactions across 12 million cards between 2021 and 2025. It found that online sports betting now accounts for most gambling expenditure in the country, overtaking traditional in-person gambling at casinos and betting venues. More than half of surveyed bettors said they now gamble exclusively online.
The findings point to a broader digital migration in consumer behaviour, as betting increasingly takes place through mobile devices and online platforms rather than physical gambling locations. The report indicates that betting activity is frequently tied to major sporting events, as many users treat it as a planned entertainment cost rather than impulsive spending.
Discovery Bank CEO Hylton Kallner said the data suggests that many consumers are attempting to manage their gambling habits through budgeting. Among surveyed respondents who participate in betting, 43 per cent said they set a gambling budget and stick to it, while 46 per cent stated that they mainly bet for entertainment purposes. Another 44 per cent said their betting activity increases around major sporting events.
The report also found mixed spending patterns among bettors. While 46 per cent of respondents said they are spending less on betting than they did a year ago, 24 per cent reported spending more. A smaller portion of respondents admitted to reducing spending on other forms of entertainment to continue betting.
The shift towards online betting mirrors wider changes in South Africa’s gambling market. Recent data referenced by the South African Reserve Bank shows betting has become the largest contributor to gross gambling revenue in the country, while casino gambling’s share has continued to decline. Online betting revenue accounted for more than 85 per cent of total betting revenue in the 2024/25 financial year.
SpendTrend26 also noted that the rise of digital payments and mobile-first financial services has made online betting more accessible, particularly among younger consumers. The report indicated that the continued growth of digital gambling is likely to remain under scrutiny as concerns around household spending, regulation and responsible gambling intensify.
