Betting Glossary: SA Betting Terms Explained
Reviewed for responsible-gambling compliance by Priya Naidoo.
Betting has its own language, and a lot of it is shorthand you only learn by using it. This glossary explains the terms you will actually meet on South African betting sites, in plain English.
Keep it handy while you read our guides. Understanding the words is the first step to understanding whether a bet is worth placing at all.
Core betting terms
- Stake - the amount of money you put on a bet, and your total return is this stake multiplied by the odds.
- Odds - the number that sets both your payout and the implied chance of an outcome, shown as decimals by default on SA sites.
- Return - the total money paid back on a winning bet, including your stake, while profit is that return minus the stake you put down.
- Bet slip - the on-screen ticket that holds your selections while you review them, before you confirm and pay.
- Wager - another word for a bet, and also the verb used for the act of placing one.
Bet types and combinations
- Single - a bet on one outcome that wins or loses entirely on its own, with no other legs attached.
- Acca (accumulator) - several selections combined into one bet where every leg must win, and the odds multiply together, so the payout grows fast but so does the risk.
- Multi - the same idea as an acca, just the name some operators prefer for a multiple-selection bet.
- Bet builder - a tool that lets you combine several markets from a single match, such as a team to win and a player to score, into one price.
- Lucky numbers - a South African favourite where you bet on international lottery-style draw results rather than sport, making it a game of pure chance rather than skill.
Common betting shorthand explained
| Shorthand | Meaning | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home win | The home team wins the match |
| X | Draw | The match ends level |
| 2 | Away win | The away team wins the match |
| 1X | Double chance | Home win or draw both pay out |
| O/U 2.5 | Over / under | Whether total goals beat a set line |
| BTTS | Both teams to score | Both sides must find the net |
Account, banking and verification
- FICA - South Africa's identity-verification law, which requires bookmakers to confirm who you are and that a bank account is yours before they pay out winnings.
- OTT Voucher - a prepaid cash voucher you buy at a retailer and redeem to fund your betting account without needing a bank card.
- Rollover (wagering requirement) - the number of times you must bet a bonus amount before any related winnings can be withdrawn as cash.
- Withdrawal - the act of moving money out of your betting wallet to your bank account, which goes faster once your FICA verification is complete.
- Responsible gambling limits - the deposit, loss or time limits you can set on your own account to keep your spending under control.
In-play, sharing and settlement
- Cash out - taking a guaranteed amount before a bet is settled, locking in a smaller profit or cutting a loss, with the offer moving as the live odds change.
- Booking code - a short code that saves a bet slip so you or a friend can load the exact same selections instantly on the same operator.
- In-play (live betting) - placing bets while a match is being played, with odds that shift in real time as the action unfolds.
- Void - a bet that is cancelled, usually because a match is abandoned, so your stake is simply returned and nothing is won or lost.
- Push - a bet that ties the handicap or line exactly, so the stake is refunded rather than won or lost.
Frequently asked questions
What is an acca in betting?+
An acca, short for accumulator, combines several selections into one bet, and every single leg must win for it to pay out. The odds of the legs multiply together, so a small stake can return a lot, but the risk climbs just as fast. For example, three legs at 2.00 combine to 8.00, yet one losing leg means the whole bet loses.
What does cash out mean?+
Cash out lets you settle a bet early for a guaranteed amount before the event finishes. It can lock in a smaller profit while you are ahead, or limit a loss when a bet is going wrong. The value on offer moves constantly with the live odds, so it is usually less than a full winning payout would be if the bet came in.
What is a booking code?+
A booking code is a short reference that saves a whole bet slip on a betting site. You, or a friend you share it with, can enter the code on the same operator to load the exact same selections instantly, without rebuilding them one by one. It is popular for sharing Soccer 6 or acca slips, though it only works on the operator that generated it.
What is FICA and why does it matter?+
FICA is South Africa's identity-verification law, and it requires every licensed bookmaker to confirm who you are before paying out winnings. In practice you upload your ID and proof of a bank account or address. Completing FICA early matters because unverified accounts often face delayed or blocked withdrawals, so getting it done up front means your money is not held up when you win.