FICA for SA Betting Sites: What You're Asked For and When
FICA is the identity check that South African bookmakers must run on their customers under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act. Expect to upload an ID or passport and, at some bookmakers, proof of address no older than three months. When it applies differs by bookmaker, and of the pages we read only Sunbet states a time: up to 48 business hours.
Written by Ziv Mor · Last updated: 26 October 2026
Sources: Schedule 1 of the FIC Act and the Financial Intelligence Centre's compliance page, and the FICA pages of Supabets, Sunbet and WSB, all read on 26 October 2026; for the other bookmakers, our own earlier readings, dated in the table. We have not completed FICA with any bookmaker, so the upload screens, rejection reasons and real-world timings are not covered. We could not read the FICA pages of Betway, Hollywoodbets, EasyBet or Playa Bets from our research location. See how we verify.
Have your SA ID or passport and a proof of address from the last three months ready before you register, and upload them straight away. Where you are asked for FICA, and how fast it clears, depends on the bookmaker, so use the table below rather than assuming a time.
What Is FICA, and Why Does a Betting Site Ask for It?
FICA is the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (Act 38 of 2001). Its Schedule 1 lists the businesses it calls accountable institutions. Since an amendment that took effect on 19 December 2022, item 9 covers a business that makes a gambling activity available where a licence is required from the National Gambling Board or a provincial licensing authority. A provincially licensed bookmaker fits that description.
The Financial Intelligence Centre says all accountable institutions must identify and verify their clients, and that the level of checking must follow the client's risk profile. Because the level depends on risk, one bookmaker can ask for more than another: Lottostar, for example, also asks where your betting money comes from. Being asked for documents is a sign the operator is following the rules, not a sign something is wrong with your account.
Read the source texts yourself: Schedule 1 of the FIC Act and the Financial Intelligence Centre's compliance page.
What Each Bookmaker Says About FICA
| Bookmaker | When FICA applies | Documents and how to send them | Stated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supabets | Name and SA ID number at registration. Its R50 free bet terms say FICA is required (read 12 Oct 2026). | ID or passport, plus a proof of residence no older than 3 months. Send by WhatsApp (060 017 6911) or email. | Not stated |
| Sunbet | ID or passport number to deposit and bet, full documents beyond its withdrawal limit (its FAQ). Our review says before the first deposit; its pages differ, so confirm when you register. | ID or passport, proof of address no older than 3 months, and a live selfie. Upload under My Account, My Profile, FICA Documentation. | Up to 48 business hours |
| WSB | Before any payout (our review). | Upload in the app under Account, My Profile, Fica. The page we read does not list documents. | Not stated |
| YesPlay | Name and SA ID number at registration; further FICA for withdrawals over R25,000 (terms read 12 Oct 2026). | Not verified. | Not verified |
| Hollywoodbets | R25 sign-up credit added after FICA (read 12 Oct 2026). Voucher terms: it may ask for documents before paying a withdrawal (read 14 Oct 2026). | Not verified. | Not verified |
| Lottostar | Before withdrawals and before crypto deposits (our review, terms read 3 Oct 2026). | Identity, address and bank account proof, each no older than 3 months, plus source of funds. | Not verified |
| 10bet | Verify your account before you can deposit and bet, per its site (read 6 Sep 2026). | Name, phone number and ID number at registration; nothing further verified. | Not verified |
| EasyBet | Before any withdrawal (our review, site read 2 Sep 2026). | A FICA section under My Account for an ID or passport upload. | Not verified |
| Betway, Playa Bets, Zarbet | Not verified: we could not read their FICA pages. | Not verified. | Not verified |
"Not stated" means the bookmaker's page we read does not give it. "Not verified" means we have no reading of the bookmaker's own pages for it. Supabets, Sunbet and WSB were read on 26 October 2026; the dates in the table are earlier readings. Requirements change, so check the bookmaker's own FICA page before you upload anything.
What to Have Ready
- Proof of identity: a South African ID card or ID book, or a passport. If you use an ID book, Supabets wants both pages visible.
- Proof of address, where asked: Supabets and Sunbet both want it dated within the last three months. Supabets asks for a digital bank statement showing your address; Sunbet also accepts utility and phone accounts.
- Matching names: Supabets says the name on your documents must match your ID or birth certificate, so register with your name exactly as it appears there.
- File format: Sunbet accepts PDF or PNG files of 4MB or less and asks for a live selfie as well.
- Lottostar only: proof of your bank account details and the source of your funds, in addition to identity and address.
How Long Does FICA Take?
Only Sunbet states a time on the pages we read: it may take up to 48 business hours, and you are notified by email. Supabets' and WSB's FICA pages give no time. Other websites quote shorter times for individual bookmakers, but we could not confirm any of them on the bookmaker's own pages, so we do not repeat them. If a deadline matters, such as an offer that is credited after FICA, upload before you need the result.
FICA and Withdrawals
Our reviews record that WSB and EasyBet require FICA before a payout, Lottostar's terms require it for withdrawals and crypto deposits, and Hollywoodbets' voucher terms say it may ask for documents before paying a withdrawal. YesPlay's terms ask for further FICA on withdrawals over R25,000. Sunbet's FAQ lets you withdraw up to a limit it sets, then asks for full documents. For payout methods, limits and speeds, see the bookmaker's review.
FICA is separate from how you pay. If you have no bank account you still complete it; see betting without a bank account and cash deposit options.
Protect your documents. Upload through the FICA section inside your own account, or use the contact details printed on the bookmaker's own website. Do not send your ID to a WhatsApp number or email address that reached you through a message, an advert or a social media account. Check the bookmaker's provincial licence first: our licence tracker lists the numbers we have verified.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FICA in South African betting?
FICA is the Financial Intelligence Centre Act. It makes a licensed bookmaker identify and verify its customers, which in practice means you upload an ID or passport, and at some bookmakers proof of address, before the account is fully active. Being asked for it is normal at a licensed bookmaker.
Do I need FICA before I can deposit?
It depends on the bookmaker. 10bet's site describes verifying your account before you can deposit and bet, and Hollywoodbets adds its R25 sign-up credit only after FICA verification. Sunbet's FAQ asks for an ID or passport number to deposit and bet, and for full documents once you pass its withdrawal limit. For the other bookmakers we found no published rule.
What documents do I need for FICA?
At the bookmakers whose pages we read, proof of identity (a South African ID, or a passport) and, at Supabets and Sunbet, proof of address dated within the last three months. Lottostar's terms also ask for proof of your bank account details and the source of the funds you intend to bet with.
How long does FICA verification take?
Of the pages we read, only Sunbet states a time: up to 48 business hours, with an email when it is done. Supabets' and WSB's FICA pages give no time. Other websites quote shorter times, but we could not confirm them on the bookmakers' own pages, so we do not repeat them.
Do I still need FICA if I have no bank account?
Yes. FICA is an identity check, not a bank check, and it is separate from how you deposit or get paid. Players without a bank account still complete it, then use vouchers or cash options instead. See our guide to betting without a bank account.
Why would a FICA upload be rejected?
The operators' own pages give the rules to check: Supabets needs the name on your documents to match your ID and both pages of an ID book to be visible; Supabets and Sunbet want proof of address no older than three months; Sunbet accepts PDF or PNG files up to 4MB. We have not been rejected ourselves, so these are the published requirements, not a list of every reason.
Is it safe to send my ID to a betting site?
Send documents only through the FICA upload inside your own account, or to the contact details on the bookmaker's own website. Do not send them to a WhatsApp number or email address from a social media message, and check the bookmaker's provincial licence first. Our licence tracker lists the numbers we have verified.