Best Lesotho Betting Sites

The Kingdom of Lesotho is a small mountainous country completely surrounded by South Africa. It has a rich history with much turbulence while experiencing rather high levels of poverty. Its original name was the British Colony of Basutoland, before declaring its independence from the UK on 4 October 1966. All forms of gambling in Lesotho are legal; it has been so since 1989, when the Casino Board was established.

There are still no provisions regarding the online sector. However, it is definitely not illegal. Sports are very popular among locals, with football topping the locals’ preferences list. Judo, boxing, and long-distance running also draw much interest. Horse racing is a tradition, playing an important role in social life while attracting many bettors. Many of them opt for international bookies since the local offering is relatively poor. 

Best Betting Sites in Lesotho

With just a handful of South African bookies in reach, it’s normal that the online offering is quite wide; to save you time from searching, we list the best online bookmakers in Lesotho. They stand out for their rich coverage of all major football events and competitions, as well as the bonuses and welcome offers they come with.

Gambling in Lesotho - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  The legal gambling age is 18
• 2
  Land-based gambling is legal in all its forms
• 3
  The online sector falls under no set of laws yet is treated as being legal
• 4
  There are a couple of casinos and a few bookmaker shops
• 5
  Many online bookies accept Basotho players

General info

⏩Population: 2.200.000

⏩Active players: 280.000

⏩Currency: Loti (LSL), South African rand (ZAR) is also widely accepted

⏩Regulated gambling products: Lotteries, casinos, sports betting

⏩Operator types: Lotteries, casinos, unlicensed online bookies & casinos

⏩Designated authority: The Casino Board

⏩Status: Regulated

Online Betting in Lesotho: The Law Framework

For someone to gamble, he/she must be at least 18 years old. Gambling is legal in all its forms, while the first effort to regulate it dates as back as 1975; that’s when the Lotteries Act came to life. The crucial year, though, was 1989, when the Casino Board was established and delivered a proper set of rules for sports betting and casinos too.

The Board oversees all procedures, apart from the online sector, so online betting in Lesotho is still more like a grey area, falling under no proper regulation. The good news is that it is not illegal either, bearing absolutely no trouble for online bettors.

There are no laws targeting online gambling in Lesotho; therefore, everyone -including local authorities- perceives it as being a legitimate pastime. Sports betting is very popular, especially horse racing and football betting, which both draw thousands of Basotho players.

Sports betting sites from SA are accessible, while Lesotho does not have its own licensing system. Still though, apart from the locally popular Gbets and Hollywoodbets, many international bookies are available.

So, apart from the brick-and-mortar sector, all online activities fall under no proper regulation; this is the situation for the time being and has been alike for ages. The thing is that if you have a proper internet connection and a PC or smartphone, nobody is gonna bother when you access online Lesotho bookmakers.

Essential Info for Bettors

Betting in Lesotho is altogether considered legal. You may participate in any form of gambling as long as you’re 18. What’s important, though, is the fact that there is no regulatory framework for the online sector, which in turn makes it tough for players in case any problems arise. Simply because there will be no one to turn to to resolve such issues.

So, try to avoid scam bookmakers. If you’re gonna place a bet online, Lesotho offers many choices. So, keep in mind that every bookmaker we list in our analysis is legitimate and trustworthy; moreover, they offer many more betting options than the few local ones do.

Local authorities will never bother you to access the bookmaker of your choice, so whether you’re a local or a tourist, make the most of it and choose wisely.

How to Deposit at Online Bookies

Banks shall not block any transactions, so players may use credit cards and bank wires for their sports betting deposits in Lesotho. Apart from the locally popular M-Pesa betting sites, bookmakers also offer various other payment options.

Top e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller accept local players, providing fast and secure transactions. Cryptocurrency betting is also gaining popularity among local players despite not being officially legal just yet. Still, quite a few bookies are using it; players should first familiarize themselves with this new way of transactions before actually using it on a bet Lesotho site.

Gambling Regulations in Nearby Areas

⏩ South Africa: Since 2004, when the National Gambling Board was founded, online gambling in casinos has been illegal while sports betting is accepted. This means that players are free to access South Africa bookmakers and play there as long as they do not have any urge to visit the casino section. 

⏩ Namibia: There are several legal operators in the country that provide their services both in brick-and-mortar establishments as well as online. However, since there are no clear laws against international betting sites in Namibia, locals can elect for either.  

⏩ Botswana: According to the Gambling Act of 2012, gambling is legal in the nation. However, the legislation only covers land-based companies, which means that online Botswana betting sites still exist and operate in a grey manner. 

Online Gambling in Lesotho: What the Future Holds

There have been efforts towards setting up a complete Mosotho gambling legislation; the Lesotho bet online industry, though, still sits back; at least in terms of having a proper regulation to support it. However, it manages to present a welcoming environment for both players and operators.

The authorities do not intervene in any way, and everyone is happy. A proper regulation for the online field, though, would bring much income to the state’s poor economy. There are a few reports indicating a will towards this direction; time will show how things are gonna shape up in the Lesotho gambling sector after all.