Virgin Bet enters South Africa, its first overseas market as company pushes for Africa growth

Virgin Bet has launched operations in South Africa, its first expansion outside the United Kingdom since its 2019 debut, as parent company LiveScore Group continues to build its presence across African markets.

The move positions the operator in a competitive but expanding betting environment, where football, rugby, and cricket drive strong consumer interest. South Africa becomes Virgin Bet’s first international market, complementing LiveScore Bet’s existing footprint in Nigeria.

The company stated that responsible gambling will be central to its operations from the outset. The virginbet.co.za platform includes player protection measures such as deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion tools, alongside age verification systems and locally based customer support. It also indicated that further initiatives tied to safer gambling will be introduced as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts.

A local leadership structure has been established to support the rollout, including the appointment of Gail Odgers as Head of Marketing.

Commenting on the launch, Odgers said: “Launching in South Africa is a proud moment for us. At Virgin Bet, we believe that ‘A Good Bet’ means delivering standout experiences for our customers, while also taking our responsibility to players and communities seriously.

“Our role is to enhance that experience responsibly, offering standout moments and exceptional rewards, while setting a high standard for responsible gambling from day one.”

The company noted that its “A Good Bet” positioning will guide both its product offering and community engagement in South Africa, with a focus on recreational play, player control, and education around gambling behavior.