📝 South African Casino Registration Guide
FirstBet Registration Guide: How to Sign Up and Claim Your R10,000 Welcome Bonus in Under 5 Minutes
Single-Page Form | SA ID or Passport | SMS OTP Verification | FICA Required Before First Withdrawal
Free to join, opens in any mobile browser, no app download required to start
⚡ Registration Quick Facts
Sign Up Time
~3 Minutes
Cost to Join
Free
Min Age
18 Years
ID Required
SA ID or Passport
Verification
SMS OTP + FICA
Welcome Bonus
Up to R10,000
📋 Table of Contents ▼
Registering at FirstBet takes about 3 minutes and uses a single-page form titled “Create an Account” with nine fields: first name, last name, mobile number (+27 prefix is auto-applied), email, identification type (SA Identity or Passport), ID number, password, an optional promo code, and a Terms & Conditions checkbox plus reCAPTCHA. A one-time SMS verification code lands on your phone after you tap submit, and once you enter it your account is active. You can deposit and place bets immediately. FICA verification (uploading your ID and proof of address) is a separate step required before your first withdrawal but not required to start playing or to clear the welcome bonus deposit wagering.
Three things to know before you start the form. First, you must be 18 or older and physically located in South Africa when you register. Second, FirstBet enforces a strict one account per person rule, with a duplicate-detection system that will freeze any second account and the funds inside it. Third, the welcome bonus is not credited automatically: after you register, deposit and clear the wagering, you have to email support or use live chat to request the bonus. Cover all three and the registration is genuinely fast. Skip any of them and you will hit a friction point.
⚙️ Before You Start: Eligibility & What You Need
FirstBet is operated by Banzostar (Pty) Ltd and licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (10185107) and the Eastern Cape Gambling Board (ECBM 058). Both licences restrict play to South African residents only. Below is the exact eligibility checklist and the documents to have ready before you open the form.
✅ Eligibility Checklist
- Age: 18 years or older. Verified against your SA ID number on registration
- Location: Physically located in South Africa at the time of registration
- Identity: Valid South African ID, or a valid passport (foreign passport accepted with country of issue)
- Residence: South African residential address (PO boxes not accepted for FICA)
- Account history: No existing FirstBet account. Duplicates trigger an automatic freeze
📋 Information to Have Ready (Before Opening the Form)
- Full first and last name exactly as they appear on your ID
- SA mobile number for SMS OTP verification (must be your own, on the device you have to hand). The +27 prefix is auto-applied so you only enter the number from the leading digit (e.g. 71 123 4567)
- Email address you check regularly (used for bonus requests, password resets)
- SA ID number (13 digits) or passport number plus country of issue
- Strong password (mix of upper, lower, numbers, special characters recommended)
- Promo code if you have one. The field is optional and the standard welcome bonus does not require one
For FICA upload (after registration): a clear colour photo or scan of your ID (front and back) plus a recent utility bill, bank statement, or municipal account dated within the last 3 months showing your residential address. JPG, PNG, or PDF, under 5MB per file.
⚠️ Important: One Account Per Person
FirstBet’s terms permit one account per person, household, and IP address. Duplicate-account detection is automatic and the consequence is a frozen account with all funds inside it locked pending review. If you previously closed a FirstBet account and want to reopen, contact support before re-registering. If you share a household with another player, register from your own device on a personal mobile number to avoid an IP flag.
📝 How to Register at FirstBet (Step by Step)
FirstBet’s sign-up form is a single-page modal titled “Create an Account” with all fields visible at once. The whole flow takes about 3 minutes if you have your details ready, plus another minute or two for the SMS OTP at the end.
The FirstBet “Create an Account” form, showing all required fields plus the optional Promo Code field
Step 1: Open the FirstBet Sign Up Page
Go to FirstBet.co.za in any mobile browser (Chrome, Safari, Samsung Internet, Firefox all work) or from your desktop. Look at the top right corner of the homepage for the green Join or Register Now button and tap it. The “Create an Account” modal opens with all the fields visible on a single screen.
Step 2: Enter Your Name and Phone Number
Type your First name and Last name exactly as they appear on your ID. Move down to the phone field. The +27 prefix is auto-applied with the SA flag, so you only enter the digits from your leading number onwards (the placeholder shows “71 123 4567” as an example format). Use a number you have on you right now since this is where the OTP lands.
Step 3: Add Your Email and Choose ID Type
Enter your email address. Below the email field is the Identification type selector with two tabs: SA Identity (selected by default) and Passport. SA ID holders leave SA Identity selected. If you are a foreign passport holder living in South Africa, tap Passport instead, and the form will then accept your passport number and ask for country of issue.
Step 4: Enter Your ID Number and Create a Password
Type your 13-digit SA ID number (or passport number for passport holders). Then create a strong password. The eye icon on the right of the password field lets you toggle visibility while typing, which is useful for catching typos before submitting. The password is what you will use to log in afterwards, so make it memorable but not guessable.
Step 5: Promo Code (Optional), T&Cs and Captcha
The Promo Code field (sometimes searched as “FirstBet bonus code” or “FirstBet voucher code”) is optional. Skip it unless you have a specific code from a partner promotion, since the standard FirstBet welcome bonus does not require a code. Tick the checkbox to agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, then complete the “I’m not a robot” reCAPTCHA. The Sign Up button at the bottom only activates once all required fields are filled and both checkboxes are ticked.
Step 6: Verify Your Phone Number (SMS OTP)
FirstBet sends a one-time PIN (OTP) to the mobile number you entered in Step 2. The SMS usually arrives within 10 to 30 seconds. Enter the code on the verification screen. Once accepted, your account is active. You will be redirected to your account dashboard and you can immediately access the cashier to make a deposit.
🛡️ FICA Verification After Registration
FICA (Financial Intelligence Centre Act) verification is a legal requirement for every licensed SA bookmaker. At FirstBet you can deposit, place bets, and clear the welcome bonus deposit wagering before uploading FICA, but you will not be able to withdraw a single rand until verification clears. Doing FICA up front is the smarter sequence: it removes friction at payout time, and FirstBet’s documented standard 3-minute payout window only kicks in once you have one verified payout on file.
📤 What to Upload
- Proof of identity: Clear colour photo or scan of your SA ID (front and back) or passport bio page. All four corners must be visible. No glare. No covered information
- Proof of address: A document dated within the last 3 months showing your name and the residential address you entered during registration. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, telecoms account, or municipal account
- File format: JPG, PNG, or PDF, under 5MB per file
Where to upload: log in to FirstBet, open the My Account menu, and look for the FICA or Verification section. You can also email both files to support@firstbet.co.za with your registered cellphone number in the subject line if you cannot find the upload area.
⚠️ FICA Refresh Every 3 Months
FirstBet’s terms require FICA documents to be updated every 3 months or whenever your details actually change (new address, new ID document, name change). If you skip a refresh and try to withdraw, FirstBet will hold the payout until you re-verify. Set a quarterly diary reminder when you upload for the first time.
For a complete walk-through of FICA across SA-licensed casinos including how to fix common rejections (blurry photo, expired bill, address mismatch), see our South African FICA verification guide. The same document standards apply at FirstBet as at any other licensed SA operator.
🎁 Claiming Your Welcome Bonus
Once your account is active, you can claim FirstBet’s welcome bonus: a 100% match on your first deposit up to R10,000, with a choice between a single Bonus Bet for sports, horse racing or lucky numbers, or 100 Bonus Spins on a curated set of Pragmatic Play slots. Minimum qualifying deposit is R50.
The bonus is not credited automatically. After you deposit and clear the deposit wagering (5x at 1.9+ odds for the Bonus Bet, or 20x on Bet Spins games for the Bonus Spins), you must email support@firstbet.co.za with the subject “100% First Deposit Match” or open live chat to request the bonus. FirstBet allocates it within 48 hours of the request. Skipping the email step means the bonus never lands in your wallet, even if you have cleared the playthrough.
For the full bonus terms, the Bonus Bet vs Bonus Spins comparison, worked examples, and the strategy on which option to pick based on your play style, see our complete FirstBet casino review.
💡 Beyond the Welcome: Friday Cashbacks
Once your welcome bonus is claimed, FirstBet’s recurring loyalty mechanic is the Friday Cashback: a 10% refund on sports, horse racing and lucky numbers losses (capped at R7,500 per week) plus tiered Pragmatic Play bonus spins on casino losses. The casino spin winnings carry zero rollover. See our FirstBet Friday Cashback guide for the full tier table and worked examples.
🔧 Common Registration Errors & Fixes
Most failed registrations at SA bookmakers come down to the same handful of issues. Here is what to check and how to fix each one.
| Error | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Mobile number already exists” | Number was used on a prior FirstBet account, or you started a registration that did not finish | Try logging in with that number first. If you cannot remember the password, use Forgot Password. If you no longer want the old account, contact support to close it before re-registering |
| SMS OTP not received | Network delay, RICA-blocked SIM, or wrong number entered | Wait 60 seconds, then tap Resend. If still nothing, check the number you entered. Confirm the SIM is RICA-registered. Try toggling airplane mode for 10 seconds |
| “ID number invalid” | Typo in the 13-digit SA ID, or the ID number fails the Luhn checksum (a built-in validation digit on every SA ID) | Double-check each digit against your physical ID document. Make sure no spaces or extra characters were typed. SA ID numbers are 13 digits with no separators |
| “Account already exists” | Your ID number or email is already registered | Try Forgot Password using the email or mobile linked to the existing account. Do NOT create a duplicate, this triggers an automatic freeze |
| Captcha keeps failing | VPN, browser extension blocking the captcha script, or too many recent attempts from your IP | Disable VPN. Disable ad-blockers and tracking extensions for firstbet.co.za. Try a different browser. Clear cookies and try again |
| “Country not supported” | VPN routing your IP to a non-SA location, or you are physically outside SA | Disable VPN. FirstBet’s licences only permit SA-based play. Foreign passport holders inside SA can still register but must select country of issue correctly |
| FICA documents rejected | Blurry photo, expired bill, address mismatch, or covered corners | Re-take the photo in good light, all corners visible. Use a bill dated within the last 3 months. Ensure the address on the bill matches what you registered |
💰 What to Do After Registration
Account active, OTP confirmed, and you are sitting at the FirstBet dashboard. Here is the optimal sequence for your first session.
📋 First-Session Checklist
- Upload FICA first. Even before depositing. Documents take a few hours to verify and you want them cleared by the time you are ready to withdraw
- Decide which welcome bonus path you want before you deposit. The Bonus Bet path needs a 5x deposit playthrough at 1.9+ odds on sport. The Bonus Spins path needs 20x on Bet Spins games. The deposit wagering rules are different so picking up front saves you from playing the wrong games
- Make a R50 minimum deposit via Ozow, CapitecPay, ApplePay, SamsungPay, card, or one of the supported vouchers (1Voucher, OTT, Blu, EasyVoucher, 4AllVoucher). Ozow and CapitecPay reflect within 2 minutes
- Place qualifying wagers to clear the deposit playthrough. Track your turnover in the My Account area
- Email support@firstbet.co.za with the subject “100% First Deposit Match” once you have cleared the deposit wagering. The bonus is not credited automatically
- Set deposit limits in your account settings before you start playing. FirstBet supports daily, weekly, and monthly deposit caps as part of its responsible gambling tools
✅ Registration Process: Pros and Cons
✅ What We Like About Registering at FirstBet
- Genuinely fast at 3 minutes if you have your details ready, faster than most SA operators which average 4 to 5 minutes
- Single-page form with all fields visible means you can scan the entire flow before you start typing, no surprise stages opening up later
- Foreign passport accepted, useful for SA-based players who do not hold an SA ID
- SMS OTP arrives quickly (usually under 30 seconds) thanks to a direct SMS aggregator integration
- You can play before completing FICA, useful for players who want to deposit and start clearing welcome bonus wagering immediately
- No promo code required for the welcome bonus, unlike operators that gate the offer behind a code that is easy to forget
- No residential address field at registration, the address only comes in via your FICA proof of address document, which keeps the form short
⚠️ What Could Be Better
- FICA refresh every 3 months is more frequent than at most SA operators (typically yearly), creating recurring admin friction
- Welcome bonus is not credited automatically. The mandatory email-or-chat request after wagering is the friction step most new players miss
- One-account rule applies at household and IP level, which can catch out roommates or family members on the same wifi
- No welcome offer comparison shown in the form, you have to know in advance whether to play sports or slots to clear the right deposit wagering
Ready to Register at FirstBet?
✅ 3-Minute Sign Up | ✅ Free to Join | ✅ R10,000 Welcome Match | ✅ WCGRB + ECGB Licensed
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How long does FirstBet registration take?
About 3 minutes if you have your ID number, mobile number, and email ready before you start. The form is a single-page modal with nine fields visible at once and the SMS OTP at the end usually arrives within 30 seconds. FICA verification is a separate step that takes a few hours to a day after document upload.
Is it free to register at First Bet?
Yes. Creating a FirstBet account is completely free. There are no registration fees, no monthly charges, and no minimum balance requirement. You only need to fund your account when you want to start placing bets. The general minimum deposit is R5, and the minimum to qualify for the welcome bonus is R50.
What documents do I need to register at FirstBet?
For the registration form itself you only need your details (name, ID or passport number, mobile, email, address) typed into the form. You do not upload anything during registration. For FICA verification (required before withdrawal) you upload a clear colour photo or scan of your SA ID (front and back) or passport, plus a recent utility bill, bank statement, or municipal account dated within the last 3 months.
Can I register at First Bet without FICA?
Yes. FirstBet lets you register, deposit, and play without FICA verification. You only need to complete FICA before your first withdrawal. That said, doing FICA up front is the smarter sequence because the standard 3-minute payout window only kicks in after you have one verified payout on file, so first-time withdrawals on a non-FICA-verified account are slower regardless.
What if I don’t get the SMS verification code?
Wait 60 seconds and tap Resend. If still nothing, double-check the number you entered for typos, confirm your SIM is RICA-registered (un-RICA’d numbers cannot receive SMS from automated senders in SA), and toggle airplane mode for 10 seconds to refresh your network connection. If none of that works, contact FirstBet support via WhatsApp on +27 68 323 3139 with your registered name.
Can I have more than one FirstBet account?
No. FirstBet permits one account per person, household, and IP address. Duplicate-account detection is automatic and triggers an immediate freeze on the second account with all funds inside it locked pending review. If you previously closed a FirstBet account and want to reopen, contact support before re-registering rather than creating a new one.
Do I need to be in South Africa to register at FirstBet?
Yes. FirstBet’s WCGRB and ECGB licences only permit SA-based play. You must be physically located in South Africa during registration and during gameplay. Foreign passport holders living in SA can register (the form lets you select country of passport issue), but VPN users routing IP traffic to non-SA locations will see a “country not supported” error.
📚 Related Resources
- Banzostar (Pty) Ltd – Who Owns FirstBet – Company profile, dual licences, registered address and corporate background
- FirstBet Casino Review – Full review covering games, banking, apps and the R10,000 welcome match in detail
- FirstBet Login Guide – Sign in steps, password recovery via “Recover it”, and account security best practices
- FirstBet App Download Guide – Install the FirstBet app on iOS App Store, Android APK or Huawei AppGallery
- FirstBet Friday Cashback Guide – Weekly 10% sports refund + tiered Pragmatic Play bonus spins
- FICA Verification Guide South Africa – Complete documents, processing times and how to fix rejections
- New Casinos & Betting Sites in South Africa – Other recently licensed SA operators worth comparing
18+ Only. FirstBet is operated by Banzostar (Pty) Ltd and licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (10185107) and the Eastern Cape Gambling Board (ECBM 058). Gambling can be addictive and harmful if not controlled. Winners know when to stop. For help, contact South African Responsible Gambling Foundation: 0800 006 008 or WhatsApp 076 675 0710.
Disclaimer: This guide was last updated April 2026. Registration processes and bonus terms may change. Always verify current details on the official FirstBet website. Gambling involves risk.
Affiliate Disclosure: iBets.co.za may receive commission through affiliate links, but this does not influence our independent reviews and analysis.
Licensing: FirstBet is operated by Banzostar (Pty) Ltd, Registration Number 2016/131538/07. Dual-licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (licence 10185107) and the Eastern Cape Gambling Board (licence ECBM 058). 18+. Winners know when to stop.
