Bookmakers Operational Rules

BetCity Operational Rules

Licence: Mpumalanga Economic Regulator (MER) — Bookmaker Licence No. 9-2-1-09955  |  Effective: June 2026  |  Website: www.betcity.co.za

These Operational Rules govern all betting activity conducted by BetCity (Pty) Ltd in accordance with MER requirements and applicable South African legislation. By placing a bet with BetCity, Players agree to these Rules together with all BetCity Terms, Policies and applicable laws.

Terms used in these Operational Rules carry the same meanings as defined in the BetCity General Terms & Conditions unless the context requires otherwise.

Rule 1: Cut-Off Time

Betting closes once an event officially starts unless the market is specifically offered as in-running. Bets accepted after the official start are void.

Rule 2: Collection of Winnings

Winning bets must be claimed within 90 days of the event date, subject to applicable betting tax requirements.

Rule 3: Connected Bets

Connected bets may have adjusted odds applied at the time of placement.

Rule 4: Related Bets

Where related bets are accepted, stake units may be divided equally across selections. Adjustments must be completed within 48 hours of settlement.

Rule 5: Cash Out

Cash Out settlements affected by pricing, feed or technical errors may be recalculated using the correct market price available at the relevant time.

Rule 6: Confidentiality

All betting transactions remain confidential unless disclosure is legally required. Players are responsible for keeping usernames, passwords, and account details secure. All transactions placed using valid credentials are deemed authorised by the account holder.

Rule 7: Void Bets

Void bets result in stake refunds. Bets may be void where:

  • A selection is invalid or scratched;
  • The event outcome is already known;
  • There is no possible outcome at placement; or
  • The event breaches applicable betting rules.

For multiple bets, void selections are removed and remaining selections continue.

Rule 8: Bets After Official Start

Bets accepted after the official start of an event are null and void unless specifically offered as in-running.

Rule 9: Acceptance of Bets

BetCity reserves the right to refuse any bet or market, apply betting limits, restrict syndicate or linked betting activity, and limit payouts where multiple accounts or coordinated activity are identified.

Rule 10: Errors

BetCity reserves the right to correct incorrect odds, pricing errors, handicap errors, technical malfunctions, and incorrect result settlements. Bets affected by errors may be recalculated using the correct market price or result.

Rule 11: Settlement

Winning bets are settled after the official final result. Subsequent disqualifications or amendments after settlement do not affect already-settled bets.

Rule 12: Other Contingencies

For contingencies not specifically covered, these Rules apply with necessary adjustments together with any approved supplementary BetCity Rules.

Rule 13: Ante Post Bets

If a runner does not participate, ante post bets are losing bets unless the race itself is abandoned. If abandoned, ante post bets become void.

Rule 14: Display of Odds

BetCity displays prices for all runners and may identify doubtful starters.

Rule 15: Betting With A Run

Where a selected runner is scratched, single bets become void and remaining bets may be subject to deductions.

Rule 16: Rule 4 Deductions

Rule 4 deductions apply following withdrawals where insufficient time exists to reform the market. Full deduction tables are available in the BetCity Racing & Betting Rules document.

Rule 17: Postponed Races

  • Ante post bets stand;
  • Races postponed within 48 hours at the same venue stand;
  • Postponements beyond 48 hours are treated as abandoned.

Rule 18: Change of Venue

Venue changes are treated as race abandonment.

Rule 19: Dead Heats

Dead heat calculations apply proportionally depending on the number of tied runners or outcomes.

Rule 20: Starting Prices

Starting prices are based on the final official fixed price before the event begins. Open bets are settled using tote dividends where applicable.

Rule 21: Open Bets

All open bets remain subject to BetCity betting limits and conditions.

Rule 22: Re-Run Races

  • Starting price bets settle on the rerun result;
  • Scratched runners become void;
  • Ante post bets stand.

Rule 23: Application

Horse racing rules apply to sports betting where relevant unless specifically excluded. Official settlement is determined by final whistle, official result declaration, medal ceremony or podium presentation.

Rule 24: Void Bets (Sports)

Selections may be void where a participant is a no-show, withdraws before the event, injury or illness prevents participation, or technical infringements occur before the event starts.

Rule 25: Football

  • Settled on 90 minutes plus stoppage time;
  • Extra time and penalties excluded unless stated;
  • Venue reversals or opponent changes void bets;
  • Related markets may not be combined;
  • Own goals excluded from goalscorer markets;
  • Matches postponed beyond 36 hours are void.

Rule 26: Athletics & Swimming

Podium positions and medal ceremonies determine official results.

Rule 27: Boxing

  • Postponements or substitutions beyond 24 hours void bets;
  • Technical disqualifications result in the offending boxer losing.

Rule 28: Cricket

  • Official competition and DLS rules apply;
  • Abandoned matches without official results are void;
  • Top batsman/bowler bets are void if the player is not in the starting lineup.

Rule 29: Golf

  • Official tournament winners determine outright markets;
  • Players failing to tee off result in void bets;
  • Withdrawals after starting are losing selections.

Rule 30: Motor Racing

  • Championship betting settles on official standings;
  • Podium positions determine Grand Prix settlement;
  • Head-to-head markets settle based on completed laps if drivers fail to finish.

Rule 31: Rugby

  • Settled on 80 minutes plus stoppage time;
  • Extra time and penalties excluded unless stated;
  • Matches postponed beyond 24 hours are void.

Rule 32: American Football

  • Overtime counts toward final settlement;
  • Half-time/full-time doubles settle at regulation time.

Rule 33: Tennis

  • Retirement or disqualification voids match bets;
  • Matches postponed beyond 72 hours are void;
  • Same-surface venue changes stand;
  • Surface changes void all bets.

Rule 34: Spread Betting Rules

Spread betting allows Players to buy (“go high”) or sell (“go low”) based on the expected outcome of an event.

Key principles:

  • Wins or losses are linked to movement from the spread margin;
  • Outcomes falling within or opposite the selected spread lose;
  • Stop loss/win limits apply to all spread markets;
  • Early closure settles at the spread value available at closure time.

Sport-Specific Spread Rules

  • Football: own-goal shirt numbers count toward the credited team;
  • Cricket: innings bets require minimum overs unless dismissed;
  • Golf: tied positions settle on averaged placements;
  • Motor Racing: margins settle at the moment the winner crosses the line.
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