Sports Trader

Initiate International; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A major international sportsbook in Johannesburg is seeking an experienced Sports Trader to join their high-performance trading team. You will be responsible for pricing, margins, risk management, and market integrity across retail and online operations. This is a hands-on role requiring significant experience in sports trading and strong analytical skills. You will manage market exposure and protect revenue while collaborating closely with trading and marketing teams.

Qualifications

• 3+ years experience in sports trading, fixed-odds betting, or risk management.
• Strong knowledge of odds compilation, margins, and exposure management.
• Ability to work shifts in a 7-day trading operation.

Responsibilities

• Price sports and numbers markets to achieve margin and revenue targets.
• Monitor pre-match and in-play markets.
• Produce accurate daily and weekly trading reports.

Skills

Experience in sports trading

Numerical and analytical skills

Attention to detail

Knowledge of soccer

Tools

Excel

Job description

Our client is a major international sportsbook brand with a fast-growing South African operation. As their trading footprint expands across retail and online channels, they are building a high-performance Trading team in Johannesburg — and they’re looking for an experienced Sports Trader to join the engine room of the business.

This is a real trading role, not a monitoring desk. You will be directly responsible for pricing, margins, exposure, risk, promotions, and market integrity across sportsbook, numbers, and gaming products in a live, high-volume environment.

If you understand how betting markets actually move — not just how they look on paper — this is where you belong.

The Role:

You will sit at the heart of the trading floor, controlling how the business prices sport, manages risk, and protects revenue across retail shops and online platforms.

This is a hands‑on trading and risk role where you will actively shape:

• Market pricing and margin
• Liability and exposure
• Promotions and price boosts
• Fraud, abuse and sharp action
• Product integrity and market confidence

You’ll work closely with Trading, Marketing, Compliance, Operations and Retail to profitably, safely, and competitively in a regulated environment.

What You Will Own:

• Price sports and numbers markets to achieve margin and revenue targets
• Monitor pre‑match and in‑play markets to ensure accuracy, availability, and integrity
• Adjust prices based on market movements, liabilities, and competitor activity
• Produce daily retail coupons and fixture schedules for soccer and major events

Risk, Exposure & Market Control

• Monitor liabilities and exposure across retail and online channels
• Identify early money, sharp action, and abnormal betting patterns
• Enforce limits and restrictions in line with internal controls
• Protect the business from arbitrage, exploitation, and market abuse
• Detect suspicious betting behaviour, coordinated activity, and potential manipulation
• Maintain watchlists for high‑risk and high‑value customers
• Investigate irregular betting, unusual wins, or withdrawal patterns
• Escalate potential fraud or integrity issues

Promotions & Competitive Trading

• Create, manage and monitor price boosts and promotional offers
• Track how bonuses and offers perform against risk and margin
• Review bonus bets and withdrawals to ensure compliance and fair use
• Monitor competitor odds, fixtures, and offers to stay ahead

Reporting & Stakeholder Support

• Produce accurate daily and weekly trading and risk reports
• Support customer services, retail, and internal teams with trading queries
• Track event results and flag delays, errors, or anomalies

What Were Looking For:

You already understand how a sportsbook makes — and protects — money.

You bring:

• 3+ years experience in sports trading, fixed‑odds betting, or risk management
• Strong knowledge of odds compilation, margins, and exposure management
• Experience identifying sharp action, suspicious betting, and abuse
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills
• High attention to detail in fast‑moving live trading environments
• Strong knowledge of multiple sports, especially soccer
• Solid Excel and reporting capability
• The ability to stay calm, precise, and professional under pressure
• Flexibility to work shifts in a 7‑day trading operation

Why This Role Matters:

This is not a back‑office admin role. You are directly responsible for revenue protection, pricing accuracy, and trading integrity.

Your decisions will impact:

• How profitable the sportsbook is
• How exposed the business becomes
• How competitive the brand is in the market
• How safe and compliant the operation remains

You will be trusted to run markets, manage risk, and protect the book.

If you’re a trader who enjoys real responsibility, real data, and real commercial impact, this is where you step up.