Hollywoodbets

HollywoodBets South Africa Review (2023)

Hollywoodbets is likely to be a very familiar name to all sports fans living in South Africa.

The brand has been around for decades and it is now one of the largest online sports betting sites in South Africa. Hollywoodbets also operates in countries such as Mozambique, Ireland and the United Kingdom, with the brand's global reputation steadily spreading.

Hollywoodbets runs dozens of betting shops in South Africa which have been approved by regulators in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. A pair of Hollywoodbets branches also operate in Maputo, Mozambique.

Cricket fans in South Africa will recognise Hollywoodbets from the company's sponsorship of the Dolphins franchise that represents the KwaZulu-Natal province, with the side playing their home matches at the famous Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban.

Hollywoodbets has a new desktop site that is sure to catch the eye of a lot of sports fans, with a mobile app offered too. Our complete review of Hollywoodbets for players from South Africa will assess the company's claims to be the country's online home of sports and racing betting.

About HollywoodBets

The history of Hollywoodbets can be traced back all the way to the 1980s. The company started life as a small South African based publisher named Winning Form. That firm distributed race cards in South Africa and it still does to this day, despite the growth of Hollywoodbets.

It was in 2000 when the Hollywoodbets brand emerged, its first betting shop opening its doors in the city of Durban. The company was named after Hollywood Park Racetrack in Los Angeles.

Hollywood Park in Springfield Park, Durban, is now the flagship branch of the company, while it even sells authentic Durban curries through its handful of Hollywood Bunny Bar branches, but increasingly it is placing a focus on its Hollywoodbets online betting operation in South Africa.

Like a lot of the top betting brands all over the world, a variety of partnerships and sponsorships have been agreed upon by Hollywoodbets in a bid to build its profile. The company has sponsored the English football team Brentford and has also sponsored the Phaka rugby show on Supersport.

Add in the Dolphins deal, plus becoming the title sponsor of the SAFA National Women's Soccer League in May 2021, and it is clear this has been a route to big success for the company of late.

Hollywoodbets is licensed by the Gauteng Gambling Board, as well as by both the Limpopo Gambling Board and the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator. In addition, specific products have also been licensed by KwaZulu Natal Gambling Board and Western Cape Gambling Board.

Hollywoodbets Sportsbook Review

With two decades of experience in the gambling industry, South Africans will rightly expect Hollywoodbets to have a top-quality online sportsbook. In reality, the design of the site is more than a bit chaotic and could put some people off if they were expecting a sleeker design.

Hollywoodbets has released a new desktop site in a bid to alleviate these issues, while both a mobile site and the Hollywoodbets app are alternative options for betting while on the go. The bright purple colour scheme is still something Hollywoodbets users will just have to adapt to.

As a company with a long history of horse racing betting, it is no surprise this remains one of the top sports to bet on at Hollywoodbets. Analysis and tips are offered through the Hollywoodbets blog, which is well worth a read for anyone who has a strong interest in the sport of kings.

Away from horse racing, football is one of the most popular sports at Hollywoodbets, along with cricket and rugby. Competitions from around the world are offered, with dozens of different markets for the top sports.

For example, football matches at Hollywoodbets have markets like the number of corners that will be awarded, as well as a variety of combo bets for big games. Live in-play betting is also offered for top sports, but the experience is not as smooth as elsewhere so this is something that the operators of Hollywoodbets should try to improve.

Esports is currently missing from the list of betting options on the Hollywoodbets site. While other leading South African sports betting sites such as Betway have embraced esports betting in a big way, this is a step that Hollywoodbets is yet to take - it could be left behind as a result.

However, those seeking Jika sports will be more than happy with the selection on offer. Users looking for something to bet on quickly will appreciate the addition of buttons for the next race, next to the international race and next sport at the top of the screen - which other sites do not have.

Promotions are what draws lots of South African sports fans to a particular online bookmaker. At Hollywoodbets, users often have the chance to win top prizes like new cars through their offers.

Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge is the main promotion of note, with the site putting a whopping R10,000 up for grabs for every race meeting Hollywoodbets Greyville and Hollywoodbets Scottsville. The great thing about Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge is that it is also free to play.

Soccer betting fans can also get their stake back up to ten times when betting on multiples at Hollywoodbets if it is just one of their legs that stops it from becoming a winning wager.

In terms of the margins at Hollywoodbets, they are broadly in line with other top online bookmakers in South Africa. Horse racing odds at Hollywoodbets tend to be good but their prices for other sports such as football usually drop back into the middle of the pack.

It is worth noting that the Hollywoodbets sportsbook has won industry recognition. Indeed, in March 2019 Hollywoodbets was ranked in the top ten on the list of the Top 50 Gaming Sites Worldwide that was published by iGaming Business Magazine - a big honour for the site.

Hollywoodbets Casino Review

Many online sportsbooks aiming to attract South African users also have a casino section and Hollywoodbets has joined the list of sites to have taken this step in recent years.

Live games by developers such as Ezugi and Evolution Gaming are at the heart of the casino offers from Hollywoodbets. Crazy Time and Lightning Dice are two of the top games to play live at the Hollywoodbets casino, with plenty of options for fans of roulette and blackjack too.

Spina Zonke is the section of the Hollywoodbets casino to go-to for those who want to play online slots. There are dozens to pick from, with the pick of them including the likes of Wild Trucks and Hot Hot Fruit, but the range of games offered here is still quite slight when compared to the biggest online casino sites in the world, which often have thousands of titles available for their users to pick from.

The library at the Hollywoodbets casino site is quite good, though, and there are more than enough games here to keep South Africans entertained for a long time.

The range of minimum bets at Spina Zonke also varies by quite a lot, so the choice is good news for customers. Those who prefer to stake a low amount can opt for games such as Knockout Football Rush and Christmas Gift Rush. High rollers with more cash to splash on slot games at Hollywoodbets can instead opt for games like Arcane Elements and Super Twister.

Lucky Numbers betting is also available at the Hollywoodbets casino. The site's version of lottery betting draws from South Africa are among those available to bet on, along with those from other nations such as the United Kingdom, Russia, France, Greece and many more.

Hollywoodbets Mobile Review

Using a mobile device such as a smartphone is becoming more popular in South Africa. Being able to place bets while out and about or on the move is demanded by most customers of online betting sites in the country these days, with Hollywoodbets delivering in this department.

Not only does the Hollywoodbets mobile site work perfectly, but there is also a Hollywoodbets mobile app that is available to download directly from the Hollywoodbets website itself. On the Hollywoodbets app, all the same, great markets and odds as on the desktop site are offered.

It is clear a lot of work has gone into making Hollywoodbets via mobile one of the best options out there for sports fans in South Africa who prefer to use a handheld device for their betting.

Users of the mobile site and the Hollywoodbets mobile betting app can do everything that they need to do, from placing pre-game bets, wagering in-play, playing casino games and uploading FICA documents to their account. They are a must-have tool for all Hollywoodbets customers.

All in all, Hollywoodbets via mobile is probably the best way to use this sports betting site. South Africans who sign up for an account here are very likely to prefer the app to the desktop site.