Hollywoodbets South Africa Review - Is It Safe or a Scam? (2024)
HollywoodBets is one of the biggest online gambling sites in South Africa and has been in the industry since 2000. There is a great welcome offer that is bound to attract many punters, but how does the site stack up overall? In this review, we will take a look at everything you need to know about Hollywoodbets.
Hollywoodbets offers
Expert Opinion: Hollywoodbet's Overall Score
| Bonus | 10 |
|---|---|
| Sports betting offer | 8 |
| Casino offer | 7 |
| Customer support | 8 |
| Payment methods | 9 |
| Licensing safety | 9 |
| Design & usability | 8 |
| Overall | 8 |
Hollywoodbets is a staple of the gambling industry in South Africa, there is no doubt about it, and one can certainly understand why the site has become so popular for many punters. In addition to a fantastic welcome offer and many payment methods, there is a decent sportsbook as well as a section for casino games. In short, it is a very good choice for most punters.
On the other hand, we would have liked to see some more depth in the sportsbook as although many sports are available, some features that competitors offer are missing. Then again, Hollywoodbets is a very solid choice and customers can also take advantage of a few decent promotions, such as the free-to-play horse racing predictions game.
Hollywoodbets South Africa Key Facts
| 💰 Welcome Offer | R25 Free Bet No Deposit Bonus + 50 Free Spins on Habanero Games |
|---|---|
| ⚽ Football Coverage (PL game) | 100-200 markets |
| 🏇 Horse Racing Coverage | South Africa + International |
| 🏦 Betting Margins (Average) | 7.6% |
| 👷 Bet Builder | ✅ |
| 💳 Popular Payment Methods | ✅ |
| 🔢 Overall Rating | 8/10 |
| 👉 Visit Site | Join Hollywoodbets |
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.
In 2000, the Hollywoodbets brand emerged as the first betting shop opening its doors in the city of Durban, where the flagship branch of the company now is located. In recent years, an increased focus has been placed on the online betting operation in South Africa by Hollywoodbets, and some great strides have been made.
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, as well as the Phaka rugby show on Supersport, and it's clear that this has helped increase the visibility.
Although Hollywoodbets operates in South Africa, Mozambique, Ireland and the United Kingdom, some might still have questions about the site. In this review, we will cover everything you need to know about the bookmaker, from the terms of the welcome offer to the payment method options.
Is Hollywoodbets Safe?
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. This means that punters signing up on the site should not be worried about safety.
Furthermore, 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.
Taking a look at Trustpilot, Hollywoodbets has a rather poor rating of 1.5 out of five stars, though most customers seem to be complaining about the games being 'rigged'. The reviews should perhaps be taken with a grain of salt, in other words, but the poor rating does suggest that it might not be all fine and dandy at Hollywoodbets.
Hollywoodbets Welcome Offer
New customers who sign up at Hollywoodbets will be happy to hear that there is a no deposit offer to claim, which also includes 50 free spins on Habanero games. To qualify, punters just have to create an account on the site, after which the R25 free bet and 50 free spins will be credited. The former must be wagered once at minimum odds 5/10 (0.5 decimal) to be withdrawn, but it appears that the stake will be included.
As for the free spins, they must be wagered 3x on the games Hot Hot Hollywoodbets, Lucky Durian, and Rainbow Mania before potential winnings (capped at R1,200) can be withdrawn. Both the free bet and free spins must be used within 24 hours of being credited, otherwise they will be forfeited. This is the biggest caveat of the offer.
All in all, though, Hollywoodbets certainly has one of the best welcome offers in South Africa. Who does not love a no deposit free bet? The wagering requirements are also rather low for the casino free spins, which is nice to see as this is not always the case.
Hollywoodbets Promotions
Those who sign up at Hollywoodbets will find that there are quite a few promotions to make use of. In addition to increased jackpots and bonus winnings on certain games, such as the Aviator game, there is also a free-to-play predictions game for horse racing punters. Essentially, the latter have to predict the outcome of South Africa, Hong Kong and Singapore meetings every day, with a R1,000,000 jackpot being the main prize.
In addition to an acca boost of up to 30% for football punters, the latter can also get up to 10 times their stack back if an acca loses on the last selection. At least 15 markets are needed to get 10 times the money, though, while 8+ selections get you double back and 11+ selections get you five times back. In short, the sports promotions are decent, but we would have liked to see a bit more.
Hollywoodbets Payment Methods
Customers who are thinking about signing up at Hollywoodbets will be happy to hear that there are a plethora of payment methods to choose between on the site. Given that Hollywoodbets is such a big bookmaker in South Africa, you would expect this to be the case but it is still nice to see. Below, we have included some of the key methods available.
| Payment method | Min limit | Max limit | Exchange fee | Proccessing time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mastercard
| See cashier for specific amount | See cashier for specific amount | No fee | Instant |
VISA
| See cashier for specific amount | See cashier for specific amount | No fee | Instant |
SID Secure EFT
| See cashier for specific amount | See cashier for specific amount | No fee | Instant |
Ozow
| See cashier for specific amount | See cashier for specific amount | No fee | Instant |
How to Deposit at Hollywoodbets
- Make sure you are logged in to your account
- Tap on 'Tap Up' in the top right corner
- Tap on 'Make a Deposit' in the menu
- Enter the amount you would like to deposit and tap on 'Submit'
- Choose your payment method and follow the steps
How to Withdraw From Hollywoodbets
- Make sure you are logged in to your account
- Tap on the balance/account in the top right corner
- Tap on 'Withdraw' in the menu
- Choose your preferred payment method
- Enter the amount you would like to withdraw and tap on 'Submit'
Hollywoodbets Sportsbook
It will not come as a surprise to anyone that Hollywoodbets has a very comprehensive sportsbook, with around 30 different sports to bet on. Soccer and horse racing are the two most popular sports, as you would expect, but there is also a decent amount of less prominent sports. Snooker and futsal are two examples of these, so punters will find everything they might be looking for at Hollywoodbets.
Using a Premier League game as a reference for the soccer offering, we found that there are around 100-200 markets available for each game. The number is always a bit higher once you get closer to the game, which is worth keeping in mind. There is a bet builder feature, which is good, and most markets are eligible for it as well. In short, this is on par with the best soccer betting sites.
Moving on to horse racing, Hollywoodbets is considered to be one of the best horse racing bookies in South Africa, offering meetings from all over the world. The Punters Challenge game, which we spoke about in the 'Hollywoodbets Promotions' section, is a nice addition that many punters likely will play. However, we could not find any ante-post markets and that is indeed a bit disappointing.
In our test of Hollywoodbets, we also made sure to check the betting margins, as this is something that many punters tend to overlook. Even slightly excessive fees can make a big difference in the long run, though, so it is important to point out. The result was a mixed bag at 7.6% in average, as it is certainly not great but also not horrendous either.
Away from horse racing and soccer, cricket and rugby are also two popular sports on Hollywoodbets. But even the smaller sports are getting some love from the bookie, at the very least featuring the important markets even if the depth is not always fantastic. On the other hand, Esports is currently missing on the 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, and it could be left behind as a result. eSoccer is available to bet on, in fairness, but this is significantly less popular than betting on video games such as Counter-Strike and Dota 2.
There are not a ton of special markets either, with only the US presidential election currently offered. Overall, therefore, we believe that Hollywoodbets is behind its main competitors Betway and Betfred. The site will certainly suffice for most punters, especially those who only bet on big sports, but versatility is not Hollywoodbets' biggest strength.
Hollywoodbets Casino
Many online sportsbooks aiming to attract South African users also have a casino section and Hollywoodbets is no different. 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 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 App
Mobile betting is very popular all over the world and South Africa has not avoided this trend. Being able to place bets while out and about is demanded by most customers these days, with Hollywoodbets delivering in this department. Indeed, not only does the Hollywoodbets mobile site work perfectly, but there is also an app to download as well.
The Hollywoodbets app works just as well as the website, some might even say better, and it thus comes as no surprise that it was named the second-best app in South Africa by us. On the app, customers 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.
Hollywoodbets Customer Support
Hollywoodbets offers quite a few different customer support options, with email, telephone and by letter being the more traditional options for punters on the site. However, the most popular option is without a doubt the live chat, which is available 24/7 and is located in the bottom left corner of the site. In order to access the live chat, you need to be logged in. Below, we have collected all the customer support options at Hollywoodbets:
| Chat | Yes |
|---|---|
| hwhelpline@hollywoodbets.net | |
| Phone | 0873537634 |
| Opening hours | 7 Days a week, 24/7 |
How to Get Started at Hollywoodbets
If you are looking to create an account at Hollywoodbets, you can follow our step-by-step guide below. From the registration process to verifying your account, we have you covered.
Create an Account at Hollywoodbets
First of all, you need to create your account at Hollywoodbets. You can use our link at the top of this page, or the one in the bottom banner, which will bring you straight to the registration process.
Verify Your Hollywoodbets Account
Although you will be able to claim the welcome offer without completing your FICA verification, you will not be able to withdraw any winnings without doing it. Since the welcome offer is only valid for 24 hours, make sure that you have placed the free bet, but then focus on completing the verification. The following must be uploaded:
- Proof of age/identity with photo (Passport or Driving licence)
- Proof of address (a mobile bill, bank statements, utility bill, etc)
Start Betting at Hollywoodbets
Once the verification has been completed, you can start betting fully at Hollywoodbets, without having to worry about potential issues with withdrawals that is. We would recommend downloading the mobile app, as this makes for convenient and quick betting.
FAQs
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User Reviews
Anesh
June 7, 2023
I’ve been playing Spinazonke slots almost every day for the past few months and whenever I log into the game it almost always freezes or hangs up and I have to restart the game. This is very frustrating especially when I play at night and there is limited time to play before load shedding. The game keeps running almost indefinitely. Someone should look into this problem because most of us from Pretoria are experiencing this problem for a long time
Bhekumuzi
May 6, 2023
Great
Bhekumuzi
April 28, 2023
Top of the range