HollywoodBets Expert Review: South African Betting

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OVERALL RATING:
3.8/5
Ziv Chen
Ziv Chen

Last Updated: 2024-07-15

Luke Jones
Hollywood Bets
Licenses: South Africa, UK
Unavailable in your country
  • Strong options for betting markets
  • Multiple deposit options
  • Cashout and bet builder available
  • Payment Methods
    PayU LogoPayfast LogoSID EFT LogoABSA LogoStandard Bank Logo

    Offering betting on a huge range of sports, plus some excellent promotions and a great reputation, HollywoodBets is a highly popular online gambling platform

    It’s easy to use, and you can download a mobile app to access the latest odds whenever you want. Learn more about the attractive promotions you can claim, sporting events to bet on and how to join in our HollywoodBets review. 

    Sportsboom Event Table Logo
    OVERALL RATING
    3.8/5
    Promotions & VIP
    4.5/5
    Odds & Markets
    4.5/5
    Mobile
    1.9/5
    Customer Service
    4/5
    Deposit & Withdrawal
    4/5
  • Android app to download
  • No deposit welcome bonus
  • Highly reputable brand
  • No iPhone app available
  • Charges for your second withdrawal of the day
  • Hollywoodbets Key Features

    Esports Betting Feature Logo Esports Betting
    Partial Cash Out Feature Logo Partial Cash Out
    Bet Builder Feature Logo Bet Builder
    Casino Games Feature Logo Casino Games
    Live Casino Games Feature Logo Live Casino Games
    Mobile App Feature Logo Mobile App
    Deposit Bonus Feature Logo Deposit Bonus
    Ongoing Promotions Feature Logo Ongoing Promotions
    Live Streaming Feature Logo Live Streaming
    Poker Feature Logo Poker
    24/7 Support Feature Logo 24/7 Support
    VIP Program Feature Logo VIP Program

    There are some great features on offer at Hollywoodbets, helping you have more fun while betting on all the biggest and most exciting sporting events. The Hollywoodbets no deposit bonus is available to all new users, letting you enjoy the fun of sports betting and try out exciting online slots without having to make a deposit. There are also lots of fun prize draws with big rewards awarded to lucky winners. You won’t have to use a Hollywoodbets bonus code, but the promotions page gives all the details. 

    A Comprehensive Review of Hollywoodbets Bonus Offers

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    Promotions & VIP
    4.5/5

    Besides providing an excellent array of sports and markets for you to bet on, Hollywoodbets also offers some exciting promotions to help boost your bankroll and make your betting experience even more enjoyable. 

    When you first join, an excellent welcome offer is available, and existing users can participate in plenty of regular promotions, too. 

    Whenever you claim a bonus, read through all of the terms and conditions to ensure you understand how the offer works.  

    No Deposit Bonus

    When you join Hollywoodbets, you get to start betting without having to make a deposit. The no deposit welcome bonus is available to all new users, making it really simple and quick to sign up and start betting. 

    You won’t have to risk any of your own money, and you’ll get to enjoy free bets and free spins.

    The no deposit bonus gives you R25 in bonus funds simply for creating an account. While it may not be the biggest offer, it’s certainly one of the easiest to claim. 

    In addition to the sportsbook bonus, you’ll also receive 25 free spins to use on some exciting online slots. You’ll have to use the bonus within 24 hours of receiving it, and it must be wagered once at odds of 1.5 or more. Winnings from the free spins have to be wagered 5x.

    Sports Tournament Prize Draws

    Whenever a big tournament comes around, you can bet that Hollywoodbets will offer a prize draw for it. The site currently provides prize draws on major cricket, tennis and horse racing tournaments. 

    These are easy to enter, as you simply need to make a qualifying bet. Each qualifying bet will earn an entry into the draw, and the more entries you have, the greater your chances of winning a prize.

    The prize pools depend on the draw, but currently advertised promotions offer R20,000 in betting vouchers, R100,000 in cash and even a brand-new car. 

    Always check the full rules of the promotions to see when the draw is held and when your qualifying bets need to be placed. 

    Punters Challenge

    The Punters Challenge lets you predict the outcome of horse races for a chance to win your share of an incredible R2 million prize pool. This competition is completely free to enter, and all you have to do is predict horse race winners. 

    At the end of the event, the users with the most correct answers will win cash prizes, with a top prize worth R25,000.
     

    Hollywoodbets Sports Betting Markets

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    Odds & Markets
    4.5/5

     

    Hollywoodbets has a huge range of sports and games for you to gamble on. From the homepage, you can scroll through all the betting options in the side menu. 

    This includes both sports events and Hollywoodbets casino games, which is a bit of a downside as it makes it slightly harder to find the specific sports market you’re looking for. 

    The good news is that you can also use the search bar to instantly look up a team or sporting event. 

    There’s a large range of sports available to bet on, including:

    Horse RacingCricket TennisRugby
    eSportsGolfFormula 1American Football
    Aussie RulesBadmintonBandyBaseball
    BasketballBowlsBoxing Cycling
    DartsField HockeyFloorballFutsal
    HandballIce Hockey MotorsportMMA
    NetballSnookerSquashTable Tennis
    VolleyballSpecial EventsSoccer 

    This massive range of sports includes plenty of popular tournaments such as the Euros soccer, NBA Finals and T20 World Cup cricket. 

    However, there are lots of smaller and niche events to bet on, too. Check the sports menu to see all the available events to bet on, or take a look at the homepage for all major upcoming events. 

    Aside from the large availability of sports for you to bet on, Hollywoodbets also provides a wide selection of betting markets on each event. 

    Bigger events will have more markets to choose from, but even the smaller tournaments and games still have a good range of options. Open a game to see the markets on offer, which include:

    Full TimeDouble ChanceBoth Teams to Score
    Double Change or Both Teams to ScoreTotal GoalsMatch Bets and Totals
    HandicapFirst Ten MinutesOdd/Even Goals
    Correct ScorePlayer BetsOutrights
    Halftime/FulltimeAccumulator 

    When it comes to odds, the bigger they are, the more your profits will be from winning bets. It makes sense to check the betting odds before placing your bet to ensure you’re getting good value. 

    Thankfully, Hollywoodbets has some of the best online betting odds we’ve seen on popular sports, providing odds that are equal to or better than other major sportsbooks. 

    User Ratings

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    Mobile
    1.9/5

    The HollywoodBets iOS app has a 1.9/5-star score on the Apple App Store. However, this rating comes from only 17 reviews, which is a pretty small sample size. Existing users reported issues with the app crashing and some accounts being blocked. 

    HollywoodBets also has an Android app, but it’s not available on the Google Play Store. Learn more about this and how to download the HollywoodBets app on our HollywoodBets betting app review

    On Trustpilot, the site has a pretty low rating of 1.5 stars out of 5. This score comes from close to 200 reviews, so it’s not a huge sample size of the people who use the betting site. Many of them complain about unfair casino games rather than the sportsbook side of the business. 
     

    Customer Support

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    Customer Service
    4/5

    Problems are rare when using HollywoodBets, but it’s important to be able to contact someone and receive help if needed. 

    Thankfully, the HollywoodBets customer support team is available to assist and answer your questions. 

    While the South Africa site currently doesn’t offer live chat, the HollywoodBets UK website does. Plus, you can contact the UK representative using the following methods:

    Email[email protected]
    Phone00 27 87 353 7634


    Additionally, you can contact them on their social media channels. Response times are good. The betting platform offers a reliable and helpful service that you can use whenever you need help. 
     

    Deposit & Withdrawal Options at Hollywoodbets (Updated 2024)

    Sportsboom Event Table Logo
    Deposit & Withdrawal
    4/5

    Once you’ve created an account and uploaded the required information for verification, you’ll want to make a deposit so you can start placing real-money bets. 

    If you land some winners, you must also know how to withdraw funds. You can read our Hollywoodbets withdrawal review for more information on how that works. 

    Popular payment methods are accepted at Hollywoodbets to ensure the payment process is as smooth as possible. Note that withdrawals are all provided through online banking services, with a PIN sent through SMS. 

    Here are a few of the best methods to use for deposits:
     

    Payment Methods

    Payment ProviderFeeProcess TimeMinimum DepositDepositWithdrawal
    Sportsbook payment method
    NoneInstantR100
    Sportsbook payment method
    NoneInstantR100
    Sportsbook payment method
    NoneInstantR100
    PayU Logo
    NoneInstantR100
    Payfast Logo
    NoneInstantR100

    Currencies

    SymbolNameCode
    RSouth African RandZAR
    £British PoundGBP

    Hollywoodbets Review: Pros & Cons

    Pros

  • Android app to download

  • No deposit welcome bonus

  • Highly reputable brand

  • Wide range of sports to bet on

  • Fast and straightforward payments

  • Cons

  • No iPhone app available

  • Charges for your second withdrawal of the day

  • Step-by-Step Guide to Hollywoodbets Registration

    It’s really easy to start betting on your favourite sports at Hollywoodbets, though you’ll need to set up an account first. Here’s how to do it:

    1. 1

      Visit the Hollywoodbets site. If you’re on mobile, you can use the mobile site or download the Android app. Learn more about how to download the app in our Hollywoodbets app review.

    2. 2

      Choose the register button in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

      Hollywoodbets Registration

    3. 3

      Fill out your personal details, including full name, address, date of birth, contact information and ID number. 

      Registration Step for Hollywoodbets

    4. 4

      Confirm that you’re at least 18 years old and that you’ve read and agreed to the terms and conditions.

      Hollywoodbets account registration

    5. 5

      Complete the sign-up process and verify your account by providing FICA documents.

    Live Betting on Hollywoodbets: Wager on Games as They Happen

    Don’t miss out on live betting at Hollywoodbets, where you can place real money wagers as the action unfolds. All live and upcoming matches are easy to find, taking centre stage on the homepage as soon as you log in or open the app. 

    Just like with pre-live games, there’s a massive range of sports you can bet on, with hundreds of events often available at any time. 

    While the selection of live games to bet on is good, there are fewer markets here than you’d find at competitor sites. 

    In addition, the lack of live stats and live streaming means you’ll need to find another way to watch the game and view real-time analytics. It’s not a big loss, but it somewhat hinders the live betting experience. 
     

    Hollywoodbets Reviews Exploring Security Measures

    Before you join any online gambling platform, you should always assess the security measures in place. These sites are responsible for protecting your personal data and keeping your funds safe. 

    The best sites will ensure that you’re safe from harm and don’t need to worry when creating your account and making payments. 

    Hollywoodbets takes your security seriously, with SSL encryption to secure your private information. The payment processes are handled by trusted services, too, so you know that when you make a deposit or request a withdrawal, your banking details aren’t accessible. 

    The platform must collect certain personal information about you, including your name, address, date of birth, and betting history. 

    However, this information is used strictly for security and account protection purposes and won’t be sold or passed on to other services. This is outlined in the customer privacy statement, which you can review on Hollywoodbets' website. 
     

    Review Conclusion

    Hollywoodbets is one of the top online gambling platforms for a reason. It’s easy to use and provides great odds on all the best sporting events. 

    While the site design may not be as modern as some online sportsbooks, it’s still packed with many great features and promos. The no deposit bonus helps it stand out from the crowd, and it has an excellent reputation among sports fans.

    The lack of an iOS app may be an issue for some, but the mobile browser site works perfectly well on Apple and Android devices, so you can still take your bets anywhere you go. 

    Overall, the Hollywoodbets betting review sees the site rank highly in every category. 
     

    Promote Responsible Betting

    When using Hollywoodbets or any other gambling platform, it’s important to bet responsibly. 

    Betting on sports can be a lot of fun, but it comes with risks and potential issues if you’re unable to control it. Make sure you always set a budget before you get started, and manage your bet sizes carefully. 

    If you have trouble controlling how much you spend, it’s possible to set deposit limits from your account settings. Responsible gambling tools such as self-exclusion are also very useful in case you need to take a break. 
     

    FAQs

    Why should I choose Hollywoodbets?

    Hollywoodbets is an established and reputable online gambling platform with a wide range of sports to bet on, great odds and lots of fun promotions. It’s easy to use, and there’s an Android app if you prefer to bet from your mobile device. 

    Is Hollywoodbets Safe?

    Hollywoodbets sportsbook has been around since 2000 when it first started offering retail sports betting. The online site then went live in 2006, and it’s been one of the biggest betting brands in South Africa ever since. It’s licensed in five South African provinces, and a version of the site is available to UK and Irish bettors.

    Which countries are restricted on Hollywoodbets??

    Unfortunately, Hollywood bets Sportsbook is restricted in a lot of countries. You’ll need a South African ID to sign up and start betting, and all of its gaming licenses are from provincial South African gambling commissions. There’s a separate Hollywoodbets site that is available to UK and Irish bettors, too.