Hollywoodbets

Hollywoodbets’ name was inspired by the race track Hollywood Park Racetrack in Los Angeles, USA.[2]

Hollywoodbets originally started in 1986 as a small South African based publishing company named Winning Form that handled the publishing and distribution of racecards for South African Horse Racing. Winning Form still publishes racecards for all South African racing.

Hollywoodbets entered the bookmaking industry with the opening of its first betting branch in Argyle Road, Durban in 2000. This was later followed by the opening of the current flagship branch, Hollywood Park in Springfield Park, Durban.

Hollywoodbets currently operates in four countries. South Africa, Mozambique, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

Hollywoodbets operates 81 shops across South Africa under a number of gaming licences issued by regulators in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal.

There are currently two Hollywoodbets branches in Maputo, Mozambique; as well as a mobile platform to bet on.

In November 2018, Hollywoodbets went live with its website in Ireland, making its services available to Irish customers. This was made available via their betting licence issued by the Isle of Man. In March 2019, the company went live with its website in the United Kingdom. Their betting licence was issued by the UK Gambling Commission.

The company is the current title sponsor of the Hollywoodbets Dolphins cricket team. They started as associate sponsors of the franchise in the 2015/16 season,[3] before becoming the title sponsors in the 2016/17 season.[4]

Hollywoodbets sponsored the KwaZulu-Natal Coastal and KwaZulu-Natal Inland teams for the 2017 Africa T20 Cup. Hollywoodbets KZN Inland went onto win the tournament, after defeating Free State in the final.[5] At the start of the 2018/19 domestic cricket season, Hollywoodbets committed to sponsoring both the KwaZulu-Natal Coastal and the KwaZulu-Natal Inland senior provincial teams for the duration of the season, covering the Africa T20 Cup, 3 Day Cup and 50 Over competition.[6]

Hollywoodbets came on board as the title sponsors of the Murray Cup in 2018.[7] This is a rugby knock-out competition involving clubs from the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union.

Hollywoodbets became the title sponsors of the Phaka rugby show on Supersport in February 2019. Hollywoodbets’ new sponsorship relationship with the show will allow the company to assist development rugby teams who desperately need the support and equipment to be able to grow their talented players.[8]

Hollywoodbets came on board as a sponsor for the 2019 COSAFA Cup to be staged in Durban from 25 May to 8 June 2019.[9]

On Thursday, 27 June 2019, Hollywoodbets was announced as the naming rights sponsor for both Greyville and Scottsville racecourses in a 3-year deal. The racecourses will now be known as Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse and Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse.[10]

On Monday, 7 October 2019, Hollywoodbets was announced as the naming rights sponsor for Kingsmead Cricket Ground in a 5-year deal, that would see the commitment run until August 2024.[11]

Every Hollywoodbets branch in South Africa supports a local charity, as well as a local sports team, as part of their Social Responsibility Programme. Included are children's homes,[12] community centers, old-age homes and schools.

With regards to community sports teams, they include soccer teams,[13] cricket teams,[14] rugby[15] and other sports.

The Hollywood Bunny Bar branches, under the Hollywoodbets banner, currently consists of 8 branches located in the South African provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Western Cape. These branches are famous for their authentic Durban curries, and won the award for Best Bunny Chow in 2014 after winning the Bunny Chow Barometer Challenge 2014.[16]

In 2016, former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana soccer player Jerry Sikhosana was named as a brand ambassador for Hollywoodbets.[17] In 2017, former Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Brian Baloyi also joined as a brand ambassador for Hollywoodbets.[18]

In March 2019, former South African Champion jockey Anthony Delpech joined on as a brand ambassador for Hollywoodbets, as well as to assist with the horse racing sponsorship Hollywoodbets is involved in.[19]

In April 2019, former South African cricketer Mike Procter joined on as a brand ambassador for Hollywoodbets.[20]

In 2018 at the Gambling Industry Awards held in South Africa, Hollywoodbets was awarded best Corporate Social Investment (CSI), Best Sports Betting Campaign for 2018, Best Employer of the Year and Best CEO of the Year (Suren Rampersadh).[21][22]