Hollywoodbets has described itself as “South Africa’s biggest online casino” on a billboard near OR Tambo International Airport, drawing attention to the wording used by the betting operator as it continues to operate under bookmaker licences rather than a casino licence.
Billboard advertisement
A billboard along the R21 near the Pomona offramp advertises Hollywoodbets as “SA’s biggest online casino”.
The advertisement has attracted attention because online betting operators in South Africa have maintained that they offer betting products under bookmaker licences issued by provincial gambling authorities.
The National Gambling Board has previously stated that online and interactive gambling is illegal in South Africa under the current legal framework. However, bookmakers argue that the products they offer fall within licensed betting activities.
Company responds to billboard
“The billboard is aimed at communicating the scale of Hollywoodbets’ offering of approved online products within South Africa’s regulated betting market,” the company said as reported by MyBroadband.
It added that Hollywoodbets has built one of the country’s established online gaming platforms and operates under licences issued across eight provinces.
The company also said it remains committed to ensuring that all of its marketing complies with the standards and obligations governing betting advertising in South Africa.
Bookmaker licences listed on regulator portal
According to MyBroadband, the National Gambling Board’s Verified Operators portal lists 107 licences linked to Hollywoodbets.
The licences were issued by seven provincial gambling authorities and include bookmaker, site operator and totalisator agency licences.
The portal does not list a casino licence for Hollywoodbets.
Site operator licences differ from casino licences because they generally relate to the operation of limited payout machines at venues where gambling is not the primary business.
National Gambling Act provides legal framework
The National Gambling Act, 2004, regulates gambling activities in South Africa. The Act distinguishes between betting and interactive gambling, with betting regulated through provincial gambling authorities.
Interactive gambling, which includes online casino style gambling, has not been fully legalised at a national level. The National Gambling Board has consistently stated that online interactive gambling remains prohibited under the current legal framework, while licensed betting activities are permitted through provincial licensing systems.
The distinction between betting and interactive gambling has remained part of the regulatory framework governing online gambling services in South Africa.
Operators rely on bookmaker licences
Online betting companies, including Hollywoodbets, Betway, SportingBet, SunBet and SuperSportBet, operate under bookmaker licences issued by provincial gambling regulators.
The operators have stated that customers place bets on the outcomes of games rather than directly participating in casino games. They classify these products as betting services that fall within the scope of their bookmaker licences.
This licensing model has enabled operators to offer online gaming products under provincial bookmaker licences instead of casino licences.
Industry continues under existing framework
The National Gambling Board has maintained that online and interactive gambling remains illegal in South Africa under the current legal framework.
The classification of online gaming products continues to form part of the country’s gambling regulatory framework. Hollywoodbets’ use of the phrase “South Africa’s biggest online casino” has drawn attention to the distinction between bookmaker licences and casino licences while the company continues to operate under licences issued by provincial gambling authorities.
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