If you follow South African sport, fashion at the races, or simply love a weekend punt, you’ve seen the purple. Hollywoodbets has grown from a small racing business into one of the most recognisable betting brands in South Africa and beyond. Here’s how it happened, and why the name now pops up everywhere from Greyville to the Premier League.
Roots in racing
The Hollywood story starts long before the purple shopfronts. The group began life in 1986 as Winning Form, a publishing business that produced racecards and tipping content for horseplayers. Those racing roots still run deep in the company today.
First shops and early expansion
Hollywoodbets moved from printing tips to taking bets in 2000, opening its first retail branch on Argyle Road in Durban. From that foothold the company rolled out a national retail network, ultimately operating scores of shops across multiple provinces.
Going online and building tech in-house
As betting shifted to mobile, Hollywoodbets leaned into digital, launching the online Hollywoodbets site that we all know and love. The brand now runs comprehensive online and mobile platforms and even built a technology arm, BET Software, to power its systems and products. Owning the stack helped the company scale quickly and add new game types popular with local players.
Big stages and bigger sponsorships
Hollywoodbets has become synonymous with South Africa’s biggest race day. In 2022, it was confirmed as title sponsor of the Durban July, rebranding the country’s premier racing and social event as the Hollywoodbets Durban July. The brand’s reach stretches well outside racing. It secured naming rights to Kingsmead, now Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, home of the Dolphins in Durban. Internationally, Hollywoodbets became principal shirt sponsor and then official betting partner of Brentford FC in the English Premier League, placing the purple logo on a global stage.
Backing women’s football
Closer to home, Hollywoodbets has been a major backer of the women’s game. In 2021 SAFA announced the title partnership that turned the National Women’s League into the Hollywoodbets Super League, a deal that lifted visibility, prize money, and broadcast reach for women’s football in South Africa.
Community first: the Hollywood Foundation
Corporate social investment has been part of the brand from its early days. What began as the “My Community” programme evolved into the Hollywood Foundation, which supports education drives, sport development, and relief initiatives nationwide.
Today’s footprint
From one Durban shop to a multi-channel operator, Hollywoodbets now trades online in South Africa and runs licensed operations in other markets such as the United Kingdom and Ireland. It remains a racing stalwart while offering an expansive sportsbook, casino games, live dealer titles, and local favourites like Spina Zonke, Hollywoodbets Aviator, Lucky Numbers and BetGames.
Why the brand endures
- Racing DNA with modern tech: a rare mix of turf tradition and mobile-first products.
- Deep local ties: event ownership, stadium naming rights, and grassroots programs that keep the brand culturally connected.
- Global visibility: headline football partnerships that put South African betting on an international platform.
The purple tomorrow
With the Hollywoodbets Durban July cemented on the calendar, continued support for women’s football, and a strong in-house tech engine, the company shows no signs of easing up. What started with printed racecards has become a modern SA success story, rooted in racing, powered by technology, and amplified by bold sponsorships. Visit The Gambler homepage for more on the latest betting news, guides, reviews and more!
