WhichBookmakerHead to head · South Africa · verified August 2026
22Bet vs Hollywoodbets
Hollywoodbets takes it by 0.4 points overall, but 22Bet still wins specific cases.
Pillar scores
Side by side
| Criterion | 22Bet | Hollywoodbets |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 7.4 | 7.8 |
| Typical margin | Around 5% on major football, tighter on niche markets than most rivals | Around 6% on football; competitive on local horse racing |
| Licences | Curaçao eGaming, selected national licences in Africa | Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, other provincial licences |
| Min. deposit | $1 equivalent | R10 |
| Sports | 40+ sports including very long-tail competitions | Horse racing and football-led, plus rugby, cricket and international leagues |
| Features | Very low minimum deposit, Crypto payments, Huge in-play list, Local rails | EFT and local vouchers, Branch network, Punters Challenge, Live betting |
| Founded | 2017 | 2000 |
| Best for | Long-tail markets, Small stakes, Emerging markets | South Africa, Horse racing, Local payments |
What the price difference actually costs
22Bet builds about 5.0% into its prices; Hollywoodbets about 6.0%. That gap of 1.0 percentage points is not an abstraction — it is money that leaves your account on every settled bet, win or lose.
Indicative cost of the gap
Stake R5,000 across a season and the difference between them is roughly R50 — in 22Bet's favour.
A simplified illustration on total turnover, not a prediction. It ignores which bets you win, because the margin is charged either way — that is precisely the point.
A welcome offer is paid once. This gap is paid every time you bet, which is why we weight price at 30% of the score and most comparison sites do not weight it at all.
Our verdict
Choose 22Bet if you want long-tail markets · small stakes · emerging markets. It comes out ahead on odds, markets in our scoring, and its licensing position in South Africa is Curaçao eGaming.
Choose Hollywoodbets if you want south africa · horse racing · local payments. It comes out ahead on trust, platform, payouts in our scoring, and its licensing position in South Africa is Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, 22Bet or Hollywoodbets?
Hollywoodbets scores higher overall (7.8 vs 7.4). 22Bet can still be the better choice for long-tail markets.
Is 22Bet safe and licensed?
22Bet holds these licences: Curaçao eGaming, selected national licences in Africa. Our trust score for it is 6.2/10 — the full review explains the reasoning.
Is Hollywoodbets safe and licensed?
Hollywoodbets holds these licences: Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, other provincial licences. Our trust score for it is 8.6/10 — the full review explains the reasoning.