Hollywoodbets has boosted its content offering in South Africa through a new content partnership with Tom Horn Gaming.
Through the collaboration, Tom Horn’s portfolio of content – including titles such as those from the 243 Crystal Fruits series, Book of Aladdin and Majestic Coins – will be available to Hollywoodbets’ players in the Rainbow Nation.
Wade Dorkin, Head of Product at Hollywoodbets, commented: “We are thrilled to introduce Tom Horn Gaming’s titles to our South African audience.
“Their games are recognised for their creativity and engaging mechanics, and we believe they will be a fantastic addition to our offering. This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to continuously enhance our entertainment experience with high-quality content.”
For Tom Horn, the partnership steps up its presence in South Africa after debuting in the country through a similar deal with Aardvark Technologies signed in February 2025, and furthers the company’s push to expand its global presence.
Ondrej Lapides, CEO at Tom Horn Gaming, commented: “We are delighted to expand our partnership with Hollywoodbets and bring our games to players in South Africa.
“Achieving full compliance for this market required considerable effort from our teams, so it is particularly rewarding to see our portfolio now live with such a respected and established operator. Hollywoodbets has built an outstanding reputation and strong player base, and we are confident our games will resonate well with their audience.”
Tax debate continues
In a similar vein to many countries across Africa, the popularity of online betting and gaming has surged in South Africa in recent years.
Due to this, South Africa’s National Treasury has proposed a new 20% tax on gross gambling revenue from online activity, which will sit alongside the standard provincial tax rates levied on all gambling activity.
Given that provincial rates vary between 6% and 9%, the country’s effective tax rate will sit between 26% and 29% if successfully implemented.
According to the National Gambling Board, R1.5trn (£66bn) was wagered in the 2024 financial year, and gambling incidence has risen from 30.6% to 65.7% from 2017 to 2023.
If implemented, the tax is projected to raise R10bn (£456.1m) per year, however, the Ministry of Finance emphasised that the main aim of the tax is to cover the cost of the potential social harm caused by the rise in popularity of online gaming.
A public consultation for the change closed on 27 February, and stakeholders are now awaiting the decision of South Africa’s lawmakers regarding the implementation of the new tax.
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