Moves at play in SA
Recent market moves by major international gambling brands into South Africa (SA) suggest they aren’t waiting until 2030, the year the country’s matured iGaming market is projected to bring in around R80bn ($4.2bn) in annual gambling revenue.
Independent gaming studio Tom Horn Gaming is the latest iGaming brand to launch in the country via a partnership with Durban-headquartered iGaming firm Hollywoodbets.
Tom Horn took to X with news of its South African launch:
The tie-up builds on Tom Horn and Hollywoodbet’s existing market relationships in other countries, and gives the Malta-based firm expanded reach in the continent’s rapidly growing iGaming landscape.
Influx of iGaming firms
Now thanks to Tom Horn, SA players can access games Hollywoodbets Head of Product Wayne Dorkin said were “recognized for their creativity and engaging mechanics.”
Dorkin stated in a press release that his firm believed Tom Horn games “will be a fantastic addition.”
Taiwanese casino content developer TaDa Gaming made a splash on April 1 when it rolled out its slot portfolio in South Africa under an MGA license and via a market-entry deal with Betway.
African iGaming heavyweight PopOK Gaming also inked a deal with crypto casino giant Stake to bring more titles to slots gamblers not just in South Africa, but worldwide.
PopOK’s titles like the bestselling Rico series are huge across Africa and have been shortlisted for multiple awards, including South American award-winner Yo Dragon.
Deepening roots
Tom Horn’s deal with Hollywood gives the MGA-regulated firm a more entrenched footprint in SA than a similar local deal it struck with Aardvark Technologies in February 2025, and signals the firm’s global ambitions.
Tom Horn Gaming CEO Ondrej Lapides said his firm was “delighted to expand our partnership with Hollywoodbets and bring our games to players in South Africa.”
outstanding reputation and strong player base”
Lapides added that getting Tom Horn fully compliant for the SA market “required considerable effort from our teams” and that the effort was rewarded by seeing its portfolio of games go live “with such a respected and established operator [with] an outstanding reputation and strong player base” as Hollywoodbets.
