Quick Facts

• Free to enter and play
• Daily prizes of R5,000 shared among top 20 players
• Jackpot up to R1 million for SA meetings
• Must be 18 years or older
• Need a Hollywoodbets account

What Is the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge?

The Punters’ Challenge is a free daily game from Hollywoodbets. You try to pick which horses will win each race on a race day.

Here is what makes it different from regular betting:

• It is completely free to enter
• You don’t need to bet your own money
• You compete against other players for prizes
• It runs every race day at selected venues

The game has been running since 2020. Hollywoodbets says they have given away over R40 million in prizes.

How to Play the Punters’ Challenge

Step 1: Create a Hollywoodbets Account

• Go to www.hollywoodbets.net
• Click “Register” or “Sign Up”
• You need your ID number and contact details
• You must be 18 years or older
• You will need to do FICA verification

Step 2: Go to Punters’ Challenge

• Log in to your account
• Look for “Punters’ Challenge” on the main page
• Or visit punters.hollywoodbets.net directly

Step 3: Create Your Challenge Username

• Choose a unique username for the challenge
• It does not have to be your real name
• You cannot change this username later
• Each person can only have one entry

Step 4: Make Your Selections

• Pick one horse for each race on the card
• You must pick before the first race starts
• Submit at least 5 minutes before first race
• You can use the “Lucky Pick” to choose randomly

Step 5: Wait for Results

• Watch the races or check results later
• Points are added after each race
• Check the leaderboard to see your position
• Winners are announced after the last race

✅ Prizes and Payouts

Daily “Must-Be-Won” Prize: R5,000

This prize is shared among the top 20 players on the leaderboard. Here is how it is divided:

Position	Prize Money
1st Place	R2,000
2nd Place	R1,000
3rd Place	R500
4th Place	R250
5th – 10th Place	R125 each
11th – 20th Place	R50 each

Jackpot Prize: Up to R1 Million

If you pick ALL the winners on the race card, you win the jackpot:

• South African meetings: Up to R1,000,000
• Hong Kong meetings: R125,000
• Free play jackpot: R100,000 (capped)
• If you bet R50 or more: Jackpot is R1 million

Prize Doubler

If you place bets of R50 or more on the same race card, your prize doubles. This applies to both daily prizes and jackpots.

Special Events

For the Hollywoodbets Durban July (in July each year), prizes are much bigger:

• Top 100 share R250,000
• Most winners share R500,000
• All winners correct: Up to R20 million

Costs and Requirements

The Challenge Itself: R0 (FREE)

You do not pay anything to enter or play the Punters’ Challenge. It is completely free.

What You Need:

• A Hollywoodbets account (free to create)
• Access to internet or data
• South African ID number for registration
• Must be 18 years or older
• FICA documents (ID copy, proof of address)

Optional Costs (Be Careful):

• Data costs to access the website
• Betting money if you choose to place bets (minimum R1)
• R50 to qualify for prize doubler (not required)

Where It Works:

The challenge runs for:

• All South African race courses
• Sha Tin and Happy Valley (Hong Kong)
• Selected international meetings

How Scoring Works

You get points based on where your chosen horse finishes. The points depend on how many horses are in the race.

Example: Race with 12 Horses

• 1st place (winner): 12 points
• 2nd place: 11 points
• 3rd place: 10 points
• 4th place: 9 points
• And so on…
• Last place (12th): 1 point

Bonus Points

You can get extra points for picking winners that have higher odds. This rewards people who pick underdogs correctly.

Total Score

Your points are added up after each race. The player with the most points at the end wins first place. The leaderboard updates throughout the race day.

✅ Tips to Improve Your Chances

1. Do Your Research

• Look at horse racing form guides
• Check which horses have won recently
• See which jockeys are performing well
• Read the race previews on the website

2. Don’t Rush

• Take time to study each race
• Don’t just pick favourites every time
• Look for value in longer-odds horses
• Submit your picks early to avoid missing deadline

3. Learn From Experience

• Check your past selections in “My Stats”
• See which courses you do well on
• Track your win percentage
• Adjust your strategy based on results

4. Be Realistic

• Very few people win the jackpot
• Getting into top 20 is already an achievement
• On average, 13,668 people play daily
• This is entertainment, not income

⚠️ Important Warnings

The Challenge Leads to Real Gambling

While the Punters’ Challenge is free, Hollywoodbets makes money by encouraging you to place real bets. The website will show you:

• “Bet Slip” features to place real bets
• Messages about doubling your prize with R50 bet
• Easy access to deposit money
• Promotions and bonus offers

Risk of Gambling Addiction

Gambling can become addictive. Warning signs include:

• Spending more money than you planned
• Betting money you cannot afford to lose
• Lying to family about gambling
• Chasing losses by betting more
• Neglecting work or family to gamble
• Borrowing money to gamble

No Guaranteed Wins

Horse racing results cannot be predicted with certainty. Even expert tips fail. Do not bet money you need for:

• Rent or bond payments
• Groceries and food
• School fees
• Transport costs
• Medical expenses
• Any essential living costs

Age Restriction

You must be 18 or older. It is illegal for under-18s to gamble in South Africa. Parents should monitor their children’s internet use.

🚨 Beware of Scams and Fake Apps

No Official Hollywoodbets App

As of November 2025, Hollywoodbets does NOT have an official mobile app on Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Any app claiming to be Hollywoodbets is FAKE and dangerous.

What Fake Apps Do:

• Steal your personal information
• Take your banking details
• Charge your credit card
• Access your contacts and photos
• Install malware on your phone

How to Stay Safe:

• Only use www.hollywoodbets.net website
• Check for “https” and lock symbol in browser
• Do NOT download any Hollywoodbets apps
• Do NOT click on links in SMS or email
• Type the website address yourself

Account Security

• Use a strong, unique password
• Never share your password with anyone
• Hollywoodbets will NEVER ask for your password
• Enable two-factor authentication if available
• Log out when using shared devices

Report Suspicious Activity

If you think you have been scammed:

• Contact Hollywoodbets: 087 353 7634
• Report to South African Police Service
• Contact your bank immediately
• Change all your passwords

Getting Help for Gambling Problems

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, free help is available 24/7 in South Africa.

South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF)

• Toll-Free Helpline: 0800 006 008 (24/7)
• WhatsApp/SMS: 076 675 0710
• Email: helpline@responsiblegambling.org.za
• Website: www.responsiblegambling.org.za

Services Available (All FREE):

• 24-hour counselling line
• Face-to-face therapy with psychologists
• Support for family members
• Self-exclusion programs (6 months minimum)
• Financial counselling
• Inpatient treatment if needed

Self-Exclusion

You can ask to be banned from all gambling sites and casinos for at least 6 months. This is free and confidential. Contact SARGF for help with this.

Other Resources:

• Gamblers Anonymous SA: 12-step recovery program
• SADAG: Depression and anxiety support
• National Credit Regulator: 0860 627 627 (debt help)

Important Terms and Conditions

• Must be 18 years or older
• Need a registered Hollywoodbets account
• One entry per person
• Selections must be made before first race
• Prizes paid directly to your account
• Jackpot shared if multiple winners
• If races are cancelled, prizes adjusted
• Minimum 4 races must run for prizes
• Hollywoodbets can change terms at any time
• You agree to their terms by playing

Full Terms: Visit www.hollywoodbets.net for complete terms and conditions.

The Punters’ Challenge can be fun IF you follow these rules:

• Play ONLY the free challenge – do not bet your own money
• Do not chase the “prize doubler” by betting R50
• Set strict time limits (example: 30 minutes per day)
• Never skip work or family time to play
• If you start betting real money, stop immediately
• Ask for help if you feel you cannot control it

Remember:

• This is entertainment, not a way to make money
• Most people do not win prizes
• Hollywoodbets profits from encouraging real betting
• Gambling addiction is a real medical condition
• Free help is available 24/7

If in doubt, don’t play. Your financial wellbeing is more important than any game.