GAMING FOR AFRICA Gaming for Africa
Casino International’s Africa partner is the excellent Gaming For Africa magazine, bringing you the continent’s latest developments.
RubyPlay Expands Presence in South Africa with Hollywoodbets Collaboration
RubyPlay, a studio-based layered content ecosystem, has strengthened its position in the South African market following a new partnership with Hollywoodbets, the region’s leading betting operator.
Through this collaboration, a selection of RubyPlay’s most popular titles, including Elephant Stampede SE, Diamond Explosion® 7s, and Mayan Cache, are now available to Hollywoodbets players across the country. RubyPlay has already built a strong reputation in South Africa since entering the market in 2023, delivering high-performing, localised content tailored to diverse player preferences. Founded in 1986, as a racing publication business, Hollywoodbets is a long-established South African operator that expanded into bookmaking with the opening of its fi rst branch in 2000.
Since then, it has been serving players in one of the continent’s biggest betting markets, offering its growing customer base a comprehensive portfolio of slots, live casino and sports betting content from leading global providers.
By combining RubyPlay’s distinctive game design and innovative mechanics with Hollywoodbets’ established market reach, the partnership delivers a compelling entertainment experience for South African players. Dr. Eyal Loz, Chief Product Offi cer at RubyPlay, said: “Hollywoodbets is a partner that truly understands the South African market, so this collaboration feels like a natural fi t. Since
launching in the region, we’ve seen strong demand for games that refl ect local tastes and playing habits, and this partnership allows us to extend that even further.
“The leading operator shares our commitment to delivering high-quality, responsible gaming experiences, and we look forward to experiencing what this partnership has in store.”
Wayde Dorkin, Head of Product at
Hollywoodbets, added: “RubyPlay has become a standout content provider in South Africa, delivering games that resonate strongly with our local players. Their focus on innovative features and tailored gameplay aligns well with our goal of offering world-class entertainment. “We’re delighted to welcome RubyPlay’s top titles to our platform and look forward to building on this partnership to bring even more value to our players.”
Free Market Foundation Decries Treasury Overreach on Gambling Taxes
The Free Market Foundation (FMF) has sharply criticised South Africa’s National Treasury’s proposal to introduce a 20% national tax on online gambling, warning that it could trigger a constitutional dispute and drive players toward unregulated offshore platforms. FMF policy offi cer Ayanda Zulu argued recently in the media that the plan is fundamentally fl awed, citing the lack of enforcement mechanisms to tax offshore
22 APRIL 2026
operators and raising concerns over the erosion of provincial authority. South Africa’s gambling system is decentralised, with provincial boards responsible for licensing and taxation, and the FMF says the proposal amounts to “centralisation by stealth.”
The organisation also warned that the additional levy would overburden already compliant operators, who are subject to
multiple taxes, potentially making legal operations unviable. This, it said, could accelerate the shift to offshore gambling, which already dominates a signifi cant share of the online market.
While acknowledging the social risks of gambling, the FMF called on Treasury to withdraw the proposal, prioritise regulatory clarity, and address the legal status of online gambling before introducing new taxes.
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