LottoStar vs Hollywoodbets

The short answer

LottoStar and Hollywoodbets both let you bet on lottery results, but they are very different businesses. LottoStar is a specialist: its site revolves around international lottery draws, with a few instant games on the side. Hollywoodbets is a full bookmaker that happens to have one of the most popular Lucky Numbers sections in the country.

If you only ever play the numbers, LottoStar keeps things simple. If you also bet on soccer or horses, or play slots, Hollywoodbets puts everything in one wallet.

How lottery betting works at each

At both sites you aren’t buying an official lottery ticket. You are placing a bet, with a licensed bookmaker, on what numbers a draw will produce. That has two consequences:

• Payouts come from the bookmaker’s odds, not a shared prize pool. Pick 1 to 5 numbers and the odds are fixed when you bet.
• The house always has an edge. Lucky Numbers odds are set so that, over time, the bookmaker keeps a share of every rand staked.

LottoStar focuses on the big international jackpot draws and presents them in a lottery-style format: choose your numbers, pick a draw, and win if your numbers come up. Hollywoodbets offers dozens of daily draws from around the world, each with a menu of bet types (one ball, two balls, bonus ball and so on).

Who should pick which

LottoStar fits you if you:

• play the big overseas draws and want a dedicated lottery site
• like a simple interface without sports menus getting in the way
• deposit small amounts (from R10)

Hollywoodbets fits you if you:

• want Lucky Numbers plus sports, racing and slots in one account
• want a free sign-up bet and free spins
• want payouts within hours, from deposits as small as R5

Bonuses and terms

We couldn’t find published bonus terms for LottoStar. Check its promotions page directly, and read the small print before you opt in to anything.

Hollywoodbets gives new players a no-deposit sign-up offer:

Hollywoodbets

SA licensed

8.2/10

Sign-up bonus · sports

Free betR25

Wagering

1x

Min deposit

No deposit

Expiry

1 day

Max cashout

R1,200

Min odds

1.5

18+New players · T&Cs apply

Claim bonus

You can also claim 50 free spins on Spina Zonke games at sign-up. Note that bonus funds and free bets usually have rules about which bets count, so check whether Lucky Numbers bets qualify for a promotion before you use bonus money on them.

Payments and payouts

Hollywoodbets accepts Ozow, FNB eWallet, 1Voucher and EFT from R5, with payouts quoted at 1-4 hours.

LottoStar’s minimum deposit is R10. Its payment list and withdrawal times weren’t published in the sources we checked, so look at the banking page before you choose a method. At both, you need to pass FICA before you can withdraw.

Product beyond the numbers

Hollywoodbets has a full sportsbook (PSL, international soccer, rugby, cricket), the country’s biggest horse racing book, virtual sports and a casino of around 500 games led by Spina Zonke slots such as Hot Hot Fruit and Lantern Luck.

LottoStar adds a small range of instant-win games to its lottery betting, but it isn’t trying to be a casino or sportsbook. If you get bored of the numbers, you’ll need another account.

Verdict

LottoStar is a good specialist for players who only want lottery betting in a clean, simple format. Hollywoodbets is the better choice for most people, because it offers Lucky Numbers alongside everything else, gives a free bet on sign-up and pays out fast.

Lottery bets feel cheap, but small stakes add up quickly when there’s a draw every few minutes. Decide on a weekly budget, set a deposit limit, and call the NRGP on 0800 006 008 if it stops being fun. Compare more bookmakers on our Lucky Numbers betting sites list.