Betting Irregularities , Poor systems and service

I been a Hollywoodbets customer for years . I remember when I first started betting at a Hollywoodbets branch in Empangeni .

One of the main pulls to betting with Hollywoodbets , was the variety off sport betting offered , as well deteriotation of customer service from Gold Circle Racing /Tabgold . The most frustrating thing for any punter then and now is going to a outlet to Gold Circle/Tabgold and been unable to place a bet for one of below reasons :-

1. system crashes 2. insufficient staff at outlets 3. rude and inexperienced staff at many outlets 4. they never punctual on opening off branches 5. Telephone betting - one the poorest support structures I have ever witnessed

Even through there are some very good outlets country wide ,the above still exist and is actually getting worse over last 12 years and there bad than good outlets .

The pull off entities like Hollywoodbets , which offered variety off bets and betting from comfort off your home or work either telephonically or online , as always been attractive prospect to avid gamblers .

As their branding as grown considerably , their customer services as declined incredibly to the same extent as Gold Circle . Online betting is one the most attractive selling point to any gambler , but honestly after all these years they have gotten worse and to the extent,in which their online medium as become a fixed gaming machine .

I am old customer of Hollywoodbets and I can remember , when the only complaints I had was the delay in having deposited funds reflecting in my account . I remember those days like yesterday , because the deposit departments was the highlight off Hollywoodbets , poor service . Placing your bets also become amusing because , by the time you gone through three or 4 different consultants transferring you , because they can'y hear your account number or even access your account comes the time consuming act off actually getting a bet on .

Then came the age off online betting , where you no longer needed to worry about inexperienced telephone consultants and their antiquated equipment, wow it was such a great attraction . But it didn't take long for even this platform to become even more frustrating because , the platform couldn't be updated and maintained correctly .

Hollywoodbets a multi million rand entity which evolved from small betting shop to the National brand it is now , and all they can't even deliver a proper and fair service .

You often hear on Tellytrack or on sport channels when they interviewing People who have been in racing faternity for donkey's years , that the Sport off Kings wouldn't not assist not for Race Horse owners and people investing buying stock , but the Punter never really gets his due because the truth is, without every single punter big or small ,the Sport off Kings would be nothing more than horses racing for pride off winning for their owners . The Punters is what make this multibillion dollar Gambling Industry because without the punter ,there's no gambling , there' s no national or global marketing for this sport .

I always been vocal to Hollywoodbets regarding their poor service and over the past 4 - 5 years or more , and even more vocal on the short falls off their online platform . These problems to mention some :-

1. races closing well before races commences 2. funds disappearing and reappearing from account with a clue which results in been unable to place bets , unless you choose to deposit more funds , just for them to sort out their efficiencies 3. delayed reflection off funds in account , which to a small extent been sorted out . Now if you do a transfer or deposit and funds don't show timeously they simply shift blame to the bank 4. recently more concerning facts are that their online platform no longer sends you proof off your ticket , it does sometimes ..but to a greater a extent you have to trust their system which is as severe flaws and if you read some off the complaints on this media source , there have complaints alteration off bets . To this extent I have experienced odds manipulation , there times recently when I placed bets which initially shown as not taken , but after race there funds have gone out and show valid tickets , there as been occassion end March where I placed bets on race ,which I only realized the race was finished when i placed my head phones to hear commentary in Australia , I am hearing results . On this ocassion it took them about a hour about refund all bets taken in this race and without needing me to phone in.

And most recently and distastefully , I had the displeasure to experience the poor customer service and their severely flawed Online platform. After backing the winner in race 2 Fairview , I had to wait over a hour for my ticket to be paid out , after about 2 or 3 calls to their inefficient help desk . Then after backing another 2 winners and in process of taking a multitide off bets in Race 1 Aintree , I have all my bets taken , with the exception off 1 which happened to be the winner of the race .The reason for my bet not been processed was insufficient funds , because they where reversing and reprocessing the tickets from Race 2 fairview , so my account went form positive to negative , it processed all bets except the winning ticket .

After calling in on various occassions and been told repeatedly that they had paid me extra incorrectly and that they were revising payouts , as they were entitled to according to terms and conditions , I actually just got frustrated and felt really manipulated because , I learnt simple maths when I was in school and the delayed payout I received was correct and the late scratching deduction was taken out initially when they made first payout . I would think Hollywoodbets should be emabarrased that some off their employees can't do simple maths , but where engaging with me on the correct off their calculation and action . After going back and forth and my account going into a negative for a over R 800 rands , my account went back into positive late that afternoon . Which in the end supported my stance that they had not paid me extra , but during this time not only did I lose opportunity to increase my winnings , but I was also ****** off a fair winning in Aintree race 1 . Their system proceed all losing bets , but not the winning bet.

This problem with their system is nothing new , it as been a constant problem for Hollywoodbets especially on big race days , infact a few years ago I had the same issue with a over R 6000 payout which was reversed after late payment and then only showed in my account later in the evening . Over the years I have sent through complaints , only to get the apology for the error and we will investigate , but the result is the same , no improvement or change , after all why change something if it favors you .

As a customer I may have agreed to the terms and conditions off online betting , but I didn't agree to to use off a fixed system . I would like to think that Hollywoodbets have a level off intergrity and fair practice that they would have adhere to ,which resulted in them obtaining there operating licence .

Hollywoodbets have been aware off the problem and , I was even told that on the day of incident the Hollywood Senior management and board had a meeting and the problem off their online platform was brought up . So my question to Hollywoodbets Directors , this wasn't the first or second complaint , this was a pre- existing problem , however , instead off advising customers that there was a problem or stopping that betting platform until , you truly sorted the problem out . Your'll choose to keep quite and use the platform which is effectively a fixed system which is capable off de*****ing your very clients that support your business . Any educated person can conclude that your'll choose to keep that platform in operation as taking it offline would have costs you millions in lost revenue , instead your'll where gambling yourselves and it didn't matter if you where cheating your clients. How does your actions off knowingly operating a flawed betting platform represent any ethical responsibility that is owed to the punters that support your business .

In the 2 weeks since the reported incident , there was hasn't even been a follow up communication because like how your'll normally operate , your'll just wait for everything to blow over , until the next occassion and so forth , with no real attempt to a solution .

I am posting through this media format , as I would like clients who have experienced the same to come forward . I have never complained in my life about losing money or anything fairly , but this is a problem I have encountered to many times which as resulted me losing my money or chance to win and I am sure that I am not the only client . To date your actions have always only effected the Punters pockets , it's time for your'll to experience the same

Regards Devan Nair