South African Casino News Articles

Sun International Extends Reach into SA's pockets ( Business Day Article 31 August 2006 )

THE country’s largest gaming and leisure group, Sun International is not only experiencing the gaming boom in the country’s most lucrative market, Gauteng, but is also riding a wave in Western Cape.

So much so that its GrandWest casino in Western Cape, according to CE David Coutts-Trotter, cannot meet demand. Hence a R425m expansion programme, which will take the number of slot machines to 2500 from the current 1846.

The GrandWest spewed out R1,4bn in revenue in the group’s financial year to June.

The diverse nature of Sun International’s portfolio doesn’t end there. Last September the group opened a new casino in Bloemfontein.

The group also has a well placed KwaZulu-Natal operation Sibaya, which has just completed its first year of operation. Well placed because it is located near the site of the new airport north of Durban. Construction of the King Shaka International Airport is, according to government, set to be completed before the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

With a large number of international tourists expected to visit the country — Durban in particular — the casino could be set for an interesting 2009 and 2010.

According to the group, Sibaya already has 35,5% of the gaming market.

Analysts say key to future growth of any gaming stock will be diversity, how many pockets and in how many provinces do your tentacles reach.

Sun International at present, has the longest tentacles, among the listed players.

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