Supplier News
South Africa – Sun presents Time Square relocation to Gauteng Gambling Board
By Phil - 4 April 2014
South African operator Sun International has presented its plans to relocate its Morula Sun licence to a new R3bn home at Time Square at Menlyn Maine in Pretoria to the Gauteng Gambling Board.
The operator said the move from Mabopane to Menlyn Maine would create a ‘must-see, must-do attraction’ for the city.
Sun International’s Chief Executive Graeme Stephens explained that no new marketing efforts or gaming strategy could be implemented to revive the fortunes of Morula Sun and that no redevelopment of the current location could be justified either. On the contrary, the Time Square at Menlyn Maine, would include a five-star, 100 room hotel and an arena bigger than the Sun City Superbowl with 8,000 seats. It also highlighted the close proximity of four bingo operations, 92 limited payout machines and 25 illegal operations to the current licence.
The casino would open 2,000
slot machines and 60 tables, although it was asking for an amendment of the licence to increase the number of slot machines from 510 to 3,000 and 12 tables to 100. Mr. Stephens expected the project to be completed by June 2017 if it was granted approval.
However at least 14 local companies are challenging the approval along with residents who say the Time Square at Menlyn Maine is located too close to a school.
