Sun International has proposed relocating Morula Sun Casino and Hotel from Mabopane to Menlyn Maine in Pretoria.
Zoleka Skweyiya, manager: PR strategy at Sun International, told eTNW that the Gauteng Gambling Board was expected to make a decision on Sun International’s proposal by the end of July.
This follows the group’s presentation to the board last week.
The group has applied to relocate its casino licence because of the decline in business at Morula, which it says is a result of factors including relative inaccessibility of the location as well as illegal gaming operations in the area.
During its presentation, the group argued that relocating its underutilised casino licence at
Morula to the Menlyn Maine precinct would help create a sophisticated entertainment and hospitality node that would grow Tshwane’s leisure offerings.
“In its current status, this licence is grossly underutilised and not maximising its potential return to shareholders, Government and other stakeholders, especially in regard to job creation and fiscal returns,” the group said during its presentation. “In the absence of relocation, Morula might survive but will never deliver on the full potential of a Gauteng-based casino licence.”
In addition to the relocation of its casino licence, the group has proposed a development, named Time Square at Menlyn Maine. The development will include the casino as well as a five-star hotel, restaurants, retail outlets, a conference centre and an 8 000-seat arena. Sun International will invest R3 billion in the development. Existing jobs at Morula at the time of the relocation will be transferred to Time Square at Menlyn Maine.
Sun International expects to complete the development by June 2017, provided its application to relocate the casino licence is granted.
