SUN INTERNATIONAL POSTS EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN IGAMING OPERATOR GOES LIVE WITH ONLINE SLOTS South African Lottery’s Embattled Leadership Resigns under a Cloud Tsogo Acquisition of Emerald Casino gets Greenlight from Competition Commission GAMING for AFRICA Issue 160 ZAR50 | US$3.85 | Euro 3.30 forRegionalZorairInterview-FocusBetConstruct’sonAfricaExclusivewithAsadour,DirectorAfrica
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GAMING for AFRICA 2 Tsogo Acquisition of Emerald Casino gets Greenlight from Competition Commission 2 Sun International to sell Portion of Time Square Property 4 Hollywoodbets Goes Live with Netent and Red
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Embattled Leadership Resigns under a Cloud 18 Sun International Posts Exceptional Results 22 NorthWest
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Gaming for Africa is a trade publication aimed at the b2b casino and gaming industry in South Africa and across the African continent where legalized gambling is permitted. As such all advertising and editorial in this publication is aimed at professionals within the gambling industry, and not the general gambling public. Gaming for Africa endorses and promotes responsible gambling and proudly subscribes to the aims and initiatives of the legalized gambling industry thorugh the National Responsible Gambling Programme. National Responsible Gambling Counselling Line – 0800 006 008 Tiger South African Goes Live with Focus on Africa - Interview with Zorair Asadour, Regional Director for Africa Betfred Acquires Majority Stake in South Africa’s Lottostar Black Edition-Cash Connection Rolls out Across Africa in Sun International Casinos Supreme Court of Appeal Rules in Tsogo Sun’s Favour over BBBEE Moobifun to Digitise Grupo Pefaco’ African Casinos African Lottery’s Gambling Gambling Board Coast Sun Gaming Services Limpopo Gambling Board Gambling Malawi Gambling National Lotteries Board Monitoring of Gambling HeadsUp Acquires Spinola Gaming & Plans African Rollout 888AFRICA Sportingtech for African Gambling Regulators, South African Gaming By most expert estimations - and seen against the phenomenal growth of sportsbetting and online gaming in Africa - it would appear that land-based casino gaming would take many years to recover from the catastrophic covid shutdowns. Many experts also predicted that land-based gaming would be severely cannibalised by online gaming as land-based punters that had moved online would stay online, hampering casino growth for many years.
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It seems that the speed with which casino gaming is recovering has taken many by surprise. The ‘X Factor’ that makes a visit to, and participation in casino gaming special - for lack of a better description, the mileu and excitement that cannot be recreated online - still holds potent magic, as can be seen by the recent results of Tsogo Sun, and most recently Sun International (as covered in this issue on page 18). This is a factor not to be under-estimated as casinos continue to hold their own in a burgeoning gaming sector filled with many new gambling and entertainment options. That said, while land-based casinos are fighting strongly to regain pride of place in the market against some serious economic headwinds, an additional new offering for South African punters in the form of FOB (Fixed Odds Betting) Slots is unrolling rapidly across the country as South African iGaming operators are now allowed to offer these online slots.
gfamagazine.com Bannister Publisher Ingrid Keulder Editor-at-Large Bill Healey ACCOUNTS Administration& Fax: 086 648 1634 Email: afrogame@mweb.co.za
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GAMING FOR AFRICA is a bi-monthly magazine focused on casino operators and the manufacturing sector of the African gaming industry. We publish informed comment, and cover developments in legislation, new products, marketing and sales, promotions and general casino resort tourism trends in Africa Information published in GAMING FOR AFRICA or views or opinions expressed by writers are their own and not necessarily endorsed by the owner, publisher or editor of GAMING FOR AFRICA. While reasonable care is taken to report on events and occurrences in an accurate manner, we cannot accept any responsibility for inconveniences arising from misinformation. We welcome unsolicited articles and photographs but cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage. Press releases are published in good faith and the publishers assume that information provided is correct.
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For the year ended December 31, 2021, Time Square generated revenue of R1 billion, earning before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation of R274m, loss after tax of R183m, and had a negative net asset value of R1.9bn, the group said.
Sun International to sell Portion of Time Square Property Sun International recently announced the proposed disposal by Sun Time Square Propriety (Time Square) of a portion of its property in Menlyn, Pretoria. Sun International said the move was part of its strategic objective of consolidating its minority positions in its portfolio and disposing of non-core assets. The proposed sale of its portion of the property would be to Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings.
Newco is a newly registered private company jointly controlled by Tsogo Sun Gaming and other shareholders.TsogoSun Gaming is an indirect subsidiary of Tsogo Sun Gaming Limited. Tsogo Sun Gaming Limited, all the firms controlled (directly or indirectly) by Tsogo Sun Gaming Limited, all the firms controlling Tsogo Sun Gaming Limited, and all of the firms controlled by those firms shall be referred to as ‘Tsogo Sun’.Tsogo Sun operates casino and entertainment destinations offering a wide variety of gaming, dining, and entertainment facilities in South Africa. In addition to its interests in casinos, Tsogo Sun also has interests in bingo and Limited Pay-Out Machine (LPMs) operations as well as bookmaking interests.
The Competition Commission of South Africa (CCSA) has given Tsogo Sun the go-ahead to proceed with its intended acquisition of Emerald Casino, subject to a number of conditions.
The Commission has recommended that the Competition Tribunal approve the proposed transaction whereby Newco intends to acquire Emerald, with conditions.
conditions:Thatthe merging parties shall not retrench any employees of the Target Firm for a period of twentyfour (24) months following the approval date. If any positions become available at the Target Firm within twenty-four (24) months from the approval date, the Acquiring Firm will consider employing the former employees of the Target Firm who had been retrenched by the Target Firm in 2021, in circumstances where their skillsets are similar to, and/or suitable for, the relevant positions which may become available at the Target Firm, and the Acquiring Firm and the relevant employee(s) are able to agree to mutually agreeable terms of employment.
The merging parties shall also for a period of three years (3) from the approval date, ensure the merged entity maintains or improve on the current level of procurement of goods and services from suppliers situated in the surrounding area of the Target Firm.Newco committed to substantial investment in the Emerald business over a period of 5 (five) years following the approval of the merger.
The CCSA, held its ordinary meeting on Thursday 7 July 2022, to review and take decisions on matters brought before the Commission by members of the public and corporate applicants, in terms of the Competition Act (89 of 1998) as amended. These matters include but are not limited to complaints, mergers, and acquisitions, and shortly afterward issued a press statement outlining its conditions for the merger to proceed:
The Target firm is Emerald and the majority shareholding interest in Emerald is held by LCIOI, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of a foreign/ offshore Investment Manager. Emerald offers casino, short-term hotel accommodation, conferencing or banqueting facilities, and leisure activities. Emerald is situated in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng. Following its investigation of the proposed merger, the Commission found that the proposed transaction is unlikely to result in a substantial prevention or lessening of competition in the relevant market.However, the Commission was concerned about the likely implications of the proposed merger on public interest grounds such as employment, and on local SMMEs supplying the Target Firm pre-merger. The Commission was also concerned about the likely relocation of the Target Firm postmerger, including the likely impact of this on the local community. To address these concerns, the Commission recommended to the Tribunal that the proposed merger be approved subject to the following T he group also announced its acquisition of Vast Way Trade and Invest Proprietary’s shares and loan account in Time Square by Sun International South Africa (Sisa).“If the deal is approved, Menlyn Maine shall
In addition, for a period of five (5) years from the approval date, Newco commits not to relocate the casino licence in respect of Emerald from the current site on which Emerald’s operations are located to another site within the Gauteng province. pay Time Square R198 million; while Vast Way will sell its loan account for R36 million and its shares in Time Square to Sisa,” it said.
2 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com INDUSTRY NEWS
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS K2021134577 (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (‘Newco’)/ Emerald Hotel Resort & Casino South Africa (Emerald)
Sisa will acquire Vast Way’s loan account and 14.25 percent equity interest in Time Square for a purchase price of R125m.
Tsogo Acquisition of Emerald Casino gets Greenlight from Competition Commission
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4 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com INDUSTRY NEWS
Dean Finder, chief executive officer at Evolution Services SA, added: “We are delighted that we have the opportunity to expand our Crazy Time, Dream Catcher and Lightning Roulette.” Wayde Dorkin, Head of Product at Hollywoodbets, said: “We are delighted to be adding NetEnt and Red Tiger slots to our wide-ranging product offering.
Hollywoodbets prides itself on providing its customers with the best and most exciting products that the market has to offer. NetEnt and Red Tiger are household names for guaranteeing the ultimate online gaming experience for our players.” partnership with Supabets and that they will now have access to our portfolio of NetEnt and Red Tiger slot games. We hope their players will enjoy the diversity of the portfolio, as there truly is something available for everyone to enjoy.”
H
ollywoodbets, one of the leading betting operator in South Africa, has an extensive footprint across the country via its mobile betting platform and retail outlets. Through its operations, Hollywoodbets engages with thousands of customers on a daily basis in sports betting, horse racing, lottery and live games. Dean Finder, Chief Executive Officer at Evolution Services South Africa, said: “We are thrilled to be L aunched back in 2008, Supabets is an African based land and online betting and gaming company. It operates across South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. This new deal will see Supabets become the first operator in the South African market with a slots selection. Having worked closely with the market regulator, the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator (MER), NetEnt and Red Tiger will now be supplying Supabets with an initial 175 games of its world class slot portfolio. Having already partnered with Evolution for its suit of Live games, the new announcement strengthens the bonds between the two companies, as Supabets now expands into the slotsMarcworld.Palxton-Harrison, managing director at Intelligent Gaming, said: “We are ecstatic to finally have MER approval for the launch of the NetEnt and Red Tiger world class slots offering. We are confident they will do very well with partnering with Hollywoodbets to provide them with our world-class slots portfolio by NetEnt and Red Tiger. Hollywoodbets was one of our first partners when we opened the South African vertical, and together we have already successfully operated Evolution and Ezugi live dealer fixed-odds games in the market. With this most recent milestone in our partnership, NetEnt and Red Tiger slots will complement the already broad offering of immensely popular live games, such as Supabets and we look forward to adding the portfolio to our remaining SA clients.”
NetEnt and Red Tiger have announced that under an agreement signed with Hollywoodbets, 75 of their high-end slot games have gone live in South Africa with hundreds of further games in the pipeline. Over the next year, Evolution, the parent company of NetEnt and Red Tiger, will be introducing its full suite of 400 online slot games to the South African market. Players in the market can now enjoy the excitement of games such as Gonzo’s Quest™ Megaways™, Starburst™ XXXtreme, Fruit Shop™, and Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen™. With this move, Evolution is further solidifying its position in the market, expanding its already present Evolution and Ezugi live dealer fixed-odds game portfolio. NetEnt and Red Tiger have partnered with South African operator, Supabets.
Hollywoodbets Goes Live with Netent and Red Tiger Games
First South African iGaming Operator Goes Live with Slots
“ Why is BetConstruct showing focus in Africa? Africa has always been endorsed as the next continent and destination of opportunity for the iGaming industry. Rapid advancements in technology, further clarity in regulations and mobile/internet penetration being the main key factors for growth across the region. The growth was semi-suppressed by the pandemic, however as expected, a rebound took place with a GDP growth in 2021 as forecasted to be above 3% which is why BetConstruct focuses on the region and identifies it as the next destination for its expansion plans.
How do you see BetConstruct’s contribution in the development of the igaming industry in Africa? Bringing a tailored platform to the market, covering online channels and retail - that’s our goal so far. The solutions like Sportsbook and Virtual Sports, being the top-grossing on the continent, are available on PC, Self Service Betting Terminals as well as hand held terminals. If partners request a custom solution matching their specific need, that option is also possible to be covered by BetConstruct. When’s the time?/What are the future plans of BetConstruct in Africa?
With a renewed focus on the African continent designed to provide sportsbtetting operators with the best possible platform, BetConstruct’s Zorair Asadour chatted to Gaming for Africa about the company’s plans for the continent, as well as a renewed focus on enhacing and growing partnerships with local operators drawing on the talent and local expertise of these African partners. Africa has always been endorsed as the next continent and destination of opportunity for the iGaming industry. Rapid advancements in technology, further clarity in regulations and mobile/internet penetration being the main key factors for growth across the region.” - Zorair Asadour, BetConstruct’s Regional Director for Africa.
BetConstruct’s plans for Africa are long term ones. With our Harmony shows taking place in Africa we are aiming to rapidly expand and onboard more tier 1 customers and empower them with our excelling platform and its localized features for the region across all possible channels. The further development for BetConstruct in the region will be watching the industry closely as it evolves and localizing our products per partners and players needs.
What does the message “What’s Yours Is Yours” mean? And what does it convey? That’s the message that BetConstruct has for the resilient, hard-working and gifted continent of Africa. The motto reflects the philosophy of giving total transparency and honesty to local operators. The benefits of their business is what belongs to them, and them only. That’s why we say what’s yours is yours. The continent holds a massive potential being a diverse market with key similarities across most countries. Some differences apply too, but despite those, what spawns all the residents of the continent is eagerness to think igaming and do business. BetConstruct’s products are flexible and the pricing is clear and transparent. With all opportunities that come with our products, we enable our partners to fully reap the benefits of working with us.
BetConstruct’s Big Move into Africa
6 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com EXCLUSIVE FEATURE
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LottoStar has quickly developed itself as a leading brand, recognized nationally across South Africa after high-profile marketing campaigns and their continued efforts to uplift and rebuild communities through their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives across SA,” Betfred describes the South African business in a pressTherelease.move is expected to further add to Betfred’s existing presence in the jurisdiction. The brand currently operates 53 shops in South Africa, and an online business following the acquisition of Betting World and Sepels Sportsbet.
“We are delighted to partner with such a fast-growing company in South Africa,” said Betfred Chief Executive Officer Joanne Whittaker. “The business will not only complement our activity in South Africa but our international businesses in the United States and Europe.”
Betfred Acquires Majority Stake in South Africa’s Lottostar
Betfred Chief Executive Officer Joanne Whittaker
“LottoStar was founded in 2014 as a family-run business with an innovative model to offer a fixed-odds betting online platform in South Africa,” commented LottoStar’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tasoulla Hadjigeorgiou. “As an online betting leader in South Africa, we are excited to partner with one of the UK’s best bookmakers.”According to Hadjigeorgiou, the partnership has the potential to broaden LottoStar’s offering and provide its customers with “the highest quality services.” The deal is also expected to pave the way for greater collaboration and expansion, and the executive said LottoStar is “excited to grow” its family.
UK bookmaker Betfred has taken a significant step forward in South Africa through a partnership with LottoStar, the country’s largest online betting company. Betfred has now taken a majority shareholding in the business, which offers fixed-odds numbers betting and live games on its online platform.
“We look forward to working closely with the LottoStar team to support the continued growth of the business providing world-class games and services to the online betting market in South Africa,” Whittaker further commented.
Betfred currently operates 1,470 shops in the UK and a successful online business. In addition to South Africa, the Warrington-headquartered bookmaker has also expanded into other jurisdictions such as the US and Spain.
The company had already announced it would be seeking to increase its footprint in South Africa following the Betting World and Sepels Sportsbet acquisition. Upon finalization of that deal, Betfred’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Phil Siers, hinted at future plans, remarking the company “intends to make a major investment in Africa over the coming years.”
8 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com INDUSTRY NEWS
LottoStar’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tasoulla Hadjigeorgiou.
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10 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com INDUSTRY NEWS
NOVOMATIC’s Black Edition-Cash Connection Rolls out Across Africa in 10 Sun International Casinos The PANTHERA™ 2.27 proved to be very popular amongst players. The robust cabinet from the PANTHERA™ line features two 27” screens and a TouchDeck™ player interface with a stylish black and chrome design that offers a variety of NOVOMATIC content and jackpot games. The two banks also feature impressive overhead signage that makes a bold impression on the Carnival City casino floor. Players appreciate the choice of four thrilling titles featuring vivid graphics, player-friendly multidenomination, and the most exciting Coin-Re-spin Feature which encourages them to collect more and more coins with chances to win the top Progressive prize. The CASH CONNECTION™ and THUNDER CASH™ themes are continuously providing players with endless excitement and entertainment.” Fast-forward three years later NOVOMATIC’s THUNDER CASH™ Link and CASH CONNECTION™ Charming Lady™ in the PANTHERA™ 2.27 have impressed Sun International Carnival City Casino with their excellent performance. The positive results lead to the rollout of Black Edition with NOVO LINE™ CASH CONNECTION™ Edition 2 in Sun International’s Sun City, Golden Valley, Sun Time Square, The Boardwalk, Grand West and Meropa Casino this July! Now players across South Africa can be delighted and entertained when visiting these casinos.
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“Our localised expertise will ensure that users will have a seamless and enjoyable online experience.”LydiaLudic is the trademark used by Grupo Pefaco and Pefaco International to develop their games and Leisure division and is spread over more than 100 cities in 9 African countries including Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Niger, DR of Congo, Rwanda and Togo.
T his comes after the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld an appeal application by the Caledon, Garden Route and Mykonos casinos, which falls under the Tsogo Sun Group in the Western Cape, arguing that new conditions imposed by the board was done “in blanket fashion” instead of doing individual assessments that would apply to each licensee.Theconditions required the appellants to “achieve an overall rating of Level 4 in terms of the Tourism Scorecard” and to submit related documentation to the Board. The conditions imposed by the board required the appellants to achieve and maintain a Level 4 status under the B-BBEE framework. According to court documents, the section which was declared unlawful and invalid by the SCA, read that the licence holder shall achieve an overall rating of Level 4 in terms of the Tourism Scorecard, and should submit to the Board “3 calendar months before the expiry date of its licence, a BBBEE rating verification
Stringent decisions made by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board relating to Tsogo Sun casinos operating licenses and its Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) framework, have been declared unlawful and invalid.
Moobifun to Digitise Grupo Pefaco’
In the judgment, SCA Judge Trevor Govern, said: “There is no dispute that decisions of the Board amount to administrative action under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act 3 of 2000 (PAJA). This means that such decisions are susceptible of review under both PAJA and the principle of legality. As to the latter, it is trite that the Board, being a statutory body, is limited to the powers accorded to it in legislation. If an entity exceeds the powers accorded it in making a decision, the decision is unlawful.
bricks-and-mortar casino space and we’re thrilled to help them digitise the African operation.
Supreme Court of Appeal Rules in Tsogo Sun’s Favour over BBBEE
African Casinos
ThGrupo Pefaco runs several successful casino businesses in West Africa, under the brand Lydia Ludic and Moobifun will be spearheading the online migration using its standout proprietary technology. Focus will initially be on digitising Grupo Pefaco’s casinos across six African countries.Moobifun will enable Grupo Pefaco to engage with its customers via the best localised mobile channels for each individual market. Furthermore, Moobifun is to provide its suite of lottery products certificate which is not older than 12 months, from an accredited institution, along with its renewal application of the relevant licence.” Further conditions under the clause read that if the licensee failed to achieve compliance level, that it would submit a plan setting out how the required BBBEE compliance level will be achieved, three months before its license expiry date.Also, the licensee should submit a plan, three months before the license expires, setting out its objectives to improve its current BBBEE level and status. The Tsogo group argued that the imposed conditions were unlawful in that the board was not empowered to impose those conditions, and if they were to hold those powers, “the jurisdictional facts for the exercise of that power were not satisfied”, court documents read. “The Board’s decision to impose the Level 4 conditions involved an unlawful ‘one size fits all’ industry-wide condition, without regard to the specific circumstances of the appellants. that spans instant lottery, numbers games and digital scratch cards. Each game has been developed in-house using the USSD and WEB distribution channels.
Moobifun, a leading turnkey igaming solutions provider, has agreed a deal with Grupo Pefaco to digitise its casino operations within Africa.
Grupo Pefaco will also be enlisting Moobifun’s payment integration prowess with its Mobile Money offering and this will be accessible in Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Niger, Ivory Coast and Burundi. Moobifun’s head of business development and sales, Louis Mecklembourg, said: “Grupo Pefaco has built a very successful business within the
As a result, the discretion of the Board had been fettered by rigidity…the Board’s decision was unreasonable,” Tsogo Sun averred.
It has no power to make the decision and such decision would be ultra vires (beyond its powers)...“Sadly, the Board appears to have elevated what is really a policy into an immutable rule which it applied indiscriminately to all licence holders regardless of their circumstances,” said Govern. (Source: Cape Times)
12 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com REGULATORY NEWS
PalaceBet.co.za Launches Online Slots
Peermont’s PalaceBet.co.za, also home to the legendary Emperors Palace, has launched online slots as part of its online game offering. The initial 50 game Slots release is powered by Evolution and boasts games by NetEnt; a world-class edition to the Company’s existing library of live games which already includes popular titles like Crazy Time, Dreamcatcher, Deal or No Deal and Lightning Roulette. “ W e’re very excited to have online Slots as part of our offering,’ says PalaceBet.co.za General Manager Duncan Pollock. ‘As part of the Peermont family we’re always looking for ways to offer our customers bigger variety and with the addition of online Slots we now have a comprehensive product list that our existing and new players can take home with them.’ Available for play on all mobile devices, as well as an Android or Apple app, PalaceBet’s new library of slots will give players a discerning selection of games consisting of state-of-theart graphics and smooth gameplay ensuring a world-class gaming experience. Of the initial 50 game release players can look forward to titles including Starburst XXXtreme , Gonzo’s Quest, Jumanji, Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen, Fruit Shop, Twin Spin, Gorilla Kingdom, Piggy Riches, Wild Water, Blood Suckers and Narcos. Coming soon PalaceBet.co.za will be bolstering their Slots offering with an additional Evolution bouquet of games from Red Tiger. ‘Granted, it’s early days, but the fact that PalaceBet.co.za is now able to offer a full gaming experience inclusive of Live Table games, Slots, Sports Betting, as well as Game Shows is the start of what we trust will become a truly compelling online Peermont offering. That said, whether you’re an existing Peermont player, or new to us, one thing is for sure – you’ll always get quality Peermont service, and an unprecedented gaming experience; and, if you’re a Winners Circle member you’ll earn Leisure Points when you play, points that you can then redeem at any one of our 12 land-based casinos, it’s a real win-win’ concludes Pollock. For more information on casino chairs and related products, please contact your Key Account Manager at umAfrika Gaming Technologies exclusive distributor of StylGame product to South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean Islands Telephone : +27 11 997-4200 Email : sales@umafrika.co.za
14 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com IGAMING NEWS
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Embattled National Lotteries Commission Chief Operations Officer Phillemon Letwaba has resigned with immediate effect, just weeks before he was due to appear before a disciplinary hearing to answer charges of abusing his position to enrich himself and his family, according to investigative news-outlet GroundUp. The board of the NLC is yet to accept Letwaba’s sudden resignation.
16 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com REGULATORY NEWS
L etwaba’s resignation on Wednesday comes just days after the sudden resignation of NLC Commissioner Charlotte Thabang Mampane. GroundUp had revealed that her luxury North West golf course home was allegedly paid for from a Lottery grant to build a school in Limpopo. Letwaba has been at the heart of many GroundUp stories on corruption at the NLC over the past few years, including several Lotteryfunded projects in Kuruman, this one involving a multimillion-rand drug rehabilitation centre in Pretoria, and a R4.8-million grant to a nonprofit where his wife was one of the directors.Letwaba has previously denied the allegations against him, including in a previous disciplinary hearing. He is also suing GroundUp for defamation.
The new hearing was due to begin earlier this month but was delayed after Letwaba’s lawyer objected to the lawyer appointed to chair the hearing. Letwaba’s contract at the NLC was due to expire at the end of November. Read article on GroundUp.the original
Thendo Ramagoma, the former deputy of the NLC’s Arts and Culture distributing agency and current legal executive, has been acting as Commissioner since Mampane went on leave two weeks ago. The purchase of the house is under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which has been probing corruption involving Lottery funds ever since President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation in October 2020 authorising the investigation. Mampane was recently called in by the SIU to answer questions about the 2016 purchase of the house for R3.6-million. A few weeks afterward GroundUp, which had been investigating the house purchase since receiving a tip-off last year, published its story.
Under Mampane, the NLC’s relationship with Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel, who has oversight of the lottery, has been adversarial and marked with litigation.
South African Lottery’s Embattled Leadership Resigns under a Cloud
Letwaba, Mothibi said, was guilty of misconduct or breach of trust by accepting financial benefits of around R45-million through multiple entities linked to his family. There was also evidence that Letwaba had been involved in conflicts of interest that contravened the Lotteries Act, he told Mampane.
Mampane’s house is one of several that GroundUp has revealed was bought with Lottery grants meant to go to fund good causes, especially in rural and marginalised communities. Mampane, who last year earned R4.5-million, went on leave on the same day that the GroundUp story was GroundUppublished. states that it understands that Mampane was to face disciplinary action in connection with the use of Lottery money to purchase her house. It’s unclear what the effect of her sudden resignation will be on this process, says the news outlet.
Read the original article on GroundUp.
Letwaba, who was suspended for a third time earlier this month, was facing charges in terms of the Lotteries Act, which included receiving financial benefits from recipients of Lottery grants. He was controversially cleared of similar charges when he faced a disciplinary hearing in March. A decision was taken by the new NLC board to charge him again after receiving legal advice that there were problems with the manner in which the hearing was conducted.
Letwaba’s resignation follows shortly on the heels of NLC Commissioner, Charlotte Mampane, who served ten years as Commissioner - effectively chief executive officer of the NLC. Her first fiveyear contract was extended in September 2017. The NLC has been overwhelmed with corruption over the past few years. GroundUp states it has uncovered hundreds of millions of rands of misspent Lottery funding on Mampane’s watch, and what we have reported is likely the tip of the iceberg. Her resignation comes just over two weeks after we revealed that Lottery funding meant to build a Limpopo school razed by fire during a protest, had been used to pay for her luxury home in a golf estate.
Communication between the minister and the NLC was largely reduced to writing, often in the form of lawyers’ letters. This is not the first time that Mampane has resigned from a high-powered job. In 2010, she resigned as acting chief operations officer of the SABC, after she was caught on CCTV camera eavesdropping on a board meeting where her performance was being discussed.
Letwaba was originally charged after SIU head Andy Mothibi informed then Commissioner Mampane of evidence of misconduct by Letwaba.
It followed the SABC board’s dismal performance before SCOPA (Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts) the previous month. After the SCOPA hearing, Mampane came under pressure to give up her post, but she retained her well-paid job as a group executive in the office of the CEO. In 2012, she received a “golden handshake” of R4.3-million from the SABC to prematurely terminate her contract. She joined the NLC as Commissioner shortly afterwards.
(Articles and info, courtesy GroundUp - edited for length)
The house, in the upmarket Pecanwood Estate, which abuts Hartebeespoort Dam in North West Province, is registered in the name of a trust in which Mampane and her husband, Samuel, are both trustees. The couple and their two adult children are all beneficiaries of the trust.
info@grippadvisory.co.zainfo@grippadvisory.co.za+27 87 551 1702 grippadvisorywww.grippadvisory.co.za
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Adjusted headline earnings of 177 cents per share Gross interim cash dividend of 88 cents per share. First dividend since 2016 [Johannesburg, 29 August 2022] - Sun International released its half-year results today, showing strong growth in income and adjusted EBITDA. Gaming income from casinos, Sun Slots and SunBet, which make up 82% of group income, showed a significant recovery, with income up 30%.
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Sun International Posts Exceptional Performance and Resumes Dividend Payments
18 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com
Income up 37% from the prior comparative period to R5.2 billion
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Improved use of data and analytics combined with a selective focus on certain market segments allowed the group to grow market share. For the year to date, Sun International’s market share compared to the comparative period in the competitive Gauteng market increased 0.6% to 27.8%, in the Eastern Cape it increased 4% to 80.4%, in KwaZulu-Natal it increased 3.1% to 38.6%, and in the Western Cape it increased 0.5% to 78.1%. The group continues to right-size its operations and drive margin improvements by generating strong cash flow. Sun International reduced excess slots across the group by 1 192 (12%) and excess tables by 73 (20%), resulting in a commensurate savings including licence fees, operational costs and future capital expenditure for the replacement of these positions. The reductions will have no impact on income as we had excess capacity on our casino floors. The Sun Slots business proved remarkably The Table Bay hotel, Sun International’s 5-star property in the V&A Waterfront, turned 25 this year.
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As a result of substantial sustainable savings in the group’s cost structure, the South African operation’s adjusted EBITDA margin improved from 26.8% in 2019 to 29.1% during the period under review. Sun International CE Anthony Leeming reported that: “These exceptional results were achieved despite a trading environment which was impacted by the ongoing effects of Covid-19 (the pandemic), power outages, increasing fuel prices, high inflation and international supply chain“Thedisruptions.”groupwas able to successfully defend and grow market share in most provinces, while income generated from Sun Slots recovered to exceed pre-pandemic levels. SunBet generated record income during the period under review and is well on its way to achieving our aggressive growth targets for this business.” Adjusted headline earnings improved from a loss of R7 million to earnings of R438 million, equivalent to adjusted headline earnings of 177 cents per share from a loss of 3 cents per share in the prior comparative period. The group is in a strong financial position with South African debt (excluding IFRS 16 lease liabilities) having reduced to R5.9 billion from the R6.4 billion at 31 December 2021, and debt to adjusted EBITDA, based on the last six months results annualised, below 2 times. As a result of the significantly stronger financial position and the strong cash generation, the board has resolved to resume dividend payments, and has declared a gross interim cash dividend of 88 cents per share, representing a dividend cover of 2.0 times on adjusted headline earnings per share of 177 cents per share. “Our balance sheet is in a strong position with unutilised facilities of R1.5 billion. We continue to prioritise increasing free cashflows and disciplined capital allocation to maximise stakeholder value within a set of fundamental capital allocation principles,” remarked Leeming. “With the significantly lower debt levels, and as the business returns to pre-pandemic levels, we anticipate that our debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio will continue to improve.” Casino income has proven resilient and is swiftly recovering from the effects of the pandemic. Overall, urban casino operations generated adjusted EBITDA of R1 141 million for the period under review. Despite urban casino income being 13% below levels achieved in 2019, the adjusted EBITDA margin of 36.3% was up 3.6% on the 2019 adjusted EBITDA margin of 32.7%.
Adjusted headline earnings improved to R438 million Adjusted EBITDA up by 99% to R1.5 billion Adjusted profit before tax of R800 million
“We anticipate that SunBet will continue with strong income growth which will be aided by the introduction of the recently launched slots offering. Our omni-channel offering with Sun International’s premium hotel and casino portfolio and integrated MVG programme will assist in increasing our share of the online gaming market.“
Sun International CEO, Anthony Leeming
gfamagazine.com / Gaming for Africa / 19 resilient, with a strong recovery in trading. It swiftly reactivated closed sites, resulting in 4 773 of the Limited Payout Machines (LPM) being made available for play during the period under review. The group continues to engage with the regulators to increase the roll out of licences in addition to the 6 500 LPM licences that have already been allocated. Sun Slots income increased from R608 million to R717 million, with adjusted EBITDA up from R152 million to R178 million for the period under review. SunBet has continued its strong growth trajectory and remains an exciting prospect for the group. Active players on the rapidly expanding online sports betting and gaming platform continued to grow with additional games being offered and the overall player experience being enhanced.Atthe end of the period under review, SunBet achieved substantial growth in its key performance indicators against 2021, which •included:Income up 37%; • Sports turnover up 16%; and • Deposits up 64%. “We believe that SunBet offers the group significant and exciting growth potential and with this in mind, we continue to invest in people, marketing and our omni-channel approach in order to significantly increase our share of the fast-growing online gaming market,” said Leeming. “We have appointed a new chief operating officer of SunBet, Simon Gregory, who has significant international online gaming experience, having worked at Sporting Bet Plc., which was one of the world’s largest online gaming groups.” “We continue to leverage the Sun International brand, presence and loyalty offering to attract and retain players while positioning SunBet to be the most trusted and responsible gaming operator. In a highly commoditised online industry, our competitive advantage lies in our ability to add value to the offering through the wider Sun International stable,” advisedLeeming. “We are on a focused journey to grow our current operating market and launch into new markets. In this regard, subsequent to 30 June 2022, we have concluded a 70% investment in a Mauritian company, for a subscription price of USD3.2 million. The company has online sports betting and casino licences to operate in Ghana, Zambia and Kenya. We are in the early stages of rolling out the SunBet operating model and brand in these markets, which have attractive long-term growth potential.” “On 1 August 2022, we received approval to offer slots style games. To date income is encouraging even before we launched our marketing effort. Based on international precedents, we believe online slots has immense potential for driving scale in SunBet, and supporting our omni-channel strategy between land-based and online gaming,“ said Leeming . With the exception of transient business and international travel segments, we have experienced a strong recovery in the resorts and hotels business. Domestic leisure, conferencing and sports and events revenues exceeded 2019 levels, while transient corporate and international leisure revenues remain behind 2019. Total resorts and hotels income was up 63% to R1 123 million on the prior comparative period. Although total income remained 6% below 2019 levels, casino income exceeded 2019 as a result of the group leveraging the Sun City Resort and Wild Coast Sun for the enjoyment of MVG and SunBet customers. Overall, our resorts and hotels generated an adjusted EBITDA of R152 million, which is an improvement from the loss of R88 million in the comparative period and adjusted EBITDA of R120 million in the 2019 comparative period. The adjusted EBITDA margin of 13.5% reflects a substantial improvement from the adjusted EBITDA margin of 10.1% achieved in 2019 and represents meaningful progress towards the group’s margin targets. Overall group debt, excluding IFRS 16 lease liabilities, reduced from R7.1 billion at 31 December 2021 to R6.6 billion at 30 June 2022. South African debt to adjusted EBITDA and interest cover of 2.6 times and 4.0 times respectively, was well within Sun International’s lenders’ covenants of 4.5 times and 2.25 times respectively. The refurbishment of The Palace at Sun City and the addition of a spa, will be completed in November 2022 at a total cost of R208 million, of which R54 million was incurred in 2021, R67 million in the current reporting period and R87 million during the second six months of this year. The group expects to achieve higher rates and occupancies following the completion of the refurbishments. Work on the expansion of the GrandWest Hotel has commenced. The hotel will be expanded from 39 keys to 103 keys at a cost of R122 million, of which R27 million will be incurred in the current year and the remaining amount in 2023. Opening is anticipated to be in the third quarter of 2023. The existing 39-room hotel achieves an occupancy of 99% and can only accommodate a limited number of top-end customers. The additional rooms ensure that the group can fully implement its out-of-town strategy and offer an enhanced customer experience, which in turn will impact positively on gaming income.
Leeming remarked that: “Our operations improved significantly during the first six months as the last pandemic-related restrictions were lifted and we anticipate this to continue for the remainder of the year. Our overall July 2022 income was in line with 2019 and ahead of the run rate achieved in the first six months. With our ongoing focus on costs and efficiency, we anticipate a significant improvement in the second half of the year on the prior comparative period and consequently, strong growth in adjusted EBITDA and earnings per share.”
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gfamagazine.com / Gaming for Africa / 21 Blaze Craps Blaze Money wheel • Assists dealer accuracy • Highlights winning bets for added security • Stunning patented game animations • Acrylic or cloth layouts available • Entertain and inform players Blaze Benefits Take your gaming tables to the next level with Blaze. To find out more visit tcsjohnhuxley.com NEW
The Member of the Executive Council for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Honourable Keneetswe Mosenogi acting in terms of the provisions of section 5read together with section 9 of the North West Gambling Act 2 of 2001, as amended has recently appointed three additional Board members to the North West Gambling Board.
The North West Gambling Board, an entity of the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism and responsible for the regulation of gambling in the North West Province, has managed to receive a clean bill of health in respect of the management of its finances and its administration as declared by the Auditor-General for the 2021/22 Financial Year.
The entity has managed to weather the storm despite many challenges that it faced during the year which included amongst others not having a substantive Chief Executive Officer whose term of service was terminated and also not having a full complement of Board members.
“With this benchmark, not only do we hope to have restored the institutional integrity of our entity but we’ve also developed a winning formula for our continued future success. In strengthening its institutional capacity, the Board also welcomes the filling of Board vacancies with the appointment of three additional members. This will expectedly strengthen the governance capacity and outlook of the entity with the reconfiguration of the various subcommittees, which are a vital cog in the maintaining operational efficiencies” commented the elated Chairperson of the Board.
The appointment of Adv. O. Dibetso-Bodibe, Dr M Lekota and Ms. MR Moye came at a time where the Board had to fill vacancies that have been existing for more than two years. In his welcome address, the North West Gambling Board Chairperson, Mr Lavelle Vere highlighted that these appointments will go a long way in strengthening the governance capacity of the entity which recently received a clean bill of health from the Auditor-General.
22 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com REGULATORY NEWS
NorthWest Gambling Board Appoints Additional Members
The Chairperson and Executive Management met with the newly appointed Board of Directors during an induction session which was aimed at orientating the new board members on the mandate and operational structure of the Board.
The elated Chairperson of the Board, Mr Lavelle Vere noted with appreciation the clean audit as the entity last achieved this 10 years ago and is particularly significant in light of the negative and unwarranted allegations of impropriety levelled against the Board and its Management.
“The Board has a mandate to regulate the gambling in general and to ensure transformation in the gambling industry as well as ensure that the general members of the communities receive some value from gambling activities through the SocioEconomic Development initiatives. Even though these funds are never enough, a lot has been achieved in the previous years. The Board built house for a family of 10 people in Masutlhe and also paid tuition fees for two indigent children at the North West University just to name a few. We wish to do more if funds can be availed to the entity so that we change the lives of our people,” said Mr Vere.
The Acting CEO, Mr S Mogapi shared the entities plans which included the plan to license the third Route Operator, introduction of the Bet-exchange bookmaker and a project of a fifth casino.“The Board members join the North West Gambling Board at a time when the Peermont Group has lodged an application for the location of its casino operation which is trading as Mmabatho Palms Casino, from Mahikeng to Rustenburg. This process will be challenging process but we confident that the appointment of new board members, their experience and expertise will see us through this process,” said Mr Mogapi. Mr. Vere assured new members of his unconditional support in their execution of their fiduciary duties.
Mr Vere conveyed his greatest appreciation to his fellow Board members, the Acting CEO, Chief Financial Officer and Staff of the Board for the sterling job done.
NorthWest Gambling Board Achieves Clean Audit
Managing Governance, Risk and Compliance for Electronic Gaming Machines
Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC)
Bingo operations were based on manual bingo games played in Bingo halls at restaurants. Bingo has evolved over the years from being a game played with cards to a game being played using EBTs. EBTs are an improvised version of slot machines. Instead of using a pen and paper cards, EBTs offer an electronic touchscreen that automatically plays the game. Maximum bet and pay-outs are dependant on location and operator.Somecountries prohibit slot machines but allow bingo games. Operators have introduced EBTs in these areas to provide an experience similar to that of slot machines. Regulations around EBT operations are very inconsistent as certain regulators are yet to update Bingo regulations to incorporate EBTs in areas where the operations are similar to casinos. Gaming Rules and Regulations around Technical Standards, Surveillance, Security and Cash Desk need strengthening in the area of EBTs as current gaming Rules and Regulations focus on manual bingo games and bingo halls. Centres, Procurement, Human Resources, Marketing) Audit, which is an independent and holistic service provider in terms of assurance. external and governing WE CAN HELP YOU GRIPP is a focused governance, risk, and internal control (GRC) advisory and business solutions organisation. We provide a holistic and end-to-end GRC suite of services to our clients. These services are core to what we do, and our focus is without distraction of other peripheral advisory and audit services. GRiPP Advisory service offerings are continued on page 17 Slot Machines Casinos Slot machines have evolved from having manual reels, using coins/ tokens and operation through levers/ arms to now fully being electronic, interactive, and coinless. Casinos can have a varying number of slot machines determined by the licence stipulations. There is generally no limit on the maximum bet or pay-out for slot machines in casinos. The casino industry is dominated by the major casino operators in Africa. There are various suppliers of slot machines, who can tailor the machines to individual operator needs. Due to the costs associated with machines, operators generally purchase machines from the various suppliers for their larger operations and move the old machines to smaller and outlying operations. All areas of casino operations are generally regulated, and various departments monitor compliance, including Surveillance, Compliance, and Internal Audit. Limited Payout Machines (LPMs) Pubs, Taverns, Sports bars. (sites) LPMs are slot machines with a restricted bet and pay-out. The main role players in the LPM sector are route, independent and site operators. The maximum number of LPMs which may be operated from a site is five, however, this could increase to forty depending on location and license conditions. LPMs must be a secondary offering to the main business of the site. Due to the extent of the LPM operations, which can have a large number of sites, a large element of responsibility for compliance sits with the Route Operators. Compliance levels at sites are largely dependant on the site owner/ operator with oversight from the Route Operator. Non-compliance issues are usually as a result of a lack of commitment and enforcement from site owners/ operators. Centralised functions at the Route Operator such as systems, warehousing, call centre, technical support, administration, and licencing provide support for site operators.
Generally, there are three types of Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) used in land-based gambling that operate on the same premise but are regulated differently according to the requirements of its location. The requirements of Gambling laws in Africa can range from some of the strictest in the world to being rather lenient, depending on your location.
3. Internal
Bingo Halls/ operators
by Alan Rampersadh - Key Account Manager, GRIPP Advisory. Alan has over 20 years of experience in the Gaming industry which includes both Consulting and in-house functions and holds qualifications and certifications in Internal Audit.
Electronic Bingo Terminals (EBTs)
24 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com COMPLIANCE & GOVERNANCE
bodies HOW
• Stakeholder
• Sub-standard customer services • Inability to attract and retain talented staff • Disgruntled customers • Reputational damage • Financial Loss • Potential legal consequences What you can do (Lines of Defence) By implementing an organised, integrated, and coordinated approach, operators can align governance, risk management and compliance roles and responsibilities. The following lines of defence model illustrates how each line plays an important role within the operator’s risk and control framework. 1. Management Oversight • Training of staff • Implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) • Establishing Internal Controls Standards (ICSs) • Performing Self assessments/ audits 2. Management of Governance, Risk and Compliance • Compliance functions • Risk Management • Centralised Services (Call
Operators face an ever changing and multifaceted business climate coupled with numerous risks and challenges with integrating governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). Bringing people together to share resources and co-ordinate plans, will improve decision making, ensure alignment in working towards common strategies and processes, and reduce costs associated with compliance. Some of the risks and challenges faced regulatory landscape expectations for performance and growth Costs of addressing compliance requirements and managing risk cost of EGMs
•include:Ever-changing
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• Non-compliance resulting in the following: • Potential fines and penalties • Potential imprisonment • Potential loss of existing licences • Extended/ recurring EGM downtime • Increased
4. Independent
assurance •External audit • Regulators
The Regulatory environment around EGMs include Gambling Boards, Financial Intelligence Centres (anti-money laundering), Responsible Gambling Programmes, Consumer Protection Acts. The Gauteng Gambling Board Rules and Regulations are generally used as a guideline for compliance in certain African countries.
C M Y CM MY CY CMY K
The following courses will be available: Hospitality Management Programmes • Bachelor of Business Administration in
• Basics of Bookkeeping
• Diploma
• Higher
The Wild Coast Academy opened its doors on 11 July 2022 and will run in conjunction with the International Hotel School (IHS) and Summit, which develops specialised course curriculae for various industry sectors. According to Wild Coast Sun General Manager Peter Tshidi, the Academy will form an integral part of the resort’s Socio-Economic Development (SED) programme.Tshidisaid: “It is our hope that the Academy will provide people from the region with the requisite training opportunities to enter and excel in the broader hospitality and food and beverage management
Previously,sectors.”localresidents hoping to study towards a career in the hospitality industry had to travel and stay in Durban at huge expense. The Wild Coast Sun Academy will be offering a 50% discount on courses initially, while Tshidi said the number of learners would increase from 15 to 30 a year to deserving beneficiaries. “The Wild Coast Academy now offers world-class training right on the doorstep of our stakeholder communities, and we are immensely proud of this achievement and the transformative role it can play in economic development and empowerment in this region,” he added. Hospitality in Hospitality Certificate in Hospitality Management Certificate in Food and Beverage programmes in Professional Cookery and Kitchen Cookery Programmes Programmes•Professional Cookery Certificate in Cookery
• Key pillars of scaling a business SMME Management Development (Run online with Tutor support)
Operations Management • Diploma
• Procurement standard operating procedures (SOP) and structuring request for proposals (RFP)
26 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT
The launch of the Academy follows on from the very successful SMME Business and Networking conference which was hosted at the Wild Coast Sun in March, in conjunction with a number of key government stakeholders, including the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEFA), the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Developmental Affairs and Tourism (DETEAT), and the Alfred Ndzo District Municipality and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEDA).
Management • Higher
Management • Professional
• Food Safety • Business plan creation
• Hospitality Management
Programme • National
• NQF Level 4 Management Qualification
In line with this, the Wild Coast Sun Academy is also offering courses for SMMEs in bookkeeping and business skills to help capacitate small businesses and to help facilitate their entry into formal supply chain processes.
In a regional first, Wild Coast Sun has launched an Academy focusing on providing world-class training and skills development across the hospitality, gaming and food services sectors.
Professional
Hospitality & Hotel Management Schools in the world.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be working alongside world-class partners in Summit and the International Hotel School as part of the Wild Coast Academy and believe this will open new doors and horizons for those interested in a career in the hospitality industry,” Tshidi concluded.
SMME Short Learning Programmes/Workshops
Management Culinary
• Assistant AfricahasInternationalsectors,andretail,hospitality,35,000SummitProgrammeChefStrategicpartnerhastrainedoverpeopleacrossthefoodservices,gaming,miningfranchiseoperationswhiletheHotelSchoolbeenvotedNo.1inandintheTop50
Pictured (left to right): Officially opening the Wild Coast Sun Academy is Zodwa Langazana Mbizana Development Trust; Kashie Nair, Learning and Development Coordinator, Paula Bel, National Manager from SUMMIT; WMLM Honourable Mayor Mafumbatha; Amadiba Chief Baleni; Mrs Khuzwayo, Acting District Director for Education; Mr Peter Tshidi, Wild Coast Sun’s General Manager; and Ursie Tompson Learner and Development Coordinator.
Wild Coast Sun Launches Hotel, Gaming and Food Services Academy
• NQF Level 5 Management Qualification (run online with tutor support)
• Patisserie
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The Limpopo Gambling Board has clamped down on illegal gambling in the province and sent a very public message to offenders when the Board destroyed numerous illegal slots siezed in the clampdown operations. The 183 illegal slots were destroyed at the Bosveld Scarpyard in Polokwane recently.
28 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com REGULATORY NEWS
Limpopo Gambling Board Tackles Illegal Gambling
C hairman of the Limpopo Gambling Board, Elijah Tijane and Board CEO Gregory Makoko were on hand to address media and stakeholders on the Board’s serious intent to clamp down on illegals that rob the province of resources and pose a serious threat to the public.
Mr Serobi Maja (LGB (CEO,GregoryLEDET)(ActionMatodziMember);BoardMrRatumbuHOD-andMrMakokoLGB)
Mr ElijahTijane, LGB Chair.
b. The MGB/NLB allocated funds in its budget for the procurement of an Electronic Monitoring System (EMS), and therefore invites bids from eligible and qualified bidders for the provision of an EMS.
5. Submission Guidelines
MALAWI GAMING BOARD/ NATIONAL LOTTERIES BOARD INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR THE PROVISION (SUPPLY, INSTALLATION, INTEGRATION, MANAGEMENT, TECHNICAL SUPPORT, AND TRAINING) OF AN ELECTRONIC MONITORING SYSTEM FOR MONITORING BETTING, GAMING AND LOTTERIES TRANSACTIONS THROUGH INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING (ICB) ISSUE DATE: 17TH JUNE 2022 PROCUREMENT REFERENCE: MGB/IPDC/22/06/005
3. Eligibility Requirements:
a. The Malawi Gaming Board/National Lotteries Board (MGB/NLB) is a public enterprise established by the Gaming Act and Lotteries Act (Cap 47:3 and 47:04 of the Laws of Malawi) for the regulation and monitoring of all gaming and lotteries activities in Malawi and providing for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.
b. Bidding documents and further information may be obtained from the address below from Monday to Friday between the hours of 09:00hrs. and 16:00hrs.
4. Bidding Documents a. Bidding Documents in English Language may be purchased by interested bidders from MGB/NLB upon payment of a nonrefundable fee of MK100,000 or its equivalent in Malawi Kwacha. The method of payment shall be Malawi Kwacha, either in cash or a bank certified cheque or any convertible currency.
a. Current Business Registration Certificate from jurisdiction in which firm is registered/licensed to do business; b. Articles of Incorporation/Partnership Agreement/Shareholders Agreement; c. Current audited Financial Statements/bank statement/proof of financial viability; d. References/evidence of experience in providing betting, gaming and lotteries transactions monitoring system; e. Relevant system/software certification from accredited testing laboratories; f. Ability to begin services within 30 days of contract signing.
a. Bidding will be conducted through International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procedures as specified in the amended Republic of Malawi’s Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act No. 27 of 2017. b. Quality Cost Based Selection (QC BS) procedures and therefore bidders are expected to submit Technical and Financial Proposals in two separate sealed envelopes clearly marked “(IFB No. MGB/IPDC/22/06/005) Confidential Bid for the Provision of Electronic Monitoring System – Technical” and “(IFB No. MGB/ IPDC/22/06/005) Confidential Bid for the Provision of Electronic Monitoring System – Financial.” Bids must be deposited in the Tender Box at the address below on or before 1st August 2022 at 15:00 hrs. local time. Late bids will be rejected.
e. The MGB reserves the right to reject or accept any bid submitted and to annul the entire process for reasons to be communicated to Bidders without incurring any liability thereof.
1. Background information
f. Addresses for inspection, purchase, collection, submission and opening of bids: THE CHAIRPERSON Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee (IPDC) through Malawi Gaming Board/National Lotteries Board Old Chileka Rd (Magalasi), Nyambadwe PO. Box 3062, Blantyre MALAWI Email: mgb@gamingboard.org.mw
2. Scope of Work Bidders should supply both hardware and software, install, integrate an EMS and provide technical support and training for managing Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Transactions.
c. Evaluation shall be carried out in two stages; on Technical and Financial Proposals. Bidders that will not pass the Technical Evaluation will have their Financial Proposals returned unopened.
d. Technical proposal envelopes will be opened in the presence of bidders’ representatives who choose to attend bid opening on 4th August 2022 at 15:00 hrs. local time at the address below.
30 / Gaming for Africa / gfamagazine.com INDUSTRY NEWS
888AFRICA has chosen full-service betting and gaming platform provider Sportingtech to provide the operator’s online platform for its significant multi-country roll-out across Africa.
It is being driven forward by former Stars Group CMO Christopher Coyne, alongside former colleagues Andrew Lee and Ian Marmion and with the market expertise of Editec Online’s former CPO Alex Rutherford and Premier Bet’s former CFO Helen Scott-Allen. launch in the United Arab Emirates. HeadsUp said the current agreements have the potential to generate more than $150m (£125m/€147m) in revenue, with room to expand on this with new contracts currently in negotiations.Theacquisition comes after HeadsUp in June of this year also purchased lottery information portal LotteryHub. Combining this with Spinola’s products and services, HeadsUp said that it aims for LotteryHub to become the world’s first global lottery marketplace solution with key partnerships being sought for European, Asia Pacific and US-based operations. “The full acquisition of Spinola and its As part of its ambitions for growth, the business is planning to achieve market-leading positions in the near future across the continent, which it will look to achieve through Sportingtech’s flagship product Quantum. The platform provides end users with an optimised betting experience, and operators with the flexibility of a highly customisable solution, access to more than 65 sports, 9,000 games and related assets is an integral part of HeadsUp’s global strategy across the charity, lottery and gaming space and the takeover of Spinola will not only enable it to expand into new global markets but also execute on its existing strategies with its full range of lottery, instant win and charitable fundraising solutions,” HeadsUp“HeadsUpsaid. is now excited to begin to announce a substantial number of contracts through the Spinola deal that represent the previously announced anticipated revenues and earnings plus additional contracts that management has closed over the past 45
Gaming operator and media business HeadsUp Entertainment International has announced the acquisition of lottery software provider Spinola Gaming.
overdays.”1,000 betting markets.
“As a result, it’s deeply gratifying that 888AFRICA has trusted us to deliver exactly what is required to achieve success across the African landscape.“These markets are hugely exciting and our Quantum platform is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the most ambitious operators, so we’re confident that Sportingtech and 888AFRICA’s partnership has a very bright future ahead.”
F inancial terms of the purchase were not disclosed but HeadsUp did state that it was able to complete the deal by buying out all previous third-party shareholdings of Spinola companies. As such, HeadsUp took ownership of 100% of Spinola and its assets, which include its licences to operate across a number of European, Latin American and other regulated Spinola’smarkets. current contracts include operations in Colombia, Peru, Brazil and other Latin American markets, while new projects are also scheduled for release in later this year in six African nations, and a national lottery product is due to 8 88AFRICA was launched as a joint venture by 888 Holdings and five industry veterans to enter the rapidly regulating continent.
HeadsUp Acquires Spinola Gaming & Plans African Rollout
Colin McDonagh, chief sales officer at Sportingtech, said: “888 is a huge global operator with an incredible reputation and a brand that has become synonymous with betting and gaming.
Christopher Coyne, co-founder and CEO of 888AFRICA, said: “Sportingtech’s Quantum platform gives us exactly what we’re looking for in order to excel in the African market - an outstanding degree of customisation, modularity and control.“Withall that in mind, we’re delighted to be working with Sportingtech as we continue to push forward in Africa and can’t wait to see how this partnership develops.”
888AFRICA picks Sportingtech for Roll-out
LIST LEGISLATORS
IGT - Africa (National Licence) (011) 317 1000 (011) 317 1017 Money Autotech (Pty) Ltd (011) 466 2821 (011) 466 2822 MP Gaming (National Licence) 076 991 8013 086 563 4775
Ms. Althea Lapoorta (Chairperson) 021 480 7400 021 422 2603
NORTHWEST Mr Tiego Kgomo (Chairperson) 018 381 3215 018 381 4421 Mr. Nathan Oliphant (CEO) 018 381 3215 018 381 4421 www.nwgb.co.za
Paul-Son Gaming Supplies Inc +1 702 384 2425 +1 702 384 1965
Ms Sibusisiwe Ngubane (Chairperson) 033 345 2714 086 501 8126 www.kzngbb.co.za
Ms Portia Baloyi (CEO) 033 345 2714 086 501 8126 STATE Mr Dhilosen Pillay (CEO) 051 404 0300 051 404 0322 www.fsgb.co.za Mr Dhilosen Pillay (Chairperson) 051 405 5483 051 875 2460 ASSOCIATION OF SA Adv. Themba Ngobese CEO 011 011 9032 +27(0)11 011 9091 www.casasa.org.za SOUTH AFRICA DIAL 0927 – PLUS AREA CODE WITHOUT 0) FAX
3 Point Gaming (National Licence) +27 11 468 1315 ACE (African Casino Equipment) (Pty) Ltd (National Licence) (011) 514 5000 (011) 514 5060 Aruze Gaming Africa (Pty) Ltd (National Licence) (011) 466 3388 (011) 466 3389 Atomic Gaming (National Licence) (011) 514 5100 086 558 5564
Bally Gaming Africa (National Licence) (011) 571 7500 (011) 571 7508
Tsoaranang Holdings UmAfrika Technologies (Pty) Ltd (National Licence) (011) 997 4200 (011) 608 0030
Custom Gaming Solutions (National Licence) 0860 664443 086 555 4677 DRGT™ Africa (National Licence) 087 701 0470 086 689 5445
NORTHERN CAPE Mr Oompy Goeieman (Acting CEO) 053 832 0490 053 830 4838 www.ncgb.co.za
EASTERN CAPE Adv. Ncumisa Mayosi (Chairperson) 043 702 8300 043 748 2218 www.ecgbb.co.za
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLIER LICENCE HOLDERS CAPEWESTERN CAPEEASTERN CAPENORTHERN STATEFREE KWAZULU-NATAL NORTH/WEST GAUTENG MPUMALANGA PROVINCELIMPOPO • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
GameSmart (Pty) Ltd (National Licence) (012) 663 2273 (012) 663 2683
WMS Gaming Africa (National Licence) (011) 542 2760 (011) 314 6969
LOTTERIES BOARD Ms Charlotte Mampane (CEO) 012 432 1300 012 362 2591 www.nlb.org.za
Mr. Elijah Tijane (Chairperson) 015 230 2300 015 295 3566 www.lgb.org.za
Bergmann Automaten GmbH (011) 887 0553 (011) 786 4720 Biddcom Software (National Licence) (010) 221 1371 +27 86 649 4210
Cotswold Micro Systems Ltd (011) 493 6246 (011) 493 2568
Playmeter Leisure Services (Pty) Ltd (National Licence) 083 448 4444 (011) 728 0231
CASINO
Novomatic Africa (Pty) Ltd (National Licence) (011) 847 9700 (011) 315 1579
OF S.A. GAMING
GTECH S.p.A. (Spielo International) (National Licence) +49 57 412 409 9950
Mr Dali Mjila (Chairperson) 053 832 0490 053 830 4838
Mr Steven Ngubeni (Chief Executive Officer) 011 581 4800 011 581 4900 www.ggb.org.za
AFRICAN GAMING REGULATORS & ASSOCIATIONS
MPUMALANGA Mr Bheki Mlambo (CEO) 013 750 8000 013 750 8099 www.mer.org.za
FREE
Mr Gregory Makoko (CEO) 015 230 2300 015 295 3566 GAUTENG Mr Mxolisi Zwane (Chairperson) 011 581 4800 011 581 4900 www.ggb.org.za
& ASSOCIATIONS
TCS John Huxley (National Licence) (011) 315 7910 (011) 315 7912
GVV (National Licence) 011 823 6278 0865 002 611
Viscount Portfolio (Pty) Ltd Viva Bingo (011) 314 1720 (011) 314 1811
Route Gaming Solutions (Pty) Ltd (National Licence) (011) 787 7744 (011) 781 8649 SA Gaming (011) 887 6035 (011) 887 5641
Mr. Mdoda Eric Mbhele (Chairperson) (013) 750 8000 013 750 8099
Mr. Mabutho Zwane (CEO) 0437 028 300 0437 482 218
WESTERN CAPE Mr Primo Abrahams (CEO) 021 480 7400 021 422 2603 www.wcgrb.co.za
Bingo Vision (Pty) Ltd (011) 608 0335 (011) 608 0328 Casino Specialised Services (Pty) Ltd (National Licence) +27 83 255 7545 0862243463 Coin Security (011) 315 2711 (011) 315 2722
Vukani Gaming Corporation (Pty) Ltd (011) 268 6420 (011) 268 6434
NATIONAL Gambling BOARD Ms Caroline Kongwa (Accounting Authority) 010 003 3475 0866185729 www.ngb.org.za
Electronic Vending Services (National Licence) (011) 708 2542 (011) 708 2596
(OUTSIDE
Omega Gaming (Pty) Ltd (National Licence) (011) 745 0777 (011) 466 1038
KWAZULU-NATAL
Province Contact Telephone Fax Website
LIMPOPO
Botswana Gambling Authority www.gamblingauthority.co.bw Ghana Gaming Commission www.gamingcommissiongh.com GRAF Gaming Regulators Africa www.gamingregulatorsafricaforum.comForum Kenya Betting Control & Licensing Board and-licensing-boardwww.presidency.go.ke/index.php/betting-controlMalawi Gaming Board www.gamingboard.org.mw Tanzania Gaming Board www.gbt.go.tz Uganda Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board www.lgrb.go.ug COMPANY TELEPHONE
® Bringing a new choice to the table • SingleAStudDeckPokervarietyof proprietary Poker games • Multi-DeckBlackjackBaccarat • A variety of proprietary card games www.tcsjohnhuxley.com supply of cards from one to eight decks or can deliver composite hands of one or more cards in turn. Not only is it simple to use and easy to maintain, it is unquestionably reliable and can be setup for all kinds of can easily increase game speed, hand rate, utilization and ultimately revenue from almost any casino card game. •• card games •• Easy to use with pre-programmed game settings •• Designed for reliability and easy servicing • Dealer display for easy control and monitoring
