African Gambling Industry News & Vacancies - Infoline 1068

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The African Gambling Industry Newsletter

Industry News

Infoline 1068 - 31 May 2019

Montecasino Breaks African Record for Largest Poker Progressive Jackpot Payout with R7,6m Win

Montecasino (https://www.tsogosun.com/montecasino) is the unequivocal, irrefutable home of the biggest jackpot payouts in Africa. A record-breaking R7 691 061,20 was won on 22 May when one lucky Cape Town resident became an instant multi-millionaire by playing the Raise ‘Em Poker Progressive at Gauteng’s premier entertainment destination. Less than 24 hours later, it paid out again, giving Capetonian Moegamad Cloete R517 141,33 and something to smile about.
History was made in February when the same Poker Progressive hit its highest level ever, paying out a staggering R4.8-million – the largest amount ever won on a poker progressive in South Africa. Since then it’s reached R3 million, in March. Rising steadily ever since, it surpassed its own record three weeks ago, surprising Montecasino’s Tables management (https://www.tsogosun.com/montecasino/gaming/tables). “The TCSJohnHuxley Raise ‘Em Poker Progressive is a very popular game, which makes the progressive amount rise quickly, but we’ve been expecting it to pay out for weeks. We are exceptionally excited to have paid out such a massive win and then followed by a smaller the very next day. It just goes to show that, at Montecasino, ‘We’ve Got It’ – the highest paying progressives on the continent,” says Caroline Naidu, Tables Manager at Montecasino.
Montecasino currently has six variations of tables progressives on its floor, with minimum bets ranging from R20 to R100. The top progressive payout value on the R100 Poker is currently sitting at R540,000.

Proud to be home to one of the biggest Poker Progressive jackpot wins in Africa: Montecasino Tables Shift Manager, Sam Kgatitsoe and Tables Manager, Caroline Naidu.

New Macau Casino Opens Doors with ACE System

New Macau Casino recently opened its doors supported by the trustworthy and robust ACE System installed by African Computer Equipment Suppliers.
Situated in the buzzing Mall De Tete, New Macau Casino comprises a variety of 32 Slots Machines and 15 Tables.
“We look forward to using the ACE System in optimizing our gaming operation and appreciate the level of service received from the ACES Team,” said Paul Thomas from New Macau Casino.
“The ACE System is ideal for an operation such as New Macau as it provides the same robust and reliable solution with functionality such as reporting, mobile manager and training for small to medium operations such as New Macau as it does for operations with 100s of machines. We are pleased to support yet another casino in providing the best possible player experience!” said Cliff Lamberton, Managing Director, ACES.

For more information on the ACES System, contact African Casino Equipment Suppliers on +27 11 514 5000 or visit www.aces.co.za

New Wild Coast Sun General Manager, Peter Tshidi, Feels He's Home

There is a new man at the helm of Sun International’s Wild Coast Sun, Peter Tshidi. On the 1st of May he took the position of General Manager, returning to the Sun International stable after starting off a successful career with the group 22 years back at The Palace at Sun City.

With a wealth of experience in local and international hotel operations, retail, operations management and casino operations under his belt, Peter says that he sees himself as the custodian of a national and more importantly a significant provincial tourism asset – The Wild Coast Sun. He is hugely passionate about South Africa as a destination and sees the Eastern Cape as an undiscovered wonderland in respect of natural beauty, product and people.

Hailing from Ga-Rankuwa in Pretoria, this 41 year-old driven, career-focused leader has some really exciting plans and developments up his sleeve for the Wild Coast Sun. Although he does not elaborate in great detail, Peter says, “My biggest achievement is yet to come. I am always looking to achieve more tomorrow than I did today”, and this could only mean progress for the resort.

When at home and in his private life, Peter is a very keen sportsman. He runs and surfs, and is a retired footballer, having played soccer for the Mamelodi Sundowns Under 21 in his day. He obviously supports Sundowns locally and internationally he is an Arsenal fan. In rugby season, Peter supports the Sharks and the EP Kings.

Family is exceptionally important to Peter. “I have a sister, Debra. We are very close,” he says. He then describes his greatest personal achievement as being his beautiful children; his children, daughter Khwezi, and two sons, Khaya and Neo, who live in Ireland and Letsie who lives in Joburg. He is a fun-loving person and this shows in his musical taste as well. Peter’s favourite band is the all South African Mi Casa and his favourite song is the band’s “La Vida”.

Peter takes over from Myan Moodley who was appointed the General Manager of Wild Coast Sun in 2014. Myan has also stayed with Sun International but has moved over to manage Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. Dropping a slight hint that he may be focusing quite strongly on CSI initiatives as well as Enterprise Development, Peter has already gained huge respect from colleagues and, no doubt will gain the same from visitors and regular clients to the resort. “Being back with Sun International makes me feel like I have been around the world and have come home,” he says with great contentment.

Kenyan High Court Overturns Ban on Outdoor Gambling Ads

Kenya's High Court has overturned a ban on outdoor, electronic and online advertising of gambling and betting, based on a directive issued by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB). The High Court rueld that the ban, which also prohibited celebrity endorsements, was unconstitutional, and that the manner in which the order was made was procedurally unfair. The decision followed a case filed by the Outdoor Advertising Association of Kenya.

The judge also declared null and void the regulations and policy communicated with regards to advertising on betting and gambling.

“Upon applying the legal principles, the facts and circumstances of this case, I find that the impugned decision was adopted in a manner that was procedurally unfair,” said Justice Mativo.

When the impugned regulations were issued on April 30 and communicated on May 2, the board directed that betting and gambling advertisements should have a third of its message a warning to the public of consequences as well as addiction. Also the board had indicated that all forms of advertisement on betting and gambling have to be approved BCLB. Last week, another High Court judge temporarily suspended these regulations after an artist moved to court to challenge them.

Justice James Makau issued the order lifting that ban when the claimed that his source of livelihood and that of others like him had been tampered with.

According to the umbrella body of advertising agencies in the country, the board failed to consult key stakeholders, before the regulation were issued hence contravened good governance and the spirit of inclusivity.

SA Bookmaker's Association Launches Training Academy

The provision of services to the bookmaking industry lies primarily with the South African Bookmakers Association (SABA). SABA as a key stakeholder in the betting industry for 67 years, acknowledged the need to render a further service to its members and the broader bookmaking industry with the creation of a skills training and development academy. A training needs analysis was undertaken with the industry and it was clearly evident that transformation of the current training processes required attention, where accredited training programmes are established and delivered to both existing staff as well as to provide opportunities for potential staff from historically disadvantaged groups in the form of sponsored learnerships. These learnerships will help achieve a core objective of allowing previously disadvantaged individuals to access or gain entry into the betting industry.

Friday the 17^th May 2019 saw the opening of the Academy and the launch of the inaugural fully sponsored learnership programme for Bookmaker Clerks. Ten unemployed historically disadvantaged learners were identified to attend the programme to acquire the necessary skills to achieve employment within the betting industry. The inaugural programme has taken place in KZN and SABA intend to take further learnership opportunities into the other provinces in consultation with the various Gambling Boards.

The programme has been made possible with the assistance of strategic partners that include: KZNGBB; Turfsport; Playa Bets; Morris Vee; River Palace Bets ; Omame Bet shops; Bishopsgate Racing and Sport; Cross moor Sport and Betting; Mount Edgecombe Tattersalls. SABA CEO Sean Coleman thanked all of the stakeholders who supported the initiative, for their generous contributions which funded the inaugural programme in KZN and said he looked forward to working with SABA’s other members in the other provinces in the near future.

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Phumelela Gaming and Leisure responds to Public Protector’s Report

Phumelela has issued the following media statement, which is published here unedited:

" It has been widely reported that the Public Protector released a report into allegations of maladministration and improper conduct in connection with the corporatisation of the South African thoroughbred horseracing industry.

The report sets out the findings of the Public Protector in respect of 4 issues relating to the corporatisation process. In summary, these issues were:

whether the Gauteng MEC for Economic Development had the authority to enter into corporatisation negotiations;
whether public participation and parliamentary processes were followed in connection with the corporatisation process;
whether a grant by the Horseracing Development Fund to the Newmarket Turf Club was utilised for the purposes which a complainant alleged it was intended;
and whether the land on which the Arlington and Bloemfontein racecourses are located, were owned by municipalities or the government at the time of the transfer to Phumelela.

The Public Protector concluded that only the complaint regarding the grant by the Horseracing Development Fund to the Newmarket Turf Club was substantiated. Phumelela, however, disputes this finding.

Despite the fact that the Public Protector concluded that three of the four issues investigated by her were unsubstantiated, she directed President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Premiers of all Provinces, the Minister of Sport, the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Gauteng Gambling Board to take wide-ranging remedial action, the majority of which is entirely unrelated to either her findings or to the only substantiated complaint.

The Public Protector also made numerous observations and findings regarding the transformation and control of the racing industry which are unrelated to the issues investigated by her. These observations and findings have caused Phumelela to suffer reputational harm.

It is pertinent to note that the Public Protector refused, prior to issuing her final report, to give Phumelela access to the evidence upon which her findings were based or to afford Phumelela the opportunity to question witnesses who gave evidence. Phumelela has been advised that this constitutes a breach of the provisions of the Public Protector Act.

The Public Protector’s final report also contained a wide range of material evidence, of which Phumelela was never informed nor called upon to answer.

Whilst purportedly acting as mediator, the Public Protector proposed, in writing, that Phumelela should make payment of R10 million to one of the complainants for “pain, suffering and public humiliation” and for “relinquishing her plans and interests” in respect of the Arlington Racecourse (which is owned by Phumelela). Phumelela rejected this proposal because no legal justification exists for such a payment. The Public Protector stated that the rejection of a payment that, to her knowledge, had no basis in law, was “regrettable”. It is also noteworthy that none of this complainant’s complaints were substantiated.

The Public Protector convened public hearings to hear further evidence which she would reasonably have been aware would be adverse to Phumelela. Although she invited the media to these public hearings, she did not invite Phumelela or give it any notice of the hearings. Phumelela was compelled to approach the High Court for an urgent order postponing the hearings, in order to afford it an opportunity to test the evidence and to make submissions in respect thereof. The Public Protector has constantly misconstrued the High Court’s order as an interdict when it merely postponed the hearings.

Phumelela has cooperated with the Public Protector’s investigation since it commenced in 2013. It submitted large volumes of documents and information to her office. The Public Protector appears to have disregarded most of this relevant information in coming to her conclusions. In addition, she has accused Phumelela of constantly frustrating her investigation. Phumelela denies this.

In light of the above, Phumelela’s legal advisors have recommended that the company should apply to the High Court to have the Public Protector’s report reviewed and set aside on, inter alia, the bases that the she has:

acted in a manner which is unconstitutional, contrary to the principle of legality and outside of her powers;
acted in a procedurally unfair, biased and capricious manner;
took irrelevant considerations into account and ignored relevant considerations;
has taken action which was materially influenced by errors of law, is unreasonable and not rationally connected to the information that was before her;
and has abused her office by attempting to solicit a R10 million payment to a complainant in circumstances where she should have been aware that the complainant was not entitled to such a payment.

Phumelela firmly maintains that the findings in the report are legally and factually untenable and that its constitutional right to fair process has been violated. In the circumstances, it will seek a punitive costs order against the Public Protector.

Phumelela intends to lodge a review application as soon as possible, but in any event before the middle of June."

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