South African casino resorts combine gaming with other attractions. Major venues include the 8,500-seat SunBet Arena in Pretoria, Grand Arena at GrandWest, and Teatro at Montecasino. Resorts also offer convention facilities, theatres, golf courses, ice skating and water parks.
Statutory Non-Gaming Investment Mandate
Non-gaming hospitality, including concerts, conventions, theatre, sports and family leisure, accounts for nearly 30% of total resort revenue.
Major concert and sports venues
South Africa's major indoor concert and sports arenas are owned and managed by casino resort operators:
| Venue Name | Host Casino Resort | Seating Capacity | Signature Events & Accolades |
|---|---|---|---|
| SunBet Arena Menlyn Maine, Pretoria |
Time Square Casino (Sun International) |
8,500 Capacity State-of-the-art acoustics |
International stadium tours, global stand-up comedy, EFC world title fights |
| Grand Arena Goodwood, Cape Town |
GrandWest Casino (Sun International) |
5,000 Capacity Flexible indoor arena |
Western Cape’s top concert hall; international rock, pop, and symphonic tours |
| Teatro at Montecasino Fourways, Johannesburg |
Montecasino (Tsogo Sun) |
1,870 Capacity Lyric theatrical auditorium |
Broadway & West End musicals (Phantom of the Opera, Lion King, Chicago) |
| Sun City Superbowl Pilanesberg, North West |
Sun City Resort (Sun International) |
6,000 Capacity Historic arena legend |
Miss South Africa pageants, historic concerts (Queen, Sinatra, Elton John) |
International Convention & MICE Infrastructure
South Africa's casino resorts form the core backbone of the country's business tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry:
- Emperors Palace Convention Centre (Ekurhuleni): Houses 29 state-of-the-art venues capable of hosting over 3,000 delegates, located 5 minutes from O.R. Tambo International Airport.
- Sun City Sun Central: Multi-level conference and exhibition precinct hosting presidential summits, medical conferences, and corporate launches.
- The Boardwalk Convention Centre (Gqeberha): Eastern Cape's premier international meeting venue offering 2,000-delegate plenary halls overlooking the ocean.
Championship Golf & Eco-Tourism Attractions
Casino operators maintain several of South Africa’s most celebrated championship sports and conservation reserves:
- Gary Player Country Club (Sun City): Designed by golf legend Gary Player, this par-72, 7,105-meter walking course hosts the Nedbank Golf Challenge (part of the DP World Tour). Flanked by the Lost City Golf Course featuring live Nile crocodiles on the 13th water hazard.
- Wild Coast Golf Links (Wild Coast Sun): An acclaimed 18-hole coastal championship course weaving across dramatic Indian Ocean ravines, coastal dune forests, and pristine tidal estuaries.
- Pilanesberg National Park Synergy: Situated immediately adjacent to Sun City, allowing resort guests to combine luxury gaming with malaria-free Big Five safari game drives.
- Graceland Country Club (Secunda): An 18-hole inland links course designed by Gary Player, featuring tranquil water bodies and manicured Kikuyu fairways.
Family Leisure Attractions: Water Parks, Ice Arenas & Wildlife
Recognizing that international and domestic travelers seek complete holiday experiences, South Africa’s casino resorts offer extraordinary family amenities:
- The Valley of Waves (Sun City): A multi-hectare artificial water world featuring the Roaring Lagoon-a surf pool generating 1.8-meter waves every 90 seconds-alongside the 17-meter near-vertical Temple of Courage speed slide.
- The Ice Station at GrandWest (Cape Town): The Western Cape’s only Olympic-sized ice skating rink, hosting public skating sessions, national figure skating championships, and ice hockey tournaments.
- Montecasino Bird Gardens (Johannesburg): A lush walk-through aviary housing over 60 species of exotic birds, reptiles, and small mammals, hosting educational "Flights of Fantasy" bird presentations.
- Emerald Aquadome & Animal World (Vanderbijlpark): A climate-controlled indoor tropical water world complemented by an animal sanctuary housing indigenous African wildlife.
Frequently Asked Questions: Casino Entertainment & Arenas
Do I need to gamble to attend concerts at casino arenas?
No. Arenas like the SunBet Arena, Grand Arena, and Teatro at Montecasino operate separate ticket box offices and direct pedestrian concourses, completely segregated from the casino floor.
Are casino loyalty discounts valid on concert and theatre tickets?
Yes. Members of Sun MVG and Tsogo Rewards frequently receive preferential pre-sale ticket windows and discounts ranging from 10% to 30% on shows staged at resort venues.
Can day visitors use the Valley of Waves at Sun City?
Yes. While hotel and vacation club guests receive complimentary unlimited access, day visitors can purchase day-pass entry tickets online via the Sun International booking portal.
Is the Gary Player Country Club open to the general public?
Yes. Outside of the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge tournament week in November, visitors staying at Sun City hotels may book tee-off times through the golf club pro shop.
What entertainment facilities are available for children at GrandWest?
GrandWest features the Magic Company family arcade, laser tag, ten-pin bowling lanes, a multi-screen cinema complex, and the Olympic-sized Ice Station skating rink, all located in non-gaming entertainment precincts.