Sun International closes Swaziland casino

Leading South Africa casino operator Sun International has closed its Swaziland casino, it is reported in Gaming for Africa.

The group reported a US$475,104 loss for the half-year that it says has led ot it placing its Eswatini (Swaziland) operation into liquidation.

Sun says that the travel and leisure sector is showing signs of slight recovery, but curfew hours, restrictions on the serving of alcohol and limited demand from the international business and leisure travel into South Africa has prevented a meaningful recovery.

The group’s casino income rose by 53 per cent to R2.3bn despite low footfall due to a lack of live entertainment and its resorts and hospitality operations rose by 21 per cent.

Sports betting almost doubled in income. The company said, however, that it had been looking at ways to exit Eswatini for five years but had been waiting for final regulatory approval to sell its 51 per cent stake in Swazispa.

Swazispa, unable to raise extra funding, had been unable to pay creditors, forcing it into liquidation.