Covid-19: Iconic Carousel and Naledi casinos to permanently shut doors after lockdown

Sun International has confirmed that the Naledi Casino in the Free State and the Carousel Casino in the North West will not reopen after the national lockdown restrictions have been lifted.

Both properties have recorded escalating costs and declining revenues over the past few years.

This, coupled with the negative economic effect of the lockdown, has left Sun International with no alternative but to close both businesses.

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Sun International CEO Anthony Leeming said that given the unprecedented crisis that South Africa is facing the group accepted that the authorities had no option but to implement a country-wide lockdown to protect lives.

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“The inevitable financial burden it placed on us has impacted on our ability to continue subsidising underperforming properties. It was within this context that we took the extremely difficult decision to permanently close both properties.

“Naledi has run at a loss for several years, while the Carousel to has incurred losses for some time. We previously made every effort to turn both businesses around, but these efforts have not achieved the desired results.

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“We are deeply saddened that we have had to take this decision at this difficult time.”

Sun International has begun the process of engaging with gaming boards, relevant unions and employees.

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