At a Glance
- Tsogo Sun secures Somerset West casino licence after decade-long regulatory delays.
- The new casino is expected to boost Cape Town tourism, jobs, and hospitality investment.
- Rivalry with Sun International eased as Western Cape opens to fresh competition.
Tsogo Sun, South Africa’s largest casino, hotel, and entertainment group, has secured long-awaited approval to relocate its Caledon casino licence to Somerset West.
The Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board’s decision clears the path for a new casino and hotel development in Cape Town’s Helderberg region, ending more than a decade of regulatory delays.
The company said the Somerset West licence approval represents a “transformative opportunity” for the Western Cape, bringing world-class casino and hospitality infrastructure to an underserved tourism corridor.
New Casino sparks tourism growth in Cape Town
The Helderberg and Overberg regions, long seen as strategic growth areas for Cape Town’s tourism industry, are expected to benefit from new investment in hotels, restaurants, and gaming facilities.
Tsogo Sun has repeatedly voiced frustration at regulatory hurdles, arguing that entrenched dominance by rival Sun International limited competition and consumer choice.
Its GrandWest Casino remains the only fully-fledged casino in Cape Town, with exclusivity previously stalling new entrants to the market.
“This licence approval allows us to bring a new, secure, and internationally competitive casino and hotel to Somerset West,” Tsogo Sun said, adding that the project will create local jobs and expand tourism infrastructure.
Somerset West Casino boosts jobs, tourism
The group has also highlighted that land-based casinos contribute significant direct and indirect employment while attracting domestic and international visitors.
Tourism bodies in Cape Town have long argued that diversifying gaming and hospitality hubs is critical to sustaining growth in South Africa’s competitive leisure market.
Tsogo Sun, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of about R14 billion ($805 million), is ranked among the JSE’s top 80 companies.
The operator, which runs some of Africa’s largest casinos and hotel chains, said its planned Somerset West investment underscores confidence in the long-term growth of South Africa’s tourism and entertainment industry.
