Counting down to the opening of SA's most technologically sophisticated casino floor

Time Square team: In front, Brett Hoppé (General Manager: Time Square). Second row (left to right): Mohamed Cassim (IT Manager: Time Square); Emma Mothibi (VIP Operations Manager: Time Square); Elroy van Blerk (Operations Manager: Time Square); Faniswa Mkosana (Human Resources Manager: Time Square) and Kevin Caswell (Tables Manager: Time Square).

Back row from (left to right): Anneli Petrowski (Personal Assistant); Sandise Sibanda (Marketing Manager: Time Square); Shaun Rennie (Group Surveillance and Security Manager: Sun International); Bianco Marini (Slots Manager: Time Square) and Ruben Nadesan, (Financial Operations Manager: Time Square).

Sophisticated customer engagement technologies

The R4bn Time Square complex will be completed in three phases, with the first phase comprising the casino and restaurant zones scheduled to open in April. November 2017 will see the grand opening of the state-of-the-art, 8,500 seater arena. The only venue of its kind in Pretoria, the arena will play host to international and local concerts, exhibitions and lifestyle events. The 22-storey, luxury hotel will open in early 2018.

The casino itself is unprecedented in South Africa, with specialty products never seen before in the country, some of which are exclusive to Sun International. The time-themed, futuristically-designed casino will feature over 988 digital screens which will be optimised to generate evolving mind and mood experiences.

Time Square boasts non-smoking and smoking sections; a Sun Lounge featuring higher end machines as well as tables, and the opulent Prive where discerning guests can play their favourite slots and table games in utmost privacy and exclusivity. Other features include a private, enclosed baccarat pit, four separate private gaming rooms and sophisticated customer engagement technologies to deliver a highly personalised experience to guests.

Innovative slots

For slots enthusiasts, Time Square will offer a diversity of slots which are innovatively zoned in terms of game mix and denomination to enhance the flow through the gaming floor. Specialty games offered at the new casino will include game themed to one of the most popular television series ever to hit South African shores, Game of Thrones, as well as another specialty game, Buffalo Grande Stampede, which offers a truly immersive virtual experience for guests, encompassing sound, a high volume slanted top, and a vibrating seat.

Sun International’s wide area progressive jackpots Duma, which offers a minimum jackpot of R600,000; SunStriker which offers a minimum jackpot of R750,000 and the latest wide area progressive, Lion’s Share, will also be available at Time Square. The Lion’s Share is an African themed slot game which has three levels of progressive jackpots and a host of new and funky twists to keep players on the edges of their seats. These include free games, wild symbols, stacked symbols and last but not least, The Lion’s Share feature. This feature has two stages. In the first, the player wins a cash prize, or if they are lucky, the chance to proceed to stage two where they are guaranteed to win one of three jackpots.

Wow factor games

The other “wow factor” games that guests can look forward to playing include Lightning Link; Duo Fu Duo Cai; Pixie Wishes; Zuma; Plants vs Zombies; Virtual Roulette; Cube X Vertical –Ultimate Eruption; Cube X Wheel of Gold; Buffalo Grand Stampede; Good Fortune; Brothers Fortune, and Super Wheel Blast.

Table games that will be available at Time Square when it officially opens in April include the high visual impact Saturn Glo Roulette which has never been seen anywhere else in the world before; Blackjack; American Roulette and Raise ‘em Poker.

The casino floor boasts several strategically located themed bars to allow easy access to for food and beverage services for guests.

“We are redefining the gaming experience with an offering that is currently unprecedented in South Africa. We cannot wait for our customers to see it. We are counting down; tick-tock,” says Bianco Marini, the slots manager at Time Square.