Sun International Launches New Sports Betting Site

Sun International, the leading South African casino operator, has announced the launch of its new betting site, Sunbet, which is the result of the operator’s $3 m purchase of Powerbet Gaming earlier this year which formerly operated the site as Voltbet.com. According to Michael Farr, Executive at Sun International, Sunbet will be marketed to South Africans and will assist in the acceleration of the group’s entry into online gaming.  He added that the rebranded site would put the company in a good position for the day when the South African government finally expands online gambling options beyond sports betting. Speaking at the re-launch of the brand in Johannesburg recently, Farr said that the sports betting industry is currently in its infancy and offers excellent growth potential. Sunbet will also give South Africans an opportunity to bet on non-sports competitive events which include the television reality show, Idols. It is currently still illegal to gamble online in South Africa except for sports betting. At present, there are over 400 betting shops and 300 sports-books in South Africa, and it is expected that there will be a tremendous surge in sports betting by South Africans as they wager on the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 Rugby World Cup.  It is also felt that sports betting will surpass horseracing in popularity in South Africa within the next few years.