It has been nearly nine months since South Africa’s most iconic holiday destination, Sun City, began the first phase of a major renovation to its original accommodation hub, the Sun City Hotel, perched just above the main casino.
As of November 2024, the resort officially announced the completion of phase one of the refurbishment project, with the first 56 upgraded rooms now open to guests.
But the transformation isn’t limited to revamped interiors and modern décor. Sun City has also committed to advancing its gaming technology to deliver a world-class digital experience for its patrons.
In an interview with Gaming Technical Shift Manager Mpho Maake, he highlighted several key upgrades recently made to the resort’s main casino floor.
From Smartcard to Magstripe: A strategic shift
“One significant change is that we’ve transitioned from chip readers to magnetic stripe (magstripe) technology for our gaming cards,” Maake revealed.
While this may seem like a technological step backward, he clarified the reasoning behind the shift:
“Magstripe transactions are typically faster and more cost-effective for our MVG Loyalty program. This allows us to offer more benefits to our customers without passing on any additional costs.”
Sleek new cabinets and exciting games
Sun City has also upgraded several of its older slot machines, replacing them with modern cabinets featuring fresh, engaging games.
“Some of the notable additions include Aruze’s Speed games Fortune Frame and Coin Collectors,” said Maake. “These titles amplify player excitement through coin collect mechanics, where gathering coins can unlock larger rewards or trigger bonus rounds. It makes gameplay more interactive and satisfying, especially during free games, where players can win the Grand or Major Jackpot.”
In addition to Aruze, the casino floor now features IGT’s PeakSlant cabinets with the Egyptian Link theme, which has quickly become a guest favorite. Also drawing attention are Aristocrat’s MarsX cabinets with the popular MO’ MUMMY games, immersing players in thrilling mummy-themed adventures.
Smarter service through tech integration
To support seamless service on the floor, Sun City has enhanced its operational tools as well.
“Our two-way radio system interfaces with the player tracking system, enabling staff to deliver a better gaming experience by processing jackpots promptly and efficiently,” Maake explained.
“Additionally, it includes a built-in concierge feature that allows players to request service from Food and Beverage or Slots staff using the Waiter Alert System (WAS). This means guests can order drinks directly from the machine without having to search for a waitron or gaming attendant.”
Touchscreens take over, but buttons stay
While the latest machines (including Aristocrat MarsX, IGT PeakSlant, and Aruze Speed models) feature cutting-edge touchscreen displays and high-definition graphics, they also offer modern conveniences like wireless phone charging. Players can simply place their phones on the button panel to begin charging. For the MarsX cabinets, however, charging is only activated once the player’s card is inserted.
Despite these upgrades, Maake emphasized that traditional button panel remain available:
“Even though most new machines now feature integrated touch-enabled button panels, the tactile experience of classic buttons isn’t going away anytime soon.”
In-house systems for greater control
Maake also shared that all Sun International casinos — not just Sun City — have transitioned from the Super Nova progressive system to a proprietary solution known as Sun Poker.
“By shifting to our own Sun Poker system, Sun International now has full control over its functionality,” he said. “This allows us to implement updates as needed and tailor the system to meet our specific operational standards.”
Unified table games: Introducing Sun21
Continuing this in-house development approach, the group is replacing the third-party progressive system Blackjack11 (by DRGT) with Sun21, their own platform for Blackjack tables.
“Using the same internal system across all Blackjack tables ensures a consistent experience for both players and dealers,” Maake explained. “It also simplifies training, maintenance, and technical support.”
Continuous journey toward excellence
Unlike the hotel room upgrades, Maake stressed that the technological improvements to the gaming experience are ongoing. “Our patrons come here expecting a world-class experience, and that’s exactly what we aim to deliver,” he concluded. “We’re committed to continually enhancing that experience with the verybest we can offer.”
Images by: Jaishree Narain Govender
