A new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers finds that the gaming market in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya has evolved into a “more complete lifestyle experience” that places as much importance on hotels, entertainment, retail an fine dining experiences as the gaming offering.
“Taking the Odds: Gambling Outlook for 2015-2019 (South Africa – Nigeria – Kenya)” is the This was the fourth annual edition on the gaming industry from PwC. Its findings were presented recently at 54 on Bath in Rosebank, Gauteng, Johannesburg.
The South African casino market includes 38 licensed operating casinos out of a total of 40 available licenses, with a proposal to increase the total to 41.
The expanding or upgrading of properties by casino operators is a key trend in the gaming environment, according to Marthie Crafford, a partner in PwC Risk Assurance Division.
“This is to offer a better experience to players and non-players,” Crafford told the bizcommunity.com website. “There is demand for wider guest-centric services. The goal is to keep patrons entertained for as long as possible, both on and off the floor.”
The report cited the replacement of buffets and free meals for VIP gamblers to new menu options from fine dining to fast foods, delivered increasingly with what it calls “guest-centric technologies.”
“For example a mobile app that allows patrons to order meals from restaurants to be delivered to where they are sitting in the casino,” said Crafford. “Another option is ordering kiosks. Casinos make tablets available to players to place their orders.”
The introduction is important for casinos to attract millennials to their venue. “Millennials love and embrace technology, as well as convenience,” Crafford said. “In general, technology can heighten the customer experience. For the casino it can increase revenue.”
