Sun International SA rockets to strong gains as Sunbet surge leads the way
Casino and hospitality giant reports rising earnings, dividends and record online betting growth driven by Sunbet.
South Africa.- Sun International is showing strong growth in its gambling and hospitality businesses in South Africa in 2025. Adjusted headline earnings for the first six months ending June 30 climbed 5.9 per cent to R555m (€33.5m), while interim dividends jumped 6.8 per cent to 172 cents per share, rewarding shareholders as the group builds momentum.
Sun International’s growth is powered by its omnichannel strategy, linking casinos, hotels, Sunbet and slot machines into one seamless ecosystem. Strong results across venues and the booming Sunbet platform show its ability to attract customers across every channel, whether playing in casinos, betting online or staying at hotels, while capturing more revenue and delivering an enhanced experience.
Ulrik Bengtsson, Sun International CEO since July 1, 2025, described the results as a “solid performance”. He said the group is still “assessing opportunities across all its businesses and would release further details at a later stage”, according to Business Report.
The Sunbet Group led the gains, posting an extraordinary 70.7 per cent increase in income, driven by higher volumes of activity and deposits. Sun Slots also contributed positively, with income up 2.2 per cent to R701m (€42.3m). Its strategy focuses on increasing gross drop revenue per machine and expanding Type B licence rollouts, which are low-stakes machines popular in pubs, clubs and casino floors.
Resorts and hotels, excluding the Table Bay Hotel, which is currently closed for refurbishment, saw revenue rise 4.3 per cent to R1.3bn (€78.3m), supported by a resurgence in conferencing and events. Rooms and food and beverage revenue increased 9.9 per cent, reflecting improved occupancy rates and stronger demand.
Group continuing income increased 3.2 per cent to R6.2bn (€373.8m), and when excluding the Table Bay Hotel lease cessation, growth was 6.7 per cent. Group continuing adjusted EBITDA, excluding the Table Bay Hotel, rose slightly by 1.1 per cent, underscoring steady operational performance across the portfolio.
Sun International strengthens lead after Peermont deal
According to Bengtsson, Sun International and Peermont, a Southern African casino operator, recently called off their R7.3bn (€440m) acquisition after regulatory delays, leaving Sun International with a strong balance sheet and flexibility to pursue future growth opportunities.
He added: “After the mutual decision not to proceed with the Peermont acquisition, we will look at our capital allocation policy to ensure that we have the right balance between returns to shareholders, investment in the business and value-accretive M&A.”
With strong growth across Sunbet, Sun Slots, resorts and hotels, Sun International is firmly positioned to lead South Africa’s casino and hospitality market, delivering value for shareholders and an engaging experience for customers.
