17 APRIL 08

By Lesego Madumo

A SPECTACULAR, 60m high musical fountain, the biggest fountain in the southern hemisphere, dancing and splashing through intense green and white light, greeted scores of VIPs who attended the gala opening of Mogale City’s latest entertainment enterprise.

Silverstar Casino, the only non-themed casino in Gauteng, with the sixth and final gaming licence in the province, officially opened its business floor amid celebrities, industry stakeholders and the media, as well as tight security and police guard, on Tuesday, 15 April.

Set on about 40 hectares of land in Muldersdrift, near the world famous Cradle of Humankind, the casino offers a superlative vista of the picturesque Magaliesberg in the distance.

“The development has been designed to environmentally support the natural aesthetics of the area, reflecting a unique contemporary style with neo-African influences,” noted Venetia Howes, Silverstar’s marketing manager.

The gala night proved to be a dazzling event, attracting the Gauteng MEC for finance Paul Mashatile, City manager Dan Mashitisho, businesswoman and socialite Basetsana Khumalo, jazz musician Gloria Bosman, and other musicians Concord Nkabinde and Tamara Dey.

With its majestic pose, Silverstar Casino is unique, in that “[it is] the first real lifestyle casino in South Africa which continually surprises with its natural expression and personal connection, so that every aspect of every visit is an uplifting experience”, reads the Silverstar Casino website www.silverstarcasino.co.za

PThe casino was an upmarket, contemporary destination that promised to offer visitors a wide range of entertainment options, Howes added.

Its entertainment facilities include smoking and non-smoking sections, with 16 roulette and blackjack tables; 634 brand-new, ultra-modern slot machines; and Star Privé, which offers gamblers a private space for roulette, blackjack, and baccarat.< /p>

Star Privé has 10 tables and 118 slot machines. “The casino’s slot machines are all brand-new and are all operated with smartcards, ensuring a neat and hygienic environment for players, as well as increased service efficiency,” Howes said

Over a thousand punters could be accommodated at the casino at any one time, she added. But it’s not only about gambling; the casino also has an art gallery, a 38-suite luxury hotel, conference and banquet areas, a variety of eateries, a kids’ gaming arcade and crèche, and a battery of fast food outlets. All its features, including the hotel, overlook the man-made lake, giving great views of the surroundings.

The Soulstice Spa is under construction, and will be completed in June 2008.

“Not conforming to any particular theme, Silverstar offers visitors an uplifting experience where natural light, warm colours, clean lines and a focused dedication to purpose are key,” she said.

According to its website, Silverstar’s vision is to enhance the quality of its patrons’ experience, “through exceptional service and product in all spheres of our activities … We expect from our staff dedication to the highest principles of quality, service and integrity.”

As part of its Silverstar Strike It Rich loyalty programme, at the gala opening a visitor won a brand-new Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster, valued at R1,8-million. The loyalty programme has been designed to reward frequent punters with redeemable points and tickets for promotional draws, among other benefits.

The chic casino has been in full swing since Tuesday, 11 December 2007, offering hundreds of jobs and positive spin-offs for locals. It holds the province’s sixth and final gaming licence. Its development represents a R1,2-billion investment in Mogale City and West Rand District.

During construction, it provided over a thousand construction jobs; since then, more than 850 permanent jobs had opened to “many local residents that have not been employed previously”, Howes noted.

Silverstar Casino is in Muldersdrift, just off the R28 Krugersdorp-Pretoria highway. It is close to the Pinehaven intersection and the Cradle of Humankind