Latest Online Gambling & Casino News South Africa

This week, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the country’s national state of disaster, implemented as a mechanism to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, has come to an end.

"While the pandemic is not over, while the virus remains amongst us, these conditions no longer require we remain in a national state of disaster,” said the President on national TV in an address to the nation.

Since the start of the pandemic, South Africa has recoded over 3.7 million laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and around 100,000 fatalities.

Doing away with the state of disaster means that most restrictions have been lifted. Many believe that it’s now business as usual for all businesses and visits to public places. But South African casino employees and visitors should be aware that some limitations to certain activities will remain in place on a transitional basis.

Which Rules Remain?

For now, these are the transitionary provisions in the new post-state of disaster landscape.

• Face masks remain mandatory when in an indoor space for all people over the age of six.
• Nobody will be allowed to use public transport or enter a building used by the public to get goods and/or services without a mask.
• Face masks aren’t compulsory in open spaces but social distancing of at least 1 meter needs to be maintained.
• Vaccinated individuals or those with a negative test result will be allowed to attend music and theater shows.
• Both indoor and outdoor venues can now take up to 50% of their capacity.
• Gatherings at a workplace for work purposes are allowed subject to strict adherence to all health rules and social distancing measures.
• International air travel is limited to these airports: OR Tambo International Airport, King Shaka International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, Lanseria International Airport, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport.
• Travel to and from South Africa is allowed subject to the traveler producing a valid vaccination certificate or a negative COVID-19 test recognized by the World Health Organization (and which is no older than 72 hours).
• Employers no longer need to screen their employees daily for the virus or report information.
• Employees only need to inform their workplace if they have symptoms of the virus.
• Employers are allowed to request a negative COVID-19 test to allow workers to return to work.

Hygiene Protocols Remain in South African Casinos

What doesn’t seem to be changing soon are the hygiene protocols implemented by South African casino operators such as Sun International at their properties.

Employees will still need to sanitize their hands before beginning their shifts, between guest interactions and after handling cash.

All cash desks, card machines and devices are sanitized after each guest interaction and hand sanitizer continues to be made available throughout the gaming floors and at tables.

A chip-cleaning program is implemented on a rotational basis.

Capacity on the gaming floors continue to be limited to 50% and slot machines, gaming tables and booths have been set up to allow for appropriate physical distancing.