Celebrity Gamblers: Sol Kerzner’s Effect on Casinos in Africa
Solomon Kerzner, popularly known as Sol Kerzner, was a South African business mogul known for founding some of the biggest hotel groups in South Africa and across the world. He is known for founding the famous Sun International Hotel Group and the Southern Sun Hotel Group. Sol Kerzner was born in 1935 to Jewish immigrants Morris Kerzner and Bertha Kerzner. Moreover, his parents operated a small fruit business before joining the hotel business.
Sol Kerzner’s name cannot go unmentioned when talking about land-based casinos and online casinos in South Africa. The South African Tycoon created a business empire that revolved around land-based casinos. In fact, the Sun International casinos in South Africa are available in 8 provinces out of 9 in the country. Sun International has also moved online, with Sunbet offering among the best South African casinos and sports betting to South African players.
Sol Kerzner Information
The South African casino mogul, Sol Kerzner, is a self-made billionaire. His career path dates back to 1962 when he purchased his first hotel – Astra Hotel – in Durban. This hotel business blossomed within no time resulting in the construction of a five-star graded hotel in Umhlanga. This resort, named Beverly Hills Hotel, was opened in December 1964. After Beverly Hills Hotel, Sol built another 450-room hotel, namely Southern Elangeni & Maharani. In 1969, Sol Kerzner partnered with South African Breweries to establish a chain of Southern Sun Hotels.
In 1979, Sol Kerzner built Sun City Resort which became one of his most successful business ventures. This project included a man-made lake, four hotels, an entertainment center with a 6000-seat arena, two golf courses, a casino, and several water rides and attractions. In 1996, Sol opened Mohegan Sun, a world-class gaming resort located in Connecticut. This 240-acre resort on the Thames River was developed after an agreement with the Mohegan Indian Nation. Sol Kerzner has since expanded his hotel and casino business in other countries such as Mexico, Dubai, Mauritius, and Maldives.
Here are some quick facts about Sol Kerzner:
| Nickname | Sol Kerzner |
| Real name | Solomon Kerzner |
| Date of birth | 23rd August 1935 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Education | University of the Witwatersrand, B.Com (Accounting) |
| Occupation | Founder and Chairman, Kerzner International |
| Net worth | $600 million |
| Height | Around 5 feet 6 inches |
| Spouses | -Maureen Adler -Shirley Bestbier -Anneline Kriel Heather Murphy |
| Children | -Andrea Kerzner -Howard Kerzner -Beverly Kerzner Brandon Kerzner -Chantal Kerzner |
| Most successful business venture | Sun City Resort |
| Death | 21st March 2020 |
South Africa’s Answer to Steve Wynn
Sol Kerzner, an accountant turned hotelier, has been competing with other American billionaires such as Steve Wynn. Kerzner is known for developing Sun City, which is one of the best holiday resorts in South Africa. On the other hand, Steve Wynn is known for operating Wynn Resorts, a company with high-end hotels and casinos across the world.
Both Kerzner and Steve Wynn made great achievements within a period of 10 years. For example, the Sun City project, which began in 1979, included 4 hotels, two golf courses, and a man-made lake. The project also had an entertainment center with a 6000-seat arena and several water rides. All this was done within 10 years.
Wynn Resorts Limited, on the other side, developed several properties between 2005-2016. The company’s first project was Wynn Las Vegas, which was opened on 28th April 2005. The company’s second project was Wynn Macau, which was launched on 5th September 2006. Encore, which is an extension of Wynn Macau, started construction on 28th April 2006. Encore at Wynn Macau was also opened on 21st April 2010. Later in 2016, Wynn Palace in Cotai was opened.
Did Sol Kerzner use the Casinos he Owned?
Sol Kerzner is the brain behind some of the largest gambling complexes in South Africa and across the world. For instance, in South Africa, he owned Sun City, which is the biggest hotel and casino in South Africa. This land-based casino offers a wide variety of offline casino games, such as slots and table games.
Sol Kerzner also owned other gambling resorts, such as the Mohegan Sun, Paradise Island Resort, and Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. While Kerzner owned all these gaming resorts, he was never spotted playing at his casinos. In other words, the information about whether he gambled or not is not in the public domain. All we can say is that he was truly in love with the gambling business, and we can assume he gambled in private.
The Legacy Sol Kerzner Leaves Behind
Sol Kerzner was a man determined to do what many people thought was impossible. He will be remembered as a man who changed the South African hospitality and casino industry for the better. His legacy in South Africa includes high-end casinos spread across 8 provinces. The most popular resort that is synonymous with Sol Kerzner is the Sun City Resort, located in the North West Province. This resort has two Golf courses and a casino with hundreds of slot machines and over 40 table games.
If you are residing in the Western Cape, you can visit the GrandWest Resort and experience world-class entertainment. In the Eastern Cape province, you can play slot machines and table games at Boardwalk, located in Port Elizabeth. And if you are in Limpopo or Gauteng, you can play at Meropa and Carnivore City, respectively. Other resorts you can visit include Flamingo in the Northern Cape and Sibaya in KwaZulu Natal.
Sol Kerzner’s legacy goes beyond South Africa. For example, the Americans will remember him for opening the Mohegan Sun Resort in Connecticut. He will also be remembered for playing a big role in the development of Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. Overall, we can say that the legacy of Sol Kerzner will live forever. Sun International is even determined to make it better by launching new resorts in SA and across the world.
Sunbet Has Brought Sun International Casino and Sportsbook Online
Sun International is evolving day by day. The company has now moved its gaming products online, which means you can play from the comfort of your home. The gaming products, which include online slot machines, table games, and sports, are offered through Sunbet. To play online, you only need to visit the Sunbet official website, sign-up for an account, and make a deposit.
Sunbet is 100% legal and legit in South Africa. In fact, the site is licensed and regulated by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board. You can, therefore, register an account and place bets with peace of mind. And remember, Sun International has excelled in land-based casinos, which also means they will soon become the leader in iGaming and Sportsbook.
Sol Kerzner Beyond South Africa
Sol Kerzner’s hotels and gaming resorts go beyond South Africa. In 1994, the South African Tycoon purchased Paradise Island Resort, a 1,500-room resort and casino located in the Bahamas. Sol re-developed this property, transforming it into a 2300-room resort and casino with a man-made marine habitat. In 1996, Sol Kerzner opened the Mohegan Sun Gaming Resort in partnership with the Mohegan Indian Nation. This 240-acre resort based in Connecticut was later expended through a $1 billion investment.
Kerzner also acquired other properties in different parts of the world, including Dubai, Mexico, Maldives, Mauritius, Morocco, and China. Sol Kerzner died on 21 March 2020. Furthermore, most of his properties are now managed by Sun International, One & Only Resorts, and Kerzner International.