The Boardwalk Casino & Entertainment World

Located next to the Nelson Mandela Bay beachfront sits the Boardwalk Casino, known as the only licensed casino in Port Elizabeth. It’s part of The Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World which is popular for its 5-star hotel and unique entertainment and dining facilities positioned around a man-made lake.

Graceful Victorian white and red façades and Tivoli-style gardens make it quite unlike any other casino complex you might have visited. Dolphins, whales and surfers can be seen while enjoying a leisurely breakfast, and magical and romantic atmosphere experienced with tens of thousands Tivoli Lights reflected off the lake during the evenings. 

The Casino

The Boardwalk Casino is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering both smoking and non-smoking facilities. You’ll get to pick and choose from more than 800 slot machines which can be played starting from as little as 2 cents, randomly triggered Mystery jackpots, and 20 tables games such as American Roulette, Blackjack, Blackjack Switch, Poker, Baccarat and AmaDice. Slots and video poker machines use smart cards that can be loaded with cash and payouts.  High rollers get to enjoy The Privé, an exclusive and luxurious gaming area offering a variety of slots and Blackjack and Roulette tables with high denominations.

Sun MVG card is required if you wish to participate in one of the exclusive casino promotions, such as Monday Mania, Comp Yourself promotion and Tremendous Drive promotion. MVG card features 4 levels: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Your status is determined by Tier Credits which are earned by playing and staying at Sun International properties. Hotel accommodation, dining and entertainment earns you 5 Tier Credits for every R100 spent, and 1 Credit will be awarded for each R100 wagered in the Casino. Casino Points can be used to play your favourite casino game.

Monday Mania gives you a chance to win a share of R30,000 in cash, with every 5 points earned getting you one entry ticket for a draw which takes place every Monday. Comp Yourself promotion is open to Diamond, Platinum & Gold members, and the way to enter is to stay at The Boardwalk Hotel on specified dates using your Leisure Points. Tremendous Drive promotion awards 1 entry ticket for every 20 slots casino points earned, as well as for every 10 table’s casino points. If you get lucky, random draw might win a  share of over R615,000 in cash or a car. 

Dining and Bars

There’s little need to go out of the complex to find something to your taste. One can enjoy sushi at Yi Pin or bite into a juicy steak at Squires, reportedly serving some of the best steaks in the country. You can alternatively pay a visit to one of the themed restaurants, such as El Greco which serves Mediterranean and Greek food, Italian Leonardo’s, or Kiplings Brasserie. If your style is rather grab-and-go than fine dining, try fried food and sauces at Chippers, brews and sweet treats at the Coffee cafe and Cone Zone, pastries and donuts at Lilwills and Mini Orbits, grills at Steers and Wimpy, snacks at  the Hotdog Hut or yogurts at Wakaberry. 

Entertainment

The Boardwalk’s multimedia musical fountain is one of the must-see attractions at Nelson Mandela Bay’s. Shooting 1,000 tons of water per hour, it creates a magical performance at night with more than 800 lights and multimedia presentation shown on a massive water screen.

The Supersport Arena features comedies and music acts, and the Vodacom Amphitheatre hosts as many as 200 live shows per year. Kids will enjoy fun activities offered by the Magic Company, a modern video and games arcade with a variety of kiddie rides, simulators and 3D games. The Boardwalk also provides speedway go-kart track, The Lighthouses with ten pin bowling and pool tables, and adventure golf in peaceful surroundings with caves and water features. Nu Metro Cinema offers access to 5 theatres featuring latest blockbusters, 3D screens and digital sound. Visit The Boardwalk Spa by Africology to take a dip in an indoor heated pool, engage in a workout in the fitness centre, or enjoy a range of African-inspired massages and various beauty treatments.

Blue Flag awarded Hobie Beach is only a few minutes away and a perfect spot to go swimming or sunbathing. It also hosts the annual Splash Festival and the Beach Volleyball and World Boardsailing Championships. Bayworld Oceanarium is home to a little colony of rescued Cape fur and Sub Antarctic seals, African and rock-hopper penguins, ragged-tooth sharks, tiny Knysna seahorses, wily octopus and many other fascinating marine life.