from Gaming for Africa Magazine
February - March 2018
AVANI properties around the world are often considered to be the best lodging and dining experiences available to experienced travelers. Blending genuine hospitality and modern lifestyle features with a passion for design and contemporary style, AVANI leaves a lasting impression on all who visit.
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| Gaming for Africa Magazine February - March 2018 |
The AVANI Gaborone Hotel and Casino is an upscale hotel in the heart of Botswana’s capital. The 196-room property offers guests nicely furnished rooms decorated in a gentle African theme. Along with a casino, the retreat also offers recreational facilities, fine dining and casual meal options.
The AVANI Lesotho Hotel & Casino is a 158-room fashionable property located on a hillside overlooking Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. The property’s design gives guests a panoramic view of the city with mountains off in the distance.
The AVANI Windhoek Hotel & Casino is considered one of the best hotels anywhere in Namibia. Set in the heart of Windhoek’s business centre, the property caters for both discerning business executives and seasoned travelers.
We are fortunate to have spoken with a few of the AVANI casino executives who offer an insight into their background and casino operations.
Ricardo Coleman & Asser Majazu - AVANI Windhoek Hotel & Casino
[Gaming for Africa] AVANI Windhoek maintains the two disciplines of Tables Manager and Slots Manager separate within the Casino. We are joined by both Ricardo Coleman (Tables Manager) and Asser Majazu (Slots Manager). Give us a bit of a background on your position at AVANI Windhoek and the career path led you to your positions?
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| Ricardo Coleman |
In mid 2004, I returned to Swakopmund as their Assistant Table Manager and progressed to Table Manager. In early 2011 I took the position as Tables Manager with Avani Windhoek Hotel & Casino, where I am at present.
[Asser Mujazu - Windhoek] I started as a Cashier in 1998 at the Windhoek Country Club Resort & Casino, and then was transferred to Slots Attendant and later promoted to Vault Cahier. Due to the passion I had in Technical, I was then recommended by the Cashiering Manager to become Coin Handling Equipment Technician then later a Trainee Technician.
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| Asser Mujazu |
While working I completed Management Development Program with Maurice Kerrigan Training Development Institute, and then Gaming Management Education Program (GMEP) through Sun International, whereby we presented our final assignment to the Sun Directors and then I completed the Senior Management Development Program (SMDP) at the University of Stellenbosch 2015.
[Gaming for Africa] What unique features sets Windhoek casino apart from the others?
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| AVANI Windhoek |
We have recently completed a refurbishment of our casino and the new product now features a Private Room, Prive, Poker Club and main floor. The private Room with high limit American Roulette and Blackjack as well as high denomination Slot Machines, a full complimentary bar service, snack service and a fully hosted gaming experience with dedicated cashiering services as well as Wi-Fi and electronic device charging points at gaming devices. The Poker Club offers Texas Hold’em style poker games and the Prive area offers privacy to the more discerning players and has a dedicated cashiering function.
[Gaming for Africa] Regarding guest demographics at the casino, where does Windhoek Casino draw their customers from? Is the intent of the casino to be strictly for hotel guests, or can the general public also use the casino?
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| AVANI Windhoek Casino |
[Gaming for Africa] Are locals allowed to gamble, and are there responsible gambling programs in place?
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| AVANI Windhoek Casino |
casino subscribes to the National Responsible Gaming Program that is facilitated from South Africa and offers free counselling and even treatment in the event of compulsive gambling problems that could even result in in-patient treatment if need be, at the cost of the program and the participating operators. The program also prescribes advertising and information dissemination, research and training for operators on how to evaluate, monitor and deal with problem gamblers.
[Gaming for Africa] How many table games and slots are available at Windhoek Casino?
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| AVANI Windhoek Casino |
[Gaming for Africa] Are there tournaments within the casino?
[Windhoek Casino] The casino regularly run tournament style promotions for table games and slots as well as poker tournaments as part of the promotional calendar and activities.
[Gaming for Africa] What entertainment and activities are available to complement the casino gaming operations?
[Windhoek Casino] Gaming promotions and draws are fun activities with the addition of game shows, virtual horse racing or fun activities during draws. Promotional or hosted evenings are renowned for promo girls, food and drink promotions and entertainment on the main floor and casino bar. The hotel facilities in the form of a very popular buffet restaurant and the Oasis Bar with regular live entertainment is further to the disposal of casino patrons.
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| AVANI Windhoek Casino |
The casino loyalty program is known as the Unique Loyalty program and depicts the ultimate privilege for our casino players that signed up. Players can progress through various tiers by earning points and achieving threshold status credits and with every level qualify for cheaper benefits like hotel accommodation, meals drinks and access to certain tier specific promotional activities, trips and invitations to events like boxing tournaments, live entertainment or sport events.
Shaun Nicolson - AVANI Lesotho Hotel & Casino
[Gaming for Africa] Give us a bit on your background, and what led you to your position at AVANI Lesotho Hotel & Casino?
[Shaun Nicolson] I have been in the casino industry for over 25 years, working in casinos in
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| Shaun Nicolson, AVANI Lesotho |
[Gaming for Africa] What unique features sets AVANI Lesotho Hotel & Casino apart from the others?
[Shaun Nicolson] Definitely our staff, we have some of the best people I have worked with in the industry. We are a relatively small casino and that allows us to have a one on one relationship with our customers, and our staff literally do know your name.
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| AVANI Lesotho Hotel & Casino |
[Shaun Nicolson] Our core hotel business is derived from corporate guests so we are not pegged as a resort destination, as such the casino is open to everyone. Over 93% of our business is from the greater Lesotho region, however we actively market into South Africa, where we have seen an upturn of customers visits due to our VIP Manager’s strategies.
[Gaming for Africa] Are locals allowed to gamble in Lesotho, and are there responsible gambling programs in place?
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| AVANI Lesotho Casino |
long as they are over 18 years and do so responsibly. We do have a responsible gaming programme in place within the casino.
[Gaming for Africa] How many table games and slots are available at the casino?
[Shaun Nicolson] Our games:
12 Tables - comprising Black Jack, Roulette and Punto Banco
Table limits Roulette M 10.00 / M 25.00, Blackjack M 50.00 / M 200.00, Punto M 100
129 Lesotho and 70 Maseru =199 Machines
Denominations range from 1c to M 5.00. Video, Stepper Reels and Poker with progressive jackpots.
Machine games range from classic favourites to latest releases.
[Gaming for Africa] Are there tournaments within the Lesotho casino?
[Shaun Nicolson] When we refer to tournaments, we generally refer to tables games. In this regard we host quarterly Roulette tournaments. Small scale gaming promotions are run 3 time a week. Large scale promotions are run every quarter for bigger wins.
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| AVANI Lesotho Hotel & Casino |
operations?
[Shaun Nicolson] Our marketing team is constantly working on setting up entertainment, from comedy shows, ladies nights, specialised acts to romantic dinners. There is always something happening to cater for everyone’s tastes.
[Gaming for Africa] Is there a casino loyalty card that can be used at Lesotho Casino and across the properties?
[Shaun Nicolson] Yes – it is called the UNIQUE loyalty programme. It rewards our customers based on their play on the tables and slots. It is a points based system, where customers can redeem their points for anything from drinks, accommodation to merchandise.
Gaming for Africa would like to thank Shaun Nicolson, Asser Majazu, Ricardo Coleman and the AVANI marketing team for their time and assistance.
Further information on these properties can be found on their websites:
AVANI Lesotho Hotel & Casino https://www.minorhotels.com/en/avani/lesotho
AVANI Gaborone Resort & Casino https://www.minorhotels.com/en/avani/gaborone
AVANI Windhoek Hotel & Casino https://www.minorhotels.com/en/avani/windhoek
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