Sibaya Casino has confirmed that the game it is calling “Call Card 52” had been approved by the KwaZulu-Natal Gaming & Betting Board and was operational in a new lounge at the casino.

“Owing to the fact that this is a new game, we chose to do a soft launch but the results are already very good,” said Sibaya gaming manager, Robin Kennedy, who was responsible for patenting the game on behalf of Sun International.

“The take-up is huge, particularly on weekends and word of it is moving fast throughout the province,” he said.

Kennedy, who has over three decades of experience, across the Sun International group said he had been made aware of the game by several of his clients and saw the opportunity to ‘legalise it’.

“The entire process took eight months. We initially had to patent the name and then lodge the concept with the board. Fortunately, they were very amenable and received our proposal positively.”

KwaZulu-Natal Gaming and Betting Board CEO, Portia Baloyi congratulated Sibaya on this level of innovation.

“Approving a new card game doesn’t happen every day. Congratulations to GM Myan Moodley and his team at Sibaya.

“We wish them the best of luck with Call Card 52,” she said.

Sibaya GM Myan Moodley said that Call Card was particularly popular in the KZN region.

“We believe the game came to South Africa with the Indian settlers in 1860.

“And since then it has not looked back. The game is flourishing, particularly in townships of KZN.

“Hence our reason for bringing it onto the floor,” he said.

The game itself is very simple with participants left to guess when a single numbered card in a pack of 52 arrives.

If the participant bets on “Card Win” and wins, they will be paid even money less a 10% rake or commission.

If someone bets on “Card Lose” and they win they get paid even money without having to pay the rake.

A player can earn 11/1 odds if he bets that the chosen card is the first to be drawn out the pack.