KEMPTON PARK, JOHANNESBURG — 28 May 2026
Emperors Palace has opened the Jade Casino: Africa’s first dedicated Chinese luxury gaming lounge, and a significant milestone in the evolution of premium hospitality and gaming on the continent. The opening reflects a deliberate, long-term investment in an authentic Chinese luxury experience — one designed with cultural depth, world-class gaming credentials, and a clear understanding of the community it was built to serve.
Situated at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, minutes from OR Tambo International Airport, the Jade Casino brings to Johannesburg a level of dedicated Chinese luxury gaming that has previously been available only in the world’s foremost gaming destinations. For South Africa’s established Chinese community, and for the growing number of Chinese business travellers and tourists who pass through Johannesburg each year, the Jade Casino represents something genuinely new — and genuinely theirs.
| “The Jade Casino is personal to me. I have spent years building relationships with our Chinese patrons, understanding what matters to them — the culture, the ritual, the level of service they expect. This room is our way of honouring that. It is not just a casino floor; it is a destination experience designed for guests who know what world-class looks like.”
— Sikhulile Dlamini, Tables Manager, Emperors Palace |
A CONSIDERED INVESTMENT IN AUTHENTIC CHINESE LUXURY
The Jade Casino is the product of a significant capital investment — a complete architectural and experiential redesign conceived from the ground up as an authentic expression of Chinese cultural luxury. Not a themed environment. A considered, deliberate statement of respect, investment and welcome.
From the hand-crafted moon gate entrance and koi floor projections to the bamboo ceiling, 3D koi wall sculptures, traditional lattice screens and enclosed private gaming rooms, every element has been realised with cultural intention and material quality. The room was benchmarked against the world’s leading dedicated Chinese gaming environments — and built to stand alongside them.
The Jade Casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is not an activation or a seasonal offering. It is a permanent, year-round Chinese luxury gaming destination within Emperors Palace — built to grow with the community it serves.
| JADE CASINO — AT A GLANCE
— 7 Baccarat tables — 4 on the main floor, 3 in enclosed private gaming rooms — — 2 American Roulette tables — Dedicated smoking Privé — access-controlled, high-end player environment — Dragon Bar & Dragon Bowl — authentic Chinese hospitality within the casino — Open 24 hours, 7 days a week — Located at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park — minutes from OR Tambo International Airport |
LISTENING TO OUR CUSTOMERS — THE STORY BEHIND THE JADE CASINO
The Jade Casino did not emerge from a trend report. It emerged from years of listening. The Chinese patron community has been a cornerstone of the Emperors Palace premium gaming floor for many years — loyal, sophisticated and increasingly clear about what they want from a luxury gaming experience. The Jade Casino is the answer.
South Africa’s Chinese community is established, growing and commercially significant. Beyond the domestic community, South Africa receives a substantial and increasing number of Chinese business travellers and tourists annually, with Gauteng as the primary gateway. China is one of South Africa’s most important trading partners, and the deepening of commercial, diplomatic and cultural ties between the two countries creates a real and growing demand for premium, culturally authentic hospitality in Johannesburg.
The Jade Casino positions Emperors Palace as the premier Chinese luxury hospitality destination in South Africa — one that speaks directly to this community in a language they recognise and respect.
| “We are positioned at the gateway to Africa — minutes from OR Tambo, at the heart of a city that is increasingly connected to China through business, tourism and culture. The Jade Casino is a signal to every Chinese visitor arriving in Johannesburg that there is a world-class experience waiting for them here. We built this to be a destination — one that drives people to Emperors Palace specifically, and keeps them coming back.”
— Sikhulile Dlamini, Tables Manager, Emperors Palace |
SETTING A NEW STANDARD IN PREMIUM GAMING
Global premium gaming has shifted decisively toward cultural immersion and curated experience. The world’s leading dedicated Chinese gaming environments demonstrate that the future of luxury gaming is experiential — guests expect not only exceptional table offerings, but the full theatre of arrival, service, atmosphere and cultural authenticity.
Baccarat has seen sustained global growth as the game of choice for high-net-worth players. Three private gaming rooms, table limits ranging from R200 to R300,000, and a dedicated smoking Privé environment give the Jade Casino the credentials to attract and retain serious players — locally, regionally and internationally.
The Jade Casino was designed to meet that standard. Everything from the architectural language to the cultural programming — the tea ceremony, the calligraphy, the Chinese entertainment — was chosen not for effect but for authenticity. Guests who know what the best looks like will recognise it here.
ECONOMIC IMPACT — JOBS, TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
The Jade Casino created employment across its full project lifecycle — from the contractors, artisans and designers who built the room, to the permanent staff employed to operate it: dealers, hosts, hospitality and maintenance teams. As a 24/7 permanent operation, it sustains year-round employment rather than seasonal or event-driven activity.
The room also drives yield across the full Emperors Palace resort — hotel, food and beverage, entertainment — because guests who come for the Jade Casino experience the property in its entirety. The proximity to OR Tambo International Airport makes the property a natural anchor for Chinese visitors extending their stay, returning on subsequent visits, and recommending the experience within their networks.
The Jade Casino is designed with longevity in mind. A sustained programme of bespoke premium gaming experiences, cultural activations and high-net-worth events will ensure the room remains a live, growing part of Emperors Palace’s premium offering throughout the year — and for years to come.
| “With the Jade Casino, we have created something we are genuinely proud of. The passion we have for this community, the opportunity we identified, and our commitment to personalised world-class service have come together in a room that will drive sustainable growth — for our business, for gaming in South Africa, and for the guests who deserve this experience.”
— Sikhulile Dlamini, Tables Manager, Emperors Palace |
ABOUT EMPERORS PALACE
Emperors Palace is South Africa’s premier integrated entertainment resort, located in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, and part of the Peermont Group portfolio. The resort offers world-class gaming, award-winning hotels, acclaimed restaurants, a year-round programme of live entertainment, and the Jade Casino — Africa’s first dedicated Chinese luxury Baccarat lounge. Emperors Palace is situated minutes from OR Tambo International Airport.
ABOUT PEERMONT GROUP
Peermont Group is one of South Africa’s leading hospitality and gaming companies, operating a portfolio of 12 properties across southern Africa. Committed to excellence in guest experience, community investment, responsible gaming and sustainable growth, Peermont continues to set the standard for integrated resort entertainment on the continent.
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