The Black Pearl 2024 Roulette Tournament Rules:

A. General
 

1. The Black Pearl 2024 Roulette Tournament (“The Tournament”) is exclusive to qualifying MVG Members, who are at least 18 years of age, are not excluded from gambling activities, or who have not been refused entry to Sun International casinos. Exclusions and refusal of entries imposed during the Tournament will preclude participation.
2. The Tournament will be hosted from 02 August 2024 to 18 November 2024 (“The Tournament Period”). Unit elimination heats will be held from 18 October 2024 to 03 November 2024. The Grand Finale will be held from 15-18 November 2024 at GrandWest Casino.
3. To be eligible to participate in this Tournament, MVG Members must register for free at each of the participating Sun International entities where they wish to participate, at the designated VIP or MVG Desks, or via Sunbet through the online registration form.
4. During the Tournament Period, Players will earn points while playing roulette table games in land-based casinos and Live Dealer games on Sunbet (online) on an accumulative basis across all participating entities where they registered to participate in the Tournament. The points earning will commence on the start of the gaming day on 02 August 2024 and will terminate at 06h00 on 09 September 2024. (Gaming day of 08 September 2024).
5. Participating entities: Boardwalk, Carnival City, Flamingo, Golden Valley, GrandWest, Meropa, Sibaya, Sun City, Time Square, Wild Coast Sun, Windmill and Sunbet (online).
6. After 06h00 on 09 September 2024, each entity’s leader board will be consolidated to determine the top 6 players who accumulated the highest table points during the tournament. Each player will secure a seat at one of the three semi-final tables at the group semi-final round at GrandWest Casino. Additionally, the player with the most points in each unit automatically qualifies for the quarter-finals at GrandWest Casino.
7. Aside from the 6 players that progress to the group semi-finals, the top 11 unit points earners and the top 6 players from Sunbet (online) progress to the quarter-final round.
8. Six players per table will compete in each Sun International casino property unit heats and the winners thereof as reflected in column casino Unit Heats will progress to the Group Finale event at GrandWest Casino.
9. At the quarter-final in the Grand Finale each player will only be permitted one seat per heat. All other seats held by the player in the same quarter-final heat will be forfeited without the option of a proxy nomination or any form of compensation.
10. An eligible player will be permitted only one seat in the group semi-finals in the Grand Finale. Where a player obtains more than one seat in the group semi-finals then he/she must relinquish the additional seat(s) without the option of a proxy nomination. Should a player qualify for a semi-final heat at the Grand Finale and is still to play in a subsequent quarter-final heat in the Grand Finale, the seat held by that player in the quarter-final heat will be forfeited without the option of a proxy nomination, and that particular quarter-final heat will be conducted without the full quota of players.
11. Seat positions will be allocated by way of a random draw. Seat allocations cannot be changed. Players must be present at the draw for seat allocations.
12. At each heat and quarter-final, players will be issued with a total of R5 000 in tournament chips. At the semi-finals and finals players will be issued with R10 000 tournament chips. Tournament chips are not redeemable for any consideration. No re-buys are permitted, and players are not allowed to introduce additional tournament chips at any stage. Any attempts to introduce additional tournament chips will result in immediate disqualification from the Tournament.
13. Tournament chips must always remain in the designated chip area on the table and in sight of other players. All tournament chips must be returned to the casino after each stage.
14. Coaching of players is not permitted and may result in disqualification at the discretion of the tournament director.
15. Players must be physically present to participate unless they have appointed a valid proxy by completing a proxy form.
16. A proxy will only be allowed to play on behalf of a player, in the instance where a player has obtained eligible positions on multiple casino leader boards that would require him/her to play in the casino Unit Heats at multiple casinos simultaneously or should the player not be able to attend as a result of serious health-related issues or special circumstances. Casino management must be made aware of a player’s inability to play under these circumstances at least 48 hours before the commencement of the casino and group finals and the respective nomination form needs to be completed and signed by the affected player. Management decisions remain final.
17. Seats are not transferable, and players or proxies must be present at least 15 minutes before the actual start of any heat, semi-final, or final where the game rules and relevant protocols will be explained in addition to the written game rules and protocols. Players or their proxies who are not present at least 15 minutes before the actual start of any heat, semi-final, or final will forfeit their seats. In such instances, the games concerned will continue without the full quota of players.
18. Players play for themselves, and no alliances may be formed between players. Chips cannot be pooled or transferred to other players. Tournament chips need to be visible to all players at all times.
19. The player with the highest chip count at the end of 12 spins will be regarded as the winner of the respective heat and will advance to the next stage of the tournament. The grand finale will be played over 18 spins.
20. Sun International reserves the right of admission to the Tournament.
21. Sun International reserves the right to postpone or terminate the Tournament at any stage without prior notification.
22. Tournament chips remain the property of Sun International, and prizes are not transferable.
23. These Tournament rules are the official rules and will supersede any version or document containing similar content.
24. The leaderboard rankings are preliminary outcomes. The ranking of Players at each respective stage will be confirmed by the entity concerned after it has verified the same by 10h00 the following day. In the event of any malfunction of the system used for the automatic ranking on the leaderboards, the respective casino will manually rank the Players by relying on the table points earned over the period as recorded by that casino.
25. If any clause, provision, term, or condition of these tournament rules be found to not be enforceable or is invalid by any law or by election of Sun International, such clause, provision, term or condition shall be severed from these rules to the extent that it shall not invalidate the remaining rules. Any indulgence given by the casino will not be deemed to be a waiver of any of its rights in terms of these rules.
26. All disputes during the Tournament shall be referred to the respective Tournament Directors at the casino and group stages for resolution. The decision of the Tournament Director concerned will be final and binding and no further correspondence will be entered into.
     

B. Casino Heats/Elimination Rounds – Game Rules
 

1. Each Player will receive R5 000 in tournament chips at the start of the heat.
2. Table limits of R25 minimum to R500 maximum on a number will apply.
3. Players will be given 60 seconds to place their bets; all bets will be placed before the dealer spinning the ball.
4. A heat will consist of 12 spins.
5. No call bets will be permitted.
6. No even chance, columns, or dozen bets will be accepted.
7. Players must bet on every spin.
8. A chip count will be done on the 11th spin.
9. On the 11th and 12th spin – 90 seconds will be allocated for betting.
10. On the final spin and before the commencement of the 90 seconds to place bets, each player will be allowed a secret bet consisting of a single number and its splits to a maximum of R500 per split and straight up (this must be in equal units i.e. 17 and the splits by R100). The Player will record and sign for their bet in secret and away from the table but must pay for the bet in front of the other Players. The Dealer will check that the Player has advanced the correct amount for the bet and will hand the secret bet to the Inspector. The secret bets will be opened and placed by the dealer on completion of the final spin and after the layout has been cleared.
11. When a part of a losing bet placed on the layout is over the table limit, the part that is over the limit will be forfeited and not returned to the player. Should such a bet be a winning bet, the bet will be paid up to the table maximum and the part over the table maximum will also be forfeited.
12. The player with the highest chip count will be declared the winner of the heat; in the event of only one player being left in the game that player will be declared the winner.
13. In the event of a tie, a “Spin Off” will occur whereby the tied players will have one “Sudden Death Spin” including a secret bet to determine the winner of the heat.
14. If the players are once again tied, then they will continue with the “Sudden Death” spins and secret bets until a winner is determined.
15. Under no circumstances will any bets be accepted after the dealer has announced “No More Bets”.
16. The winner of each unit heat will be awarded a prize of R10 000 in non-negotiable chips.
     

C. Group Finals
 

1. The group finals will be hosted at GrandWest Casino, Western Cape on the weekend of 15-18 November 2024. The finals will comprise of the following rounds: quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals.
2. The 72 eligible players will compete in an elimination format tournament in the group quarter-finals.
3. 12 winners from the group quarter-finals and the group top 6 auto qualifiers will commence to the semi-final and finals.
4. The player with the highest chip count at the end of each heat will advance to the next stage of the tournament as per the structure proposed below:
   
5. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals will be conducted using the same mechanics and format as the unit heats specified in point 2 above with changes to the following rules:
   1. In the semi-finals and finals the players will receive a starting stack of R10 000 in Tournament chips to play.
   2. The final round (table of 6 on one table) will consist of 18 spins.
6. There will be a heat and seat draw for each of the quarter-finals, semi-final and final rounds.
7. Should 2 or more finalists exit the final table on the same spin the relevant prize money applicable to those finishing positions will be added together and divided equally.

Bonus Event (Sponsored by Sunbet)

1. During the group semi-final and final rounds, a bonus event will be introduced whereby players will draw a number from 0 to 36 (“Bonus Number”), before the start of the semi-finals or if the bonus is not won in the semi-final heats, before the start of the final table.
2. The first player’s bonus number that resulted in double or treble spins in succession of each other during the semi-finals or finals will win additional prize money as per below:
   R50,000 for a double spin
   R500,000 for a treble spin
3. The bonus event is once-off and will not be offered passed the concluding spin of the semi-final or final. The bonus prizes cannot be won during additional spins to break a tie.
   
   Bonus prizes are limited to one in each category and will be won by the first player that achieves a double or treble spin respectively.
    

D. Main prize pool
 

The total main cash prize pool for The Tournament is valued at R2.5 million as per below:

E. Travel Arrangements
 

1. Travel arrangements for the respective Players and their partners to travel to GrandWest Casino must be finalised within the deadlines set by Sun International, the failure of which will result in the Players and their partners being liable for their own travel costs.
2. Players will be liable for costs incurred for any changes made to travel and accommodation bookings, where applicable.
3. Players and their partners will be liable for all costs in respect of goods or services that are not included in the travel and accommodation bookings.