South Africa gaming and leisure giant Sun International Ltd. will soon be able to expand its footprint in Latin America after relevant gambling regulators in the region approved its merger with Chile-based gaming and entertainment firm Dream SA.

Business Day reported that the merger of Sun and Dream will pave the way for the creation of the largest gaming company in Latin America. At present, Sun’s Latin America portfolio includes Monticello Grand Casino in Chile, the Ocean Club Casino in Panama and the Sun Nao Casino in Colombia.

The Dreams portfolio includes six casinos in Chile — Iquique, Temuco, Valdivia, Puerto Varas, Coyhaique, Punta Arenas — and four in Peru, which are all in Lima. Together, the new company will have 13 casinos, with a total of about 7,000 slot machines and 300 tables.

“This deal is a milestone in the history of Sun International. It gives the company great opportunities to achieve scale and reach outside Africa and diversify its earnings and risk,” Sun International CE Graeme Stephens said in a statement.