SA Minister Calls for Gambling Plan

May 14 - At a meeting of National Gambling and Liquor Policy Council last week, the Trade and Industry Minister, Rob Davies called for the creation of a plan which would curb illegal gambling in South Africa.

The minister said that there was clearly the need for a national strategy that would combat illegal gambling in the country, and that the National Gambling Board has been given the green light to prepare an action plan which will begin the eradication of illegal gambling. He also said that all of South Africa's law enforcement agencies should be involved.

Standards to be set for SA's Gambling Activities

Davies said there was a strong need for national standards to be set regarding South Africa's gambling activities. It was also revealed that between July 2010 and April 2011, 350 illegal gambling machines were destroyed.

After a plan of action has been prepared, public consultations will be held under the auspices of the National Council of Provinces. These consultations have been discussed by the country's Members of Executive Councils for Economic Development in each province.

The public's participation in these consultations is critical, according to council. "The public has been urged to participate in the public hearings to ensure that their views are represented on matters pertaining to gambling in the country," it was stated. "The meeting also emphasised the need for provincial licensing authorities to participate and enrich inputs as well as recommendations."

South African Bingo Regulations to be Discussed

The council meeting also discussed bingo in South Africa and decided that the matter of bingo's legalities would be determined by Parliament in its Gambling Review Commission Report.

Besides the SA Minister's gambling plan, Davies said about bingo: "Against this background, the Council announced that the regulation of bingo be subsumed in the boarder review process, pending public consultations of the National Council of Provinces, which will inform on how the country must proceed with a national policy and regulatory framework for bingo as a whole, a moratorium on the issuance of all automated bingo due must be halted."

South African National Gambling Board

According to its website, the National Gambling Board, which was established in 1996, "makes provision for the oversight of matters relating to casinos, gambling, betting and wagering, and promotes uniforms norms and standards in relation to gambling in South Africa."

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