The Casino Association of South Africa (Casa) is calling on government to adopt a zero tolerance approach to illegal gambling activities and unlicensed casinos.
Casa, the body that represents the interests of South Africa’s legal casino gambling industry, as well as the public it serves, has noted an alarming increase in illegal gambling.
It warns if immediate action is not taken to stamp out these criminal activities, the negative impact on the economy, and society in general, could be far-reaching.
As Casa’s chief executive officer Adv Themba Ngobese said, “Not nearly enough is being done to combat illegal gambling. There are laws in place but they are meaningless without a firm and consistent commitment to enforce them.
“Unfortunately, there will always be people who believe illegal gambling and illegal casino activities are somehow victimless crimes, but nothing could be further from the truth.”
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Ngobese added by explaining that illegal gambling operations are eroding the revenues of licensed casinos and thereby negatively impacting everything from job security, corporate social investment budgets to their ability to support the economy through taxes.
Licensed casinos currently pay a massive portion (around 36 per cent) of the value they generate to the state through various local, provincial and national taxes and levies, and even a small percentage decrease in revenues can result in dire consequences for a treasury already under pressure.
“In the year ended March 2017, our members experienced losses in revenue of almost two per cent, attributable in large part to aggressive illegal gambling activities. That may not sound like much but for an industry that contributes almost R6-billion in taxes and levies, a few per cent points can have a massive knock-on effect,” said Ngobese.
Ngobese urged government to step up with a deliberate and concerted effort to enforce its laws to protect the regulated gambling industry and the public.
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The general public is also encouraged to stamp out illegal gambling activities by reporting suspicious operations.
To report a suspected illegal gambling establishment or casino, contact the following provincial gambling boards:
• Eastern Cape: 043 702 8300 or ceo@ecgbb.co.za
• Free State: 051 404 0300 or officeoftheceo@fsgrb.co.za
• Gauteng: 011 581 4800 or info@ggb.org.za
• KwaZulu-Natal: 080 112 2568 or KZNGBB@tip-offs.com
• Limpopo: 015 230 2300 or ceo@lgb.co.za
• Mpumalanga: 013 750 8000 or ceo@mgb.org.za
• Northern Cape: 081 761 9101 or enquiry@ncgb.co.za
• North West: 018 834 3215 or info@nwgb.co.za
• Western Cape: 021 480 7400 or Enforcement@wcgrb.co.za
