Limpopo Gambling Board (LGB) is losing an estimated R172 million in potential revenue to illegal gambling activities in the province every year.
This was revealed by Philly Masogo, Senior Manager for Law Enforcement at LGB during the presentation of the Best Effort to Combat Illegal Gambling Award won by LGB’s Law Enforcement Unit at the Gambling Indaba held in Gauteng last Tuesday.
On Monday Masoga stated that illegal gambling activities have a negative impact on those operating legally and they were working around the clock to close them down. “We are losing a lot of money on illegal activities because they are not regulated and they don’t pay tax and levies. The local economy is suffering because of them,” Masoga said.
He said, in their quest to combat illegal gambling activities, they have conducted 103 investigations, 24 crime awareness campaigns and they also confiscated 33 illegal gambling machines between January 2018 and June 2018. “The unit arrested 48 illegal gamblers participating in the fahfee and mochiana gambling activities and confiscated R10 109 which was later forfeited to the board. We also arrested 27 illegal gamblers for cards and dice,” added Masogo.
He indicated that the award will serve as motivation to the officials in the section.
“They did very well. We managed to close down many illegal activities. We still have areas that are problematic, namely the mining areas, Lephalale, Burgersfort, Phalaborwa, Thabazimbi and Northam. We can assure everyone that we will close all the illegal gambling activities in the province,” remarked Masogo.
The board’s Chief Executive Officer, Mokgase Makoko said the award will encourage them to do more and guard against all illegal gambling activities in the province.
Story & photos: Herbert Rachuene
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