Public hearings on bingo betting begin
The People's Forum Against Electronic Bingo has promised to intensify its campaign, calling on everyone to attend these hearings.
MEMBERS of the community and interested parties are invited to submit their objections or comments regarding the Galaxy Bingo mooted for the Southcoast Mall at a public hearing at St Michael’s Sands Hotel on September 19 at 10am.
For those living in Scottburgh, a public hearing regarding the Gold Rush gaming proposed for the Scottburgh Mall takes place at the Conference and Leisure Hotel at 1pm.
This comes as KZN Finance MEC Belinda Scott and the KZN Gaming and Betting Board received applications from tenants/operators at various malls to install electronic bingo terminals (EBTs).
Meanwhile, the People’s Forum Against Electronic Bingo has promised to intensify its campaign, calling on everyone to attend these hearings.
In a press statement, Francois Rodgers, MPL of the Democratic Alliance (DA), said the party was strongly against the proposed introduction of the EBTs in shopping malls across the province.
Mr Rodgers, who attended the first of the hearings this week, said he would write to Ms Scott on behalf of the DA to request a detailed report in order to establish whether the Board has followed due process.
“It’s odd that the board issued 44 bingo hall licences in 2010, yet only 22 of these licences are currently in operation,” he said.
Mr Rodgers questioned why there is a need to issue additional licences, allegedly 150, when it’s clear that there is no appetite for this form of gambling.
The KZN Gaming and Betting Board will hold public hearings around the province to engage on applications received for amendments to licence conditions, registration and floor plans inclusive of Electronic Bingo Terminals (EBTs).
KZN Treasury spokesman, Ntokozo Maphisa, said the board had never made a proposal for EBTs and had only received applications from its licence holders.
“It is now complying with its statutory requirements to publish such applications received for public comments and/or objections,” she said.
She said the board is duty bound to consider such objections received prior to making its final decision.
