People cry out against spread of gambling

Community members turn up to tell public hearings they do not want machines in their areas.

Concerned community members shared stories of nappy-wearing gambling grandmothers and suicides of family members, at the KwaZulu-Natal Gambling and Betting Board's public hearings this week.

The hearings are being held to gauge public opinion of the installation of 3000 electronic bingo machines in licensed bingo halls at malls cross the province.

On Thursday the board, headed by chairwoman Sibusiswe Zulu, held court in Phoenix.

Social worker Saras Perumal appealed to the board to consider the impact of the Sugar Mill Casino before approving electronic bingo terminals.

"When the Sugar Mill Casino was in Phoenix, we had a whole lot of problems. Our own grannies were sitting in diapers because they didn't want to leave the machines in case they made some money.

"Gambling is a disease. We are facing all the challenges. It is affecting our children, our grandparents. All the people who are going to go to use these machines have so much of hurt, so much pain, so much of psychological issues that they deal with.

"They can't say no when the machine is there. We are appealing to the board and everyone concerned. Please don't put these machines in our area," said Perumal.

At another hearing earlier in the week in Westville, pastor Mervin Reddy spoke of his teacher brother Dion, who hanged himself five years ago after losing R1-million of his pension money gambling.

Raj Govender, director of Gamhelp, an advice desk for gamblers, shared the story of his tea-lady mother who inadvertently bankrolled his gambling habit.

"I should have been taking care of my mother. Instead, I was taking from her to feed my habit," he said.

He added that while he was lucky enough to have got help for his addiction, his best friend took his own life after gambling himself into debt.

"We have a beautiful country, please don't destroy it," Govender pleaded.

The People's Forum Against Electronic Bingo, which consists of 21 civic, religious and political bodies, is spearheading the opposition to the applications made by companies Galaxy Bingo and Gold Rush.

Both companies were asked to withdraw their applications but "respectfully declined", saying they were entitled to make the applications as the licences for the bingo halls in which the machines will be operating have already been granted.

The licenses were approved in 2010.

Sibaya Casino trustee and chairman Vivian Reddy supports the forum's opposition to the introduction of electronic bingo terminals.

Reddy said he believed gambling should be in a "controlled area".

"When we bid for our casino, we had to pay an exclusivity fee of R45-million and we were told we would not have any competition.

"Also, we had to put in projects, we had to put in hotels and must-see attractions.

"We spent R1.2-billion building up Sibaya. All these people are doing is putting up slot machines in rented space."

He said casinos were prime targets for criminals due to the large amounts of money changing hands.

"We have specifically trained guards to deal with this situation. What about security guards at shopping centres?"

On Thursday, KwaZulu-Natal premier Senzo Mchunu said no licences had yet been issued but finance MEC Belinda Scott would be looking into curbing the growth of gambling machines in the province.

Scott has also briefed the executive council that there are plans to amend both the KwaZulu-Natal Gaming and Betting Regulations, 2012 and the KwaZulu-Natal Gaming and Betting Tax Act 2010 in the very near future.

"The amendments will include measures to curb the proliferation of electronic bingo terminals in public areas in close proximity to children and disadvantaged communities.

"The executive council has supported the MEC in this regard," said Mchunu.

Public hearings will continue this coming week.