Gambling addicts suspended
About 156 addicts across the country have been suspended from gambling over the last three years, Mmegi has learnt. The suspended people will only be allowed back into casinos after going through the requisite counselling. Appearing before the Committee of Statutory Bodies and State Enterprises this week, the Gambling Authority (GA)’s CEO Thulisizwe Johnson said some of the excluded people volunteered for suspension while others were excluded by the casinos.
“I think we started with high levels of exclusions and I think because there is some awareness around responsible gambling within the society. I expect that we grow these areas as we continue with the awareness,” he said.
According to Johnson, it is the responsibility of the casino operators to work hand in hand with the Authority to identify within their customers who have a problem with gambling and recommend them for counselling.
As the Gambling Authority’s mandate is to promote responsible gambling, the Authority will also play its part and use the system to identify addicts and refer them for counselling. Earlier this year, the Authority appointed private companies to provide counselling services towards rehabilitating excessive gamblers from becoming addicts. The quartet is made up of Gaborone Rehabilitation and Emergency Centre, Thuso Psychotherapy, New Beginnings Counselling Centre and Psychologists Botswana.
The psycho-social support offered by registered suppliers is open to all gamblers and their family members.
Both gamblers and their family members are free to access the services on a purely voluntary basis and at no cost to them (gamblers). The costs are borne by the Gambling Authority from the responsible gambling levy that the Authority collects from the industry. “The GA will also be relying on experts to help identify and help them. Individuals with gambling addiction will not be allowed back into casinos until a professional confirms they are in a proper state of not relapsing,” he said. Over the last few years, the gambling industry has experienced relative growth.
Previously, the gambling regulator had planned to build a rehabilitation facility using the 15% monthly levy paid by the operators. But
Mmegi has learnt that the GA has since backtracked on the issue after assessing the situation.
“We have had a case where an individual who has been excluded was supposed to go for rehabilitation. It’s not forced but it is encouraged,” he said. Currently, the GA has awarded five casino licenses, two in Gaborone, one in Palapye and one in Maun and Kasane respectively. Gaborone now has a total of five casinos.
“In Gaborone, we have approved one licence at Masa, however, no one applied for licenses in Maun, Kasane and Palapye.
We will re-issue the licences for application and see whether there is appetite and of course our focus is also to ensure citizens own a large part of these licences.’’, said Johnson. Bingo licenses and sports betting have also been approved.