GAMBLING BOARD CELEBRATES 5 YEARS OF RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING MESSAGING THROUGH THE BERLIN NOVEMBER
The Eastern Cape Gambling Board (ECGB) has for five years since the inception of the Berlin November Traditional Horse Racing consistently utilised this platform to communicate messages of responsible gambling in a quest to minimize the harmful effects of excessive and irresponsible gambling.
This has enabled the Board to inform and educate the masses about the harmful effects of problem gambling and beam a spotlight on the signs of excessive and irresponsible gambling, the steps that individuals, family and community members may take to assist those directly and indirectly affected by problem gambling.
Over the years, an Independent Media Monitor report suggest that an estimated 16 million people have been reached through this platform. This is one of the biggest events in the Provincial entertainment calendar as it is known for fashion, horse racing and games that attract masses from all corners of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu
-Natal Free State as well as neighboring country, Lesotho.
The event in itself is a welcome socio-economic boost within the Buffalo City Municipal area, especially Berlin, King William’s Town and Mdantsane as it provides the local traders an opportunity to display and sell their products to a large audience that includes visitors from all over the province.
The event also enhances the appeal of the traditional horse racing as a tourism product that has the potential to increase investment in the rural communities and its sporting properties as well as increasing awareness of the need for traditional horse racing infrastructure and facilities. This aligns the event with the Eastern Cape Province’s Rural Development Strategy.
Responsible gambling remains a priority for the ECGB and spreading the messages that seek to minimize the harmful effects of excessive and irresponsible gambling will continue to be conducted through various platforms to ensure that the growing access to gambling does not adversely lead to growth in problem gambling.
There is a commitment by the ECGB to communicate these messages to audiences of different ages, LSMs and from different backgrounds, ensuring a broader reach of the main message that: IF IT’S NO LONGER FUN, IT’S TIME TO STOP!!!
Call the National Responsible Gambling Programme 24 hour Toll Free Counselling Line: 0800 006 008 | SMS “HELP” to 076 675 0710 | email to helpline@responsiblegambling.org.za