Call to ban bingo machines from malls

ELECTRONIC bingo machines should be banned from shopping malls and communities, a public hearing on the KwaZuluNatal Gaming and Betting Amendment Bill heard yesterday (Tuesday).

Among those present at the meeting in Durban, hosted by the provincial legislature, were Childline director Vanespiri Pillay, businessman Vivian Reddy and community activist Brandon Pillay.

In October, Finance MEC Belinda Scott acknowledged that existing legislation did not cater for electronic bingo terminals (EBTs) as a form of gambling, as it recognised bingo as a card game (with five players and an announcer).

While licences were issued for EBTs to be rolled out across the province – including Chatsworth, Phoenix, Westville, uMhlanga and Pietermaritzburg – the process has been on hold following an outcry.

Pillay, who is vice-chairman of the People’s Forum against Electronic Bingo Terminals, said gambling was destroying families.

“Families are left without food due to gambling. Gambling also leads to many other social ills. People start selling their stuff at home. Some pensioners are even using their pension money and this is fuelling increased poverty levels.”

Legislature spokesman Wesley Canham said the hearings in Newcastle and Durban were attended by those with key interests in casinos and horse racing, as well as by representatives of comm u n i t y organisations. Raj Govender, the director and founder of the National Council on Problem Gambling, said there were already too many forms of gambling in South Africa.

“There is so much poverty. I don’t think government is applying their mind to it… Schoolkids and pensioners are vulnerable.”

Reddy, who is chairman of Sibaya Casino, said the overall amendments to the bill to bring about clarity were long overdue. Two women from Bayview, Chatsworth – Sallee Chetty and Shirley Ebrahim – travelled by bus to attend the meeting.

“Pensioners use their grant money in the hope they will win more money but this does not happen,” said Chetty.