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Government &
regulators |
Highlights |
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National Responsible Gaming Programme (NRGP) research shows incidence of problem gambling dropping. Those with easy
access to commercial gambling showed an incidence of 4,8% in 2006 vs 6,8% in 2003. Less than 1% of the sample showed
an addiction to gambling. |
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New Gambling Act Amendment Bill is seeking to regulate online gambling. |
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Sun International operates in a highly
regulated environment. In terms of the
Constitution, Parliament and the nine
provinces have concurrent legislative
competence regarding, among other things,
casinos, racing, gambling and wagering.
The gambling industry is governed by the
National Gambling Act of 2004 and
legislation enacted by each of the nine
provinces. The provincial licencing authorities
(PLAs) exercise a range of statutory functions
to control the conduct of gambling and
racing, where applicable, in their respective
provinces. The National Gambling Board
has an oversight function and a range of
other responsibilities aimed at meeting the
objectives of the National Act.
The principal asset of any casino operator is
its licence to operate a casino. Attached to
casino licences are a variety of conditions
and it is the function of the PLAs to ensure
that operators comply with these and other
terms of the licence.
It is therefore self-evident that Sun International’s
relationship with government be
based on a high degree of compliance,
mutual trust, constructive engagement and
regular consultation. Sun International
enjoys a close working relationship with
the National Gambling Board as well as
the PLAs in the eight provinces in which
it operates. |
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CASINO ASSOCIATION OF
SOUTH AFRICA |
CASA was formed in 2003 by the groups
whose operating companies hold the casino licences in South Africa. Its aim is to
serve as a forum for the advancement of
matters of common interest to its members.
The main activities are conducted by a Board
comprising the chief executives of its
members, as well as the office of the Chief
Executive Officer of CASA. Sun International
is an active participant in the affairs of CASA.
CASA contributes significantly in the areas
of research and information dissemination
regarding the casino sector to the public,
the media, regulators and a host of
political and other decision makers.
CASA’s CEO is a regular participant at
international conferences and has
established meaningful relations with a
number of counterpart associations in
various parts of the world.
There is a constructive working relationship
with the NRGP, the internationally
acclaimed public/private sector partnership
which focuses on problem gambling
research, education and treatment. The
casino sector contributed some 85% of the
NRGP’s overall budget, with the balance
provided by the horse racing, bingo and
limited payout machine industries. |
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TOURISM BUSINESS COUNCIL
OF SOUTH AFRICA (TBCSA) |
| TBCSA conducts its activities through South
Africa’s tourism industry role players to
bolster the funding of SA Tourism’s
marketing and promotional activities.
Currently a 1% levy on room rates is paid
over to SA Tourism to add to their local and
international marketing spend. |
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HOTEL INDUSTRY LIAISON
GROUP (HILG) |
| HILG is an informal discussion forum at
which senior executives of South Africa’s
major hotel and resort groups discuss
matters of common interest. Meetings are
held periodically, as and when agenda items
of sufficient import have been collated.
The HILG has focused itself on skills
development in the hospitality industry in
the build up to the 2010 World Cup
football finals to be held in South Africa. |
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LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS |
The past financial year saw the publication
of a National Gambling Act Amendment
Bill, 2006, which intends to legalise and
regulate, among other things, the conduct
of interactive gambling in South Africa.
The industry body, CASA, submitted
extensive comments on the Bill, which
were subsequently workshopped with
representatives of the Department of
Trade and Industry as the responsible
government body.
During the year under review, Limpopo,
Free State and Northern Cape Provinces all
released gambling amendment bills for
public comment. |
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