Parliament concerned over gambling addiction in South Africa

After the suicide of an alleged addicted gambler in South Africa, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry said she will raise this incident with the Committee this week.

South Africa.- Joanmariae Fubbs, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, said she will raise the suicide of an alleged addicted gambler at a casino in Johannesburg with the Committee this week.

“This should not have happened under the current gambling legislation,” said Ms Fubbs”. The purpose of South Africa’s gambling policy and legislation is to protect society limiting opportunities to gambling and protecting players by encouraging integrity and fairness in the industry through control and supervision of the industry.

Cases such as these are therefore cause for concern for the Parliament. Hence there is a need to ensure strict adherence to the implementation with the existing legislation, the National Gambling Act 7 of 2004, Ms Fubbs explained. She added that the National Responsible Gambling Programme provides support and treatment for people with gambling problems and encourages the use of these services.

Fubbs promised to raise this incident this week with the Committee, as there is a need to engage not only with the casinos and banking association, but also with the Gambling Board. Fubbs also said that she was not aware of the incident and learnt of it this week when it was published in the weekend newspapers.