Eswatini minister’s response on gaming addiction fund delay sparks controversy
The minister’s comments triggered disquiet among senators, who felt her stance downplayed the severe social consequences of gambling, particularly given the lack of a fully operational support system.
Eswatini.- Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, Eswatini’s Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, has largely blamed adults for the growing issue of online gambling among children in the jurisdiction.
Mkhonta-Simelane made the remarks during a recent senate session, while responding to concerns about the delayed establishment of the Gaming Addiction Fund.
In 2022, Eswatini’s legislature passed the Gaming Control Act, aimed at establishing a regulatory framework for the gaming industry and addressing potential social impacts like gambling addiction. Amongst the key provisions of the Act is the creation of the Gaming Addiction Fund to provide support to individuals facing gaming-related problems. However, three years later, the fund is still not operational.
Senator Fezeka Dlamini questioned the government’s continued delay in rolling out the fund, emphasising that gambling is no longer a hypothetical concern but a growing crisis, which stresses the need for immediate action.
She attributed the rise in gambling, particularly among young people in the jurisdiction, to widespread use of smartphones and the inadequate regulation of online gaming platforms. She noted that the Gaming Addiction Fund, designed to provide rehabilitation services for problem gamblers and support national awareness campaigns, would be instrumental in tackling this issue.
Absence of Supporting Regulations
In her response, Mkhonta-Simelane acknowledged the delay in establishing the fund and attributed it to the ministry’s ongoing efforts to finalise the necessary supporting regulations, which are needed to make the fund operational.
She said: “The regulations will spell out how the fund will work. It will help us start rehabilitation centres and also assist with awareness building. Right now, some people come to the ministry saying they are addicted and we try to help, but the country is big and we cannot reach everyone without the fund.”
However, the minister emphasised that even when the fund is established, individuals must ultimately take responsibility for their gaming habits. She said: “There is nothing wrong with gambling regulations; they are meant to guide us, but let us be honest, the adults are the ones giving children smartphones. It is the adults who register the phones and hand them to children, who then use them for gambling.
“The online ones work in a way that, as long as you have a smartphone, you can play, even children can play. But those smartphones come from adults. So again, it is adults who must take responsibility.”
No Formal Study, No Factual Claims
Mkhonta-Simelane also disputed the notion that gambling is connected to increased family breakdowns or mental health struggles, arguing that, without a formal study, such claims are unsubstantiated.
The minister’s comments triggered disquiet among senators, who felt her stance downplayed the severe social consequences of gambling, particularly given the lack of a fully operational support system to help those affected. They also argued that the ministry does not need academic research to witness the social consequences of gambling.
Senator Dlamini demanded that the ministry submit a detailed report within 21 days that outlines the launch plan for the fund, along with interim support initiatives for citizens affected by problem gambling.
