South Africa welcomes new gambling amendment bill

The public will have 45 days to comment on the bill.

South Africa.- The Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry released the National Gambling Amendment Bill and it will be open to discussion until November 15. Committee Chairperson Ms Joanmariae Fubbs said that the bill needs a lot of public engagement in order to improve.

“The bill, along with the National Liquor Amendment Bill, raises issues that have long plagued communities in South Africa with drunken driving and the carnage they have let loose on the roads needing to be dealt with urgently. Issues in these bills have also increased social pathologies in the communities and very often leading to a complete breakdown in the family structure,” Fubbs said.

The bill will be focused on a rigorous regulation of all forms of gambling. “The social pathologies around gambling addiction have become more apparent in recent years. It is the vision of this government to develop and or promote economic activities and it recognises that some members of the community regard this as a form of leisure and participate responsibly. However there remains a need for this to be regulated,” she added.

The proposal in the Gambling Amendment Bill also proposes to reposition the National Gambling Board to become the National Gambling Regulator (NGR). The intention is to have a regulator that works without a board, and the Committee would need to study and deliberate before taking a position. In adoption of the Bill, provincial licensing authorities will not be empowered to issue licences in relation to lottery or any activity related to the lottery.