19 May 2010

The new regulations in the KwaZulu-Natal Gaming and Betting Bill 2010, which appeared before a joint committee in the provincial Legislature today, opens the door to cadre deployment and political interference in the industry while neglecting the pertinent issues such as social ills associated with gambling.

“By empowering the Premier to issue further directives to the Gambling and Betting Board and appointing its members, the bill opens the door to political interference and cadre deployment,” said IFP KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson on finance Roman Liptak MPL.

The IFP has questioned the Office of the Premier about the checks and balances in this regard, but was not satisfied with the open-ended response. “The new decision-making powers granted to the Premier effectively mean that this regulatory body moves closer to a state-run parastatal,” said Liptak.

While the new clauses that purport to regulate the criteria upon which the Premier can appoint new members to the Board, they do not address the IFP’s concerns about undue political interference and cadre deployment. “Nothing in the bill prevents politicians and public servants from unduly benefitting from the control and proceeds of the industry. On the contrary, the Premier’s new powers implicitly encourage such practices,” said Liptak.

On the other hand, where the new bill had an opportunity to further regulate some unsavoury aspects of the gambling and betting environment, there it largely failed. “The bill remains silent on the issue of our value system that is potentially under attack from gambling and betting,” said Liptak.

The IFP contends that the allusion to responsible gambling in the national legislation which governs gambling concurrently in the provinces and the country as a whole is not sufficient. “Specific concerns such as the presence of children on the premises of gambling establishments are not adequately addressed in light of the social challenges that stem from gambling and are backed by extensive research,” said Liptak.

Contact: Roman Liptak, 078 302 0929