Trade and Industry Committee notes gambling challenges
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, Ms Joanmariae Fubbs, expressed her concern and shock over the suicide of an alleged addicted gambler in a casino.
A weekend newspaper reported that the man committed suicide at a Johannesburg casino in July this year, because of an alleged gambling addiction.
“This should not have happened under the current gambling legislation,” said Ms Fubbs”. The objective of the 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. 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 said. She added that the National Responsible Gambling Programme, which also provides support and treatment for people with gambling problems and encourages the use of these services.
Ms Fubbs said she would 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.
Ms Fubbs said she was not aware of the incident and learnt of it this week when it was published in the weekend newspapers.
Media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson please contact:
Yoliswa Landu
Tel: 021 403 8203
Cell: 081 497 4694
E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
