On Friday 18 March 2012, the Western Cape Provincial Treasury gazetted for public comment amendments to the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Act and the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Regulations.
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the draft bill and regulations on or before 20 April 2012.
The bill provides for one of the Western Cape's outlying casinos to move to the Cape Town Metro. Should the amendments be passed, the casinos will have to bid for the new 10-year exclusivity licence in the Metro.
The amendments will also provide for:
- Fees to be paid for new licence applications, annual licence fees and investigation fees to be dealt with by way of regulation.
- The increase in the annual licence fee for casino licence holders.
- The simplification of the casino tax structure reducing the number of taxation bands from the current 6 to 2. In addition provision is made for an increase in the taxation rate applicable to casinos.
- Details on the actual new licence, annual licence and investigation fees payable including the annual escalation of these fees.
Minister Alan Winde said: "We have conducted an extensive consultative process with all casinos in the province and conducted external research into the viability of a second casino in the Metro. Based on this, Cabinet has approved these amendments. The relocation of one of the Western Cape's casinos to the Metro will ensure increased tourist numbers, and in turn, increased revenue generated from tourism. The revenue generated by the Western Cape Government in license fees will be used to improve the livelihoods of the citizens of the Western Cape. Should one of the outlying casinos move to the Metro, they have a responsibility to minimise the impact on job losses in their current region. It is in collaboration with the private sector and government that we can be better together".
Media enquiries:
Phumzile van Damme
Spokepserson to Minister Alan Winde
Cell: 082 378 2235
