At a press conference at Grand West Casino today, Joyce Witbooi, Western Cape Minister of Tourism and Gambling, announced that since the inception of the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board in 1997, more than R527 million had been collected for the Province out of gambling taxes and licence fees. In the financial year ending March 2003, R133 million (R133 261 067) was collected in gambling tax revenue.
"In the past few months the gambling industry has been a target of criticism, but it is time that the public realises that the industry provides one of the largest sources of income to the Province," said Minister Witbooi.
There has been some very real socio-economic benefits to surrounding communities in the form of job opportunities during the construction and operational phases of the Cape's four casinos - GrandWest, Mykonos, Caledon and Mossel Bay - as well as in the form of taxes collected from casinos and betting operations.
The capital expenditure for the four casinos in terms of investment in the Western Cape had been R1,8 billion (R1 863 529 000).
In the construction phases of the four casinos, out of a total expenditure of R680 million (R680 284 002), 37,6% of work, to the value of R256 million (R256 248 042), went to businesses owned by previously disadvantaged persons.
In the construction phases, 7 478 jobs were created, of which 6036 (80%) went to previously disadvantaged individuals. The majority received training, developing their skills and empowering them with required skills for future jobs.
Equally important, in the respective operational phases, the four casinos created a large number of sustainable job opportunities for our people - a total of 3708 jobs, of which 2 999 jobs (81%) were done by previously disadvantaged members of our communities. A large proportion of these people were not previously employed.
Said Minister Witbooi, "You can see that as a result of legalized gambling, there are a number of socio-economic benefits flowing to our communities."
The casinos, as well as other sectors of the gambling and racing industry, are committed to the National Responsible Gambling Programme, which is funded in a large measure by the industry itself. All these sectors have signed a Code of Conduct as a public acknowledgement of their commitment to creating a culture of responsible gambling in our Province.
Finally Minister Witbooi stressed that Western Cape government is concerned about people gambling irresponsibly. At the same time there are more benefits controlling gambling through legislation than an environment where illegal gambling is the order of the day. "Legalised gambling has reduced some of illegal gambling's adverse social costs, such as corruption, organised crime, intimidation and violence," she said.
Issued by:Western Cape Ministry of Tourism and Gambling
Contact person:Hélène RossouwPublic relations practitionerCell: 082 771 8834herossou@pgwc.gov.za
