21 Apr 2016

The chief executive officer of Gambling Authority, Mr Thulisizwe Johnson says gambling includes pool betting, bookmaking, gaming and promoting or entering into a lottery.

Speaking at a Gambling Authority press briefing, Mr Johnson said gambling means playing a game of chance for a prize. He said gambling also involved playing or staking against  a bank whether the bank was held by one of the participants or not.

He noted that the Gambling Authority was set up by an act of Parliament through the Gambling Act of 2012.

The act, he said, sets out the mandate to regulate gambling and that prior to the act, there was the Lotteries and Betting Act and that its regulator was the Casino Control Act.

Mr Johnson said for something to be regarded as gambling, there should be three legs involved. He explained them as money, prize and a game of chance or risk associated with it.

He said the mandate of the authority was to regulate and control the development of the gambling establishment and to receive and consider applications for licenses, verify the information submitted with the license and to refuse, suspend, issue or revoke the licenses.

On the other hand, he said there was the Excessive and Rehabilitation Committee that was responsible for identifying and ensuring that gambling addicts were rehabilitated, adding that as they grow, they would engage experts from the Ministry of Health to assist in the rehabilitation of addicted gamblers.

He said as they continue to get levies from gambling institutes, they were planning to establish rehabilitation centres.

The chief of staff, Mr Solomon Moremong said the press briefing was meant to engage and sensitise the media about the Gambling Authority. ENDS