Natal:
South African-Indians have slammed the proposed legislation allowing electronic bingo
machines in shopping malls for gambling across KwaZulu-Natal province, warning it would lead to more moral, social and financial problems.
As much as 75 per cent of the 1.4 million strong Indian-origin South Africans live in this province and majority of them vehemently oppose the provincial government's consideration of bingo halls in shopping centres.
Many of the residents showed up with posters, regularly at the public hearings hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Gambling Board.
People making representations at the hearings shared experiences of suicides by friends and relatives, young people stealing from aged grandparents to feed their gambling habits,
and addiction by pensioners wasting away their meager allowances at slot machines.
Social worker Saras Perumal told the Board hearing that the opening of the Sugar Mill Casino in Phoenix some years ago had wrought numerous problems in the community.
"Pensioners used all their income on slot machines in the hope of striking it rich," she said.
Pastor Mervin Reddy told the hearing that his brother Dion, a teacher, hanged himself after losing all of his million rand pension pay-out at gambling tables.
Former gambling addict Raj Govender, who now runs an advice desk for gamblers to help them overcome their addiction, said that instead of helping his aged mother, he took her money for gambling.
A host of civic, religious, and political bodies across the province have also voiced their objection to the licensing of bingo facilities at popular malls.
Formal casino owners who have invested millions in security facilities and public education programmes to ensure responsible gambling, also objected to the bingo machines in malls, which they said would not have the same level of commitment towards protecting minors from gambling.
The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal province, Senzo Mchunu, said gambling legislation would be amended to ensure that bingo terminals in public places will be kept away from places close
to children and disadvantaged communities.
Taxes from gambling facilities contribute significant amounts to the coffers of provincial governments in South Africa
machines in shopping malls for gambling across KwaZulu-Natal province, warning it would lead to more moral, social and financial problems.
As much as 75 per cent of the 1.4 million strong Indian-origin South Africans live in this province and majority of them vehemently oppose the provincial government's consideration of bingo halls in shopping centres.
Many of the residents showed up with posters, regularly at the public hearings hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Gambling Board.
People making representations at the hearings shared experiences of suicides by friends and relatives, young people stealing from aged grandparents to feed their gambling habits,
and addiction by pensioners wasting away their meager allowances at slot machines.
Social worker Saras Perumal told the Board hearing that the opening of the Sugar Mill Casino in Phoenix some years ago had wrought numerous problems in the community.
"Pensioners used all their income on slot machines in the hope of striking it rich," she said.
Pastor Mervin Reddy told the hearing that his brother Dion, a teacher, hanged himself after losing all of his million rand pension pay-out at gambling tables.
Former gambling addict Raj Govender, who now runs an advice desk for gamblers to help them overcome their addiction, said that instead of helping his aged mother, he took her money for gambling.
A host of civic, religious, and political bodies across the province have also voiced their objection to the licensing of bingo facilities at popular malls.
Formal casino owners who have invested millions in security facilities and public education programmes to ensure responsible gambling, also objected to the bingo machines in malls, which they said would not have the same level of commitment towards protecting minors from gambling.
The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal province, Senzo Mchunu, said gambling legislation would be amended to ensure that bingo terminals in public places will be kept away from places close
to children and disadvantaged communities.
Taxes from gambling facilities contribute significant amounts to the coffers of provincial governments in South Africa
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