Gaming and leisure industry

The gaming and leisure industry has come of age and is booming. Since the legalisation of gambling in 1996 and the award of the first casino operators’ licences in 1997, the industry has successfully grown from strength to strength, making invaluable contributions on various levels within the economy in general. Apart from the direct investment and job creation that can be attributed to the industry, the gaming industry itself has advanced transformation in the tourism and leisure industry substantially.

In promoting the culture of responsible gambling, a body comprising regulators, civil society and industry called “South African Advisory Council on Responsible Gambling” (SAACREG) has been created at the instance of the National Gambling Board. Together with the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP), which is managed by the South African Responsible Gambling Trust, the industry has committed itself to the promotion of responsible gambling in communities. In the Western Cape, all sectors of the licensed gaming industry make contributions towards the funding of this programme, including GPI’s underlying investments.

Regulatory industry

The National Gambling Act regulates all aspects of gambling and gaming in South Africa, as well as the granting of casino operating licences in respect of the latter.

BEE and the Codes of Good Practice are aligned with and work symbiotically with the National Gambling Act, to ensure that BEE principles are advanced in application of the aforementioned Act.

The Western Cape Gambling and Racing Law, under which authority GPI operates, has allowed for the gradual roll-out of licensed limited pay out machines at carefully selected venues in the Western Cape Province. GPI is already heavily invested in such machines through its GrandSlots operation. This is a relatively new development that has seen the conservative introduction of such machines and has had the effect of boosting small business where these machines are located. By expanding GPI’s footprint into the KwaZulu - Natal LPM market it now is exposed to the rules and regulations governed by the KZN Gambling and Racing Board.

Gaming and leisure industry

Regulatory industry

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