Fewer gambling machines for Western Cape

WESTERN Cape Minister of Tourism and Gambling, Joyce Witbooi, announced this week that the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board had decided to further reduce the number of limited gambling machines to be deployed in the province in the course of next year. The minister made the announcement on her visit to the National Responsible Gambling Programme's (NRGP) addiction treatment centre at Kenilworth Clinic. She said that a maximum of 2 000 machines would be rolled out by two operators in pubs, clubs and taverns. In accordance with national regulations, a maximum of five machines would be allowed per site, at a maximum of R5 per bet, and the machines would pay out a maximum of R500. "The number of machines to be deployed in the Western Cape has previously been reduced from 9 000 to 3 000, and now, in the light of the sensitivity surrounding the further deployment of any further form of gambling in the Province, the Board has decided on the further reduction to 2 000 machines," said Witbooi. (Corin Baker)