Times Of Swaziland: SOME MEN, WOMEN SPLASH  MONEY ON GAMBLING - SENATORS

SOME MEN, WOMEN SPLASH  MONEY ON GAMBLING - SENATORS
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Nonduduzo Kunene on 14/09/2024 07:26:00


LOBAMBA – Senators say some men and women splash their hard-earned money on
gambling, spend nights in Casinos while they are failing to look after their
families.
These allegations were made yesterday during a workshop organised by the
Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs. The ministry was sensitising the
senators about the Gaming Fee Rules for 2024 that are in accordance with Section
70 of the Gaming Control Act of 2022.During the workshop, the Minister of
Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Mkhonta, stated the various gaming fees
that needed to be paid by players in the gambling industry. The fees entail that
Casino application fee will be E400 000, E350 000 for the lottery licence while
the rest is interactive gambling also known as online gambling which is charged
at E1 00 0 000.
Following the run-through of the fees by the minister, some senators felt the
fees were just too high while others were interested to know  if there were
measures that had been put in place by the ministry to ensure that people were
not addicted to gambling. The senators questioned the minister about which
countries were used to benchmark the licencing and application fees. They
referenced the minister’s preamble during the workshop where she stated that
they conducted consultations in other countries that had successful gaming
industries. The senators were concerned that the benchmarking might have been
done in countries that have higher Gross Domestic Product (GPD) than Eswatini.
The difference in the economies according to the senators might leave emaSwati
worse off as the industry might try to recoup the money paid during the
application of licences from the gamblers thus leaving the poor liSwati worse
off.
“What was considered to arrive at  these fees,” asked Senator Chief Prince
Ngangabani was seconded by Senator Siphelele Mkhonta. Senator Princess
Ncengencenge said she was concerned about school-going children who were bating
on football sites and how it was regulated. She stated that it was not only
children who were consumed by online batting as even men were blowing up money
through these sites. Senator Isaac Magagula said it was understood that the
gaming industry was also meant to boost the economy as the government was making
a lot of revenue in issuing licences and collecting levies. He, however, stated
that he was not too sure if the ministry had put enough control measures to
safeguard the social impacts of gambling.
“Time and again, there are families that complain about gambling as men spend
time in casinos day and night and do not support their families as all the money
is spent gambling in casinos,” he said.  He recalled that in previous years
there was even a law that prohibited public servants especially those who work
with money like accountants, from partaking in any gambling activities. The
senator questioned what was put in place to safeguard the nation from any
disturbances that may be brought by gambling. “These fees are just too high
let us not bluff ourselves,” he said.
Senator Chief Prince Mphatfwa who was the acting chairperson of the portfolio
committee said he feared that due to the high licencing and application fees,
the gambling facilities might end up imposing the fees on their customers. The
chief added that due to the high fees the facilities might temper with their
machines so that people could not win. He said that would be unfair to the
players or gamblers because some people take their last money to these gaming
places with the hope of getting more money to buy electricity units or get money
for paying their children’s school fees.
“If they do not win they will not have money for electricity and for paying
school fees,” he said. Senator Fezeka Dlamini said it was not only men who
were addicted as there were also women who woke up daily to go and gamble at
these facilities. “Sometimes I see women hitchhiking next the places of
gambling at night or early in the morning after losing their money in the
casinos,” she said. The Senate President, Lindiwe Dlamini also shared with the
senators that yesterday at 8 am she came across an old lady who was using a
walking stick carrying a coat going to some of the gambling joints in Ezulwini.
She said there were people who were deep in debt because of gambling.
Establish gambling addict  fund or we don’t pass the regulations – Fezeka
LOBAMBA – Senator Fezeka Dlamini says the Parliament should not approve the
gaming fees if the government fails should establish a Gaming Fund that would
assist gambling addicts.The senator was responding to the gaming fees that were
presented by the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Mkhonta. 
The minister stated in her preamble that the Gaming Control Act also stipulates
that the ministry should form a fund that would be funded by the fees and levies
that would come from the gaming industry. Mkhonta told the senators the fund had
not been established besides the act being passed in 2022.
The senators felt that with the hike in some of the fees and the increase in
online gambling, the fund should have been a priority.“It would be
irresponsible for the Senate to allow the regulations to go as they are.
Gambling is very addictive, families would be destroyed. If there is no fund to
assist those who are addicted to gambling we would be killing the nation. Let
the minister tell us if she has established the fund so that those who are
addicted to gambling could be assisted.
The senator highlighted that on August 28, 2024, the Times of Eswatini published
that online gamblers increased by 75 per cent in a year which is 25 per cent of
the population of emaSwati, and unemployed youth and students dominate.“If the
fund has not been established, we cannot approve these fees. What will happen to
the people who will be addicted to gambling?” she asked.The Senate President,
Lindiwe Dlamini said it seemed like job creation has been made a priority and
gambling is among the industries that can create jobs.
“What made you delay the regulations and delay the fund? The fund stipulates
that there would be counselling among others hence it is crucial,” she said.
Gambling is here to stay – Minister
LOBAMBA – “With all due respect senators, gambling is here to stay.” The
Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Mkhonta said she understood
the concerns of the Senators about the huge fees, levies and emaSwati who spend
money, but with all the concerns gambling was not going anywhere. “Forward
ever, backward never. Gambling has evolved over the years. The very same
emaSwati you are concerned about they are the ones who want to gamble. They take
their money bet on their phones or go to casinos the government has never forced
anyone to gamble,” she said.
She said the government’s role in all of this is to regulate the industry and
the ministry was doing just that. Simelane said the fees the senators were
complaining about were actually approved by those who are running gambling
facilities. She said instead the senators should be pleased that their
country’s revenue would be boosted by the industry. “We consulted
stakeholders and it was agreed that the fees were perfect. Relax senators a lot
of groundwork has been done and the Attorney General, Cabinet and House of
Assembly approved this,” she said.
The minister said there were a lot of applications that were sitting in the
ministry that were hindered by the absence of the fees. She urged that the
applicants should not be delayed as they have to create job opportunities and
boost the country’s revenue.“The fund will be properly established once the
Parliament passes the regulations. The fund will be responsible for counselling
and rehabilitating emaSwati who would be addicted to gambling,” she said. The
minister said gambling was also part of leisure and provided relaxation for
many. Mkhonta said some people’s moods were boosted just by seeing the
slotting machine and relaxed their minds.