TO CURB ADDICTION: MINISTER WANTS REHABILITATION FUND FOR GAMBLERS

MBABANE – As addiction creeps in on punters, there is a call to spearhead the creation of a Gaming Rehabilitation Fund.

The call was made by the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Simelane, who tasked the newly-appointed Eswatini Gaming Control Board to engage in this task.
Simelane highlighted the growing issue of gambling addiction among many emaSwati, stressing the urgent need for a fund dedicated to rehabilitating those affected.  She made these remarks when unveiling the board led by Mandla Dlamini in a press conference yesterday. The board will serve a period not exceeding three years. Recently, the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, raised concerns over the growing popularity of gambling in the country, attributing its rise to the influence of social media. Rijkenberg cautioned emaSwati about the addictive nature of gambling, warning that it can quickly consume their finances if not approached responsibly. He urged the public to exercise caution and be mindful of the risks associated with this trend.

Consult

During the press conference yesterday, Simelane requested the board to familiarise themselves with the Gaming Control Act of 2022 and to consult the minister’s office for clarity and guidance when the need arises, because ultimately, the goal is for the ministry and the board to work towards a common goal, in regulating and advancing gaming in the country.
According to Simelane, the board is expected to hit the ground running, as there are already issues in the pipeline for its attention. “The secretariat will share the same with the board. The board is, therefore, reminded that this appointment should not be taken as second employment, but the expectation is that it will meet when there are substantial and urgent matters, as deemed fit by the chairperson of the board,” Simelane said.

Adding, Simelane mandated the board to assist with the establishment of the gaming rehabilitation fund. She stated that most emaSwati are addicted to gambling, so they need the funds to rehabilitate them. According to the minister, inasmuch as they want the gaming industry to flourish, they also want to see a healthy society. She went on to state that the board should ensure a conducive environment for the gaming industry.

She also advised the board not to be conflicted but should always stick to the law. The minister stated that the board should not be corrupt as this will affect its work. Furthermore, Simelane mandated the board to develop a monitoring system that will ensure that whatever is remitted to government is accurate, to avoid under-declaration.  She mentioned that government recognise the role played by the gaming sector in the national economy and commits to the exploration of its full potential. On the same note, she urged the board to be cognisant of the social ills that come with this leisure activity, and the expectation is that it will advise and intervene where appropriate, because this is where government seeks to maximise revenue collection.

Enhance

“On behalf of His Majesty’s government, I am confident that the board has robust expertise with the right skills and experience to enhance and spearhead prudence in the operation of the gaming industry,” she said. Meanwhile, the chairperson said they understood the work that they need to do. Dlamini committed that they would work and deliver on the expectations and take the country forward. He also appreciated the minister’s confidence in seeing that they should be appointed to the board. It is worth noting that in a space of a year, online gamblers in the country have increased by at least 75 per cent. This has raised concerns among members of the public in some sectors, who believe that this is a result of the high unemployment rate in the country, which stands at 35.4 per cent. According to information shared by the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, there were 220 000 registered online gaming users in April 2023 and 60 000 of those were active.

Ballooned

In this context, active is defined as a user who placed at least one bet and one deposit in a given month. In April 2024, the figure ballooned to 385 000 registered online gaming users and 73 000 of them were active. This depicts an increase of 165 000 (75 per cent) online gaming users in a space of a year.  The current registered online gaming users represent at least 25 per cent of the entire population, who opt for online gambling to make a quick buck. It should be mentioned that the ministry collected over E9 million in levies from bookmakers and E48 000 in annual licence fees in the financial year 2023/24. Eswatini has at least three online gaming sites, which are MulaSport, eBet, 8Bet and the recently launched DiskiBet. Online gambling is any kind of gambling conducted on the internet and this includes virtual poker, casinos and sports betting.

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