The South African Casino Association (Casa) has announced the signing by the casino sector of a protocol to promote a culture of responsible gambling. The industry code of conduct makes South Africa, always a pioneer in gaming initiatives, one of the first countries to adopt such a protocol. Peter Bacon, Chairman of Casa and CEO of Sun International, points out that as employers, property owners and taxpayers Casa members place the highest priority on “the obligations of corporate citizenship and social responsibility.”

The code of conduct, described as a social contract with the people of South Africa, will bind the licensed casino industry to far-reaching measures that will underpin the already stringent responsible gambling policies. The gaming groups that have signed up to the code of conduct include Sun International, Peermont Global and Gold Reef Casino Resorts. The comprehensive code covers issues such as advertising, prevention of underage gambling and funding for the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP).

The gaming industry in South Africa is booming - Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World in Durban has reported a 34% rise in visitors over the last year, with around 95,000 each weekend. Sun International is expanding the GrandWest Casino in Cape Town, which already attracts around 4 million visitors annually. The rise in popularity in casino venues, however, is not solely due to gambling. Over 60% of visitors to GrandWest go for the restaurants and other entertainment. The expansion of the venue will include additional restaurants, a multi-purpose arena and family entertainment facilities. At SunCoast there are 18 restaurants, 8 cinemas and direct access to the beach.

As in the United States, the era of the gambling hall would appear to have been replaced by the concept of entertainment complexes, with casinos being just one facet of a huge leisure industry - albeit a very lucrative one. In 2003-2004 the casino industry in South Africa contributed almost R2.7 billion (US$398.4 million) to government revenue. It has also invested heavily in all nine provinces and created around 100,000 direct and indirect jobs. The new code of conduct is seen as one more step taken by industry leaders to ensure the highest possible standards for casinos in South Africa. (E-11.15.05)

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