Bingo news
Machine Similar to Bingo is Gaining Popularity in South Africa
On February 16, 2007, the brand new casino-like gaming terminals, which can be found in the Gauteng Province bingo establishments are showing up without any regulatory restrictions and posing a serious threat to the limited payment machine market.
Compared with the limited payment machine industry, these types of casino terminals have no restrictions on the winnings or even the jackpots. Elias Mphande, the SA Chairman of the Limited Payout Machine Association, commented to the National Council of Provinces' Selection Committee of Economic and Foreign Affairs, that the brand new bingo gaming terminals are like games of chance that can be found inside a typical casino and are just using bingo as camouflage.
The machines are unregulated by the existing gaming laws set by the government. The SA government is currently thinking of putting up regulatory measures following the recommendation of researchers who have done a study on the international gambling industry. The association of Mphande also called for a strict moratorium on giving out bingo licenses until some changes are made regarding the regulation of the gaming laws.
Bingo is the only gaming alternative that is left unregulated. Mphande added that the process for approving the standards set for the bingo gaming terminals are not similar to those that are set for casinos and the limited payment machines.
He further stated that the widespread introduction of the new "bingo" gaming terminals in the bingo halls to replace the usual traditional bingo seats has the possibility of increasing small casinos to replace about 3,734 bingo seats in just 8 bingo halls in Gauteng alone.
Mphande commented that the SA government has to make a national policy and clear the difference between the gambling devices that are used to help the game of bingo and those electronic machines that are similar to casino style gambling machines.
Currently, there are about 2,755 limited payment machines operating full time in South Africa with about 9,000 licensed to operate in the country. The money that has been invested is already at Rands 405 million and has given about Rands 132 million to the economy in license fees, gambling taxes, VAT and regulation fees.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Karen Jacobs