/ 24 September 1999

GO-AHEAD TO SLOT MACHINES

TRADE and Industry Minister Alex Erwin said South Africa’s long-delayed slot machine industry will be introduced by September next year. The industry is expected to generate between R2bn and R3bn a year, and create about 5000 direct and 2500 indirect jobs. More than R300-million rand has been invested in the noncasino slot machine industry, while investors have been put on hold for more than two years, the Business Day reports. Key features of the new regulations include a wager limit of R5, a maximum payout of R500 with no linked jackpots and a limit of five machines per site. Erwin said there will be an agreed maximum number of slot machines for all provinces. The industry could be up and running by as early as June next year.