/ 18 March 2003

Casino operators band together

South African Casino operators have banded together to form a new voluntary association named The Casino Association of South Africa.

The founding members of the association are Balele Leisure, Emerald Safari Resorts, Gold Reef Group, Global Resorts, Sun International, Tsogo Sun and Tusk Resorts.

The operators said they had invested billions of rands in tourism and infrastructural development, created tens of thousands of jobs, paid significant taxes to national, provincial and municipal governments, and promoted the country as a whole both nationally and internationally.

The chief executive of Tsogo Sun, JA Mabuza, was appointed chairman of the association at its inaugural meeting and said that he looked forward to the challenge of representing and promoting the interests of the casino industry as a whole. Many issues required a common position and urgent attention.

Mabuza said he would be engaging with the national and provincial governments, and the national and provincial gambling boards, as welll as the media and other relevant policy making and opinion forming parties. – I-Net Bridge