Gambling has became increasingly popular in South Africa, with the total expenditure on the activity growing from R6,8-billion in 2001 to R10,6-billion for the first 10 months of 2002, the National Gambling Board said on Wednesday.
NGB managing researcher Lusanda Rataemane said: ”This (increased popularity) could be attributable to the midweek lottery. A total of 60,5% of the people play the lottery twice a week.”
She was speaking at the release of a report on the economic impact of legalised gambling in South Africa, and on household welfare levels. The research did not focus on how South Africans were negatively affected by gambling.
Researchers interviewed 2 050 people aged between 18 and 40 from March 2001 to April 2002. Most of those interviewed held a secondary or tertiary qualification.
NGB chairman Chris Fismer said the study would be used to influence changes in legislation regarding gambling in the country.
The NGB was created in 1996 to advise the minister of trade and industry and conduct research on gambling matters, except the national lottery which is regulated by the National Lottery Board.
In South Africa, a person has to be 18 years or more to be able to gamble legally.
Rataemane said of those who gambled, 71,3% played the national lottery, 19,3% gambled at casinos, 15,3% betted on horse races and 7,2% played bingo. Some of the respondents would have engaged in more than one type of gambling activity.
The report found that 73% viewed the practice as acceptable, while 12,2% found it unacceptable, and 14,8% found it unacceptable but did not object to others gambling.
A total of 52,2% of the people said gambling was an important leisure activity, 23,8% disagreed and 24% aid they were undecided.
Rataemane said: ”It is probably safe to conclude that South Africa currently portrays a relatively vibrant gambling sector, making it one of the leading gambling nations in the world.
”This vibrancy has been achieved within a short time span of not more than five years. During the course of these few years, the gambling sector has shown typical characteristics of a developing gambling market with substantial volatility.”
She said, however, the high growth was seen in provinces where gambling was in the past not allowed.
Gambling generated a gross domestic product contribution of R9,1-billion in 2000. The gambling industry created more than 15 000 direct jobs from 1994 to 2000, bringing the total number of people employed in the industry to more than 50 000 during that period.
This figure represented one percent of total employment in the formal sector in South Africa. Rataemane said average household expenditure on gambling each
month amounted to R84, but the figure could be 25% higher because many were not entirely honest about the amount they spent.
”The reason for reporting a lower figure is that most people fear that they would be looked at in a negative way because people generally considered gambling anti-social behaviour.”
Fismer said criticism against gambling was largely emotional and based on perceptions rather than facts.
”This study will provide a more informed debate in South Africa. We feel that this study points us in the right direction,” he said. – Sapa