The gambling industry contributes significantly to job creation and economic development, the trade and industry deputy minister said on Monday.
Elizabeth Thabethe was addressing delegates attending the sixth Biennial South African Gambling Conference in Durban.
More than R16-billion had been invested in gambling and related activities such as casinos, hotels and horse-racing activities, she said.
“To date an estimated R100-million has been invested in corporate social investments.”
The Limpopo Gambling Board had awarded the Peermont Global Group a casino licence in the Sekhukhune area.
“An investment of approximately R230-million has been made with more than 400 indirect jobs created and 180 direct jobs created,” Thabethe said.
Sun International would spend R1-billion on the Boardwalk Casino in Port Elizabeth on or before 2012 and create more than 500 direct jobs, she said.
“More than R4-billion in taxes have been collected and Gross Gaming Revenue has increased by 2% to more than R16-billion by 2010.”
The South African gambling industry’s gross revenue for 2010 increased by 2% to R16,268-billion from the previous year’s R15,921-billion.
“During the same year, the industry contributed R4-billion in taxes to the government,” Thabethe said. — Sapa