Cape Town takes a gamble

A NEW casino will soon be welcomed into Cape Town, as the provincial government last week urged for public comment amendments to the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Act, as well as the Western Cape gambling and racing regulations.

One of the five casinos will soon be moving into the area, sparking higher tourism, jobs and revenue.

Minister of tourism Alan Winde on Sunday said: “We have conducted an extensive consultative process with all casinos in the province and conducted external research into the viability of a second casino in the metro.

“Based on this, the cabinet has approved these amendments. The revenue generated by the government in licence fees will be used to improve the livelihoods of the citizens of the Western Cape and should one of the outlying casinos move to the metro, they have a responsibility to minimise the impact on job losses in their current region.”

The bill provides for one of the Western Cape’s outlying casinos to move to the Cape Town metro and, should the amendments be passed, the casinos will have to bid for the new 10-year exclusivity license in the metro.

On Friday, the provincial treasury called on all interested persons to submit written comments on the draft bill and regulations on or before April 20.