Nine new licences for bingo in ECape

THE gambling sector is set for further growth as the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board (ECGBB) awards operating licences for a further nine bingo halls.

These will be in addition to the halls opened last year in East London's Gonubie, Mthatha, Port Elizabeth – at Moffett-on-Main and Cleary Park – and in Jeffreys Bay.

Although the exact locations of the halls was not revealed, the board confirmed that licences would be awarded to Queenstown, Port Elizabeth, East London, Mthatha and Alfred Nzo.

According to the board, the six existing bingo halls were prospering, recording a turnover of R150-million for June out of a total of R1.8-billion for all operations.

Board chief executive Mabutho Zwane said one of the requirements of the bingo developments was that they had to be viable businesses that would contribute meaningfully to the province's development.

A feasibility study by the board indicated that bingo was a viable means of creating indirect and direct employment while also benefiting the tourism and hospitality industry in smaller centres.

Prof Mkhalelwa Mazibuko, chairman of the Ritz Gambling Group which operates four of the six existing halls, said at least 70 jobs were created at each facility. These included security, monitors, assistants, cleaners and child-minders.

Galaxy Bingo chairman Clarence Mngadi said the Gonubie and Port Elizabeth bingo halls each created at least 60 jobs. - Aretha Linden