from Gaming & Leisure Magazine
Spring 2018
 |
| Gaming and Leisure Magazine Spring 2018 |
CASA was established in 2003 and represents the interests of 36 of the 38 legal land-based casinos operating in the country, as well as the public they serve. CASA’s emphasis is on playing a constructive and positive role in the evolution of good public policy and good governance in respect of the casino industry.
In their most recently released Annual Survey for the year ended March 2017, CASA shows the industry supports over 64,000 quality jobs in the national economy. Of the R16,5 billion (US$ 1.2 billion) in value generated by CASA members, casino and related services employees received 21% or R3,5 billion (US$ 250 million). This makes employees one of the largest recipients of value generated by the casino industry, taking home even more than the providers of capital.
The CASA survey shows that of the 64,000 people working in the sector, 10,649 were directly employed in casino operations while a further 5,513 were employed for outsourced services such as security and cleaning services for casino operations only. Non-casino operations, such as hotels, convention centres, restaurants and theatres, accounted for the balance.
The CASA survey for the year ending March 2017 also shows that, for the first time since the inception of the casino industry in South Africa under the new democratic dispensation, there was a decrease (1.8%) in revenue. This decrease was attributed only in part to the general economic downturn, with illegal gambling eroding substantial revenue from the legal operators. Despite this, the licensed casino industry made a significant contribution towards employment, social responsibility and infrastructure development, and continues to be a vital economic driver.
 |
| Advocate Themba Ngobese CASA CEO |
Playing a leading role in the direction of CASA is Advocate Themba Ngobese, CASA’s Chief Executive. He was literally working within the SA casino industry since its early days, working both within the regulatory authorities and later the casinos.
Prior to joining CASA in 2013, Adv Ngobese held senior positions at Peermont Hotels, Casinos and Resorts, the Gauteng Gambling Regulatory Authority and the National Gambling Regulatory Authority of South Africa. (It should be noted that South Africa has nine provinces, each with its own regulatory authority and then the national regulatory authority. Adv Ngobese for instance, worked for the Gauteng Gambling Regulatory Authority in Gauteng Province and then the National Gambling Regulatory Authority.)
He holds a B. Proc and LLB degrees; both from the University of the Witwatersrand as well as a Certificate in Legal Practice from the University of South Africa, and is a qualified advocate.
While with Peermont Hotels, Casinos & Resorts, Adv Ngobese was Group Compliance & Legal Services Executive where he was responsible for ensuring compliance of the Group with gambling legislation as well as other applicable legislation. He was also responsible for the provision of legal services to Group operations including the drafting and vetting of operational agreements, rendering of legal advice and liaison with external legal advisors.
Adv Ngobese strongly believes that governments need to create a stable operating environment through an explicit regulatory and taxation framework which encourages investment, job creation and economic growth. In his role as CEO at CASA, Adv Ngobese strives towards ensuring that the Government offers the lowest possible costs of doing business, including low taxation rates, low licence fees and minimal regulatory costs for the industry. He advocates strongly that the Government must have clear policies in place that are consistent with the fiscal and regulatory environment of gaming within the country.
Responsible Gambling
Of specific interest to Adv Ngobese and CASA is how they promote Responsible Gambling in South Africa. He mentions it is in their best interest to ensure the longevity of both their member casinos and the public they serve. An example he used, if a person spends everything they have and is forced into bankruptcy, they would no longer be a regular valued visitor to the casinos. CASA and its member casinos strive to promote the well-being of the guests in order to ensure they’re visitors for the long term. It helps the casino cover maintenance and cost of growth well into the future.
The SARGF is a public-private sector partnership which is incorporated as a non-profit company in terms of South Africa’s Companies Act, 71 of 2008, as amended. It was founded in June 2000 and is acknowledged internationally to be highly effective, economical, amongst the most comprehensive in the world, and especially well adapted to the particular needs of all South Africans.
The NRGP includes the following programs:
Treatment Program
Industry Support and Mentorship Program
Prevention Programs
Corporate Social Investment
As a socially responsible sector, CASA members are fully committed to Corporate Social Investment (CSI) as one of the cornerstones of their ethical business model. And with CSI becoming more strategically focused, it also makes sense to align CSI spending with core business objectives and imperatives. Such an approach moves CSI out of the charitable sphere and into one with true partnerships and beneficiaries; Government and NGO’s bring about long-term sustainable development to the benefit of all. It is against this background, and guided by the key socio-economic development needs highlighted by the communities in which they operate, that members of CASA select and support the association's CSI projects.
The collective efforts of CASA’s members run the entire scope from education, poverty alleviation, skills development, community upliftment, sports development and sponsorship, health care, altruistic infrastructural improvement, HIV treatment and assistance to those most in need, namely the young and elderly.
In total, CASA members spent R712-million (US$ 51 million) over the past five years. But, while financial assistance makes up a portion of CASA’s CSI programmes, their members do not believe that just throwing money at a problem will solve it; they also give their time, skill and assistance in any way possible. So where an education scholarship is important, so is the recycling of linen from the hotels which is donated to homes for the aged – each little bit helps.
Adv Ngobese and I briefly touched on the demographics of guests visiting South African casinos. Though there have been efforts by some venues to attract visitors from abroad, the success has been marginal. Aside from a few of the larger casinos, the vast majority of visitors come from within the country.
Further information can be found on their website at: www.casasa.org.za
Gaming & Leisure Magazine would like to thank Adv Themba Ngobese for his time and contribution.
No comments:
Post a Comment