Durban - Opponents of gambling have slammed a R1.8 billion plan to double the size of the Suncoast casino, warning on Wednesday it would lead to more social problems.
Already fuming over the provincial government’s consideration of bingo halls in shopping centres across KwaZulu-Natal, they said those who could least afford it would be the losers if more gambling avenues were opened.
The plan for Suncoast, as reported in the Daily News on Wednesday, includes adding 900 more gaming machines and 16 more tables.
“Casinos are already saturated. Adding more machines just means people who might have walked away because the casino was busy, will not have to anymore and things might spiral out of control,” said Pastor Mervin Reddy.
His brother Dion, a teacher, had gambled away his R1 million pension fund payout when he was medically boarded, he said.
Reddy said his brother had fed his addiction at Suncoast as well as other casinos, leaving his life in “ruins” before he committed suicide.
“Our people have been raped financially, morally and socially by gambling and squandering money in casinos, leading to their demise and their family suffering,” Reddy said.
A member of Gamblers Anonymous said more machines and tables would hook new people. “Knowing from when I gambled, I was very protective of my machines. I bet you once those extra machines are added, there will be 900 more people gambling.”
She said no one ever thought they would become addicted.
The number of people in their support groups around the country were a “drop in the ocean” compared with the many gamblers who spent “hours sitting in front of machines”, she added.
For her, it took hitting “rock bottom” before she sought help two years ago.
“It has a terrible effect on your life. You don’t want people to know so you lie. You run out of money so you beg, borrow and steal just so you can go back to the casino. You end up skipping important payments – school fees, bonds repayments. You don’t think, as long as you can gamble.”
Sham Maharaj, chairman of the People’s Forum, an organisation started to oppose the proposed introduction of electronic bingo terminals, said he objected to Suncoast casino for the same reasons.
“The gambling industry targets poor people by selling them fool’s gold. They are enticed by the fancy lights and the one-in-a-million winner whom the casinos parade and advertise leaving people thinking it could be them,” Maharaj said.
He criticised the “glittering advertising and offers of vouchers”.
“People line up to use machines because of the illusion that they will hit the jackpot. If they don’t they think they will next time, then next time and end up chasing their losses.”
Maharaj said there was no denying that the majority of casino patrons were Indian people. But he said he was at a loss to explain why.
He said gambling drove other issues such as crime – to make money to gamble or cover gambling debt – and domestic violence, from the frustration of losing.
It hurt the gambler’s family more than the gambler.