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AFRICA by Graeme Kidd
Tanzanian market is quite sophisticated with most of the regulatory framework based on
the South African model. The Malawi industry is less well developed, with only two opera-
A
frica comes second to Asia in terms of land mass and population size, with tors in the main cities. In Kenya, the market is about 30 years old, with a close-knit market
over 30 million square kilometres divided into more than 50 countries that that is apparently very difficult to get in to. Some countries have no gaming or casino activ-
between them support a population over 900 million. Sadly, it’s also the ity, and may never do, while others, like Ghana, have only recently embraced gaming.
world’s least developed continent – over a third of its population survives on Others have small operations, such as Malawi, Bostwana and Namibia.
less than $1 a day, but plentiful natural resources mean that some countries There is definitely opportunity, but not on the scale of South Africa, and it can be difficult
have strong economies. It’s a continent of contrasts, some of them extreme. to capitalise on that opportunity because all the components of the casino industry may not
Few surprises, then, that the casino market across the continent is far from uniform. be available. “You may have to sit down with representatives of the government and set out
South Africa is held to be the most mature gaming market on the continent, despite the from scratch what it is you want to do,” explains one operator active on the continent.
fact that it’s only 12 years old. With 40 casinos spread across nine provinces, a stable regu- Taxation can be heavy, too. Countries apply different taxes, which can included surtax,
latory environment has been developed – not without problems, given that the nine value added tax, gaming tax and corporate tax, and the total tax bill to casino operators can
provinces are each independently responsible for regulating operational matters. reach 50 per cent of gross revenue…and there can be issues with basic infrastructure, such
There’s good communication between regulators, individual operators and the Casino as reliable power supply and quality roads.
Association South Africa (CASA). “It’s a very stable situation, with regular consultation But Anthony Puttergill, Chief Executive of Peermont, believes that the casino industry has
about national and provincial regulations,” says CASA’s chief executive Derek Auret. But a positive role to play in Africa: ”… while we are operating in tougher economic times and
there’s clearly still room for improvement in the relationship. An ongoing dialogue rather being subjected to additional cost pressures, and despite the challenges, I believe the prog-
than issue-oriented discussions is what Auret would like to see. nosis for the casino industry in Africa as a whole to be positive. There is no doubt that with
According to CASA Chairman Jabu Mabuza, a predictable and consistent regulatory the right fundamentals in place that Africa will experience a period of sustained high eco-
approach is what CASA seeks, and he cites the recent negative experience in the UK, which nomic growth. With the right regulatory frameworks in place, there is no doubt that the
CASA sees as an example of inadequate public participation and confusing policy goals. industry will play a key role to assist the development of economies in the African region by
But the South African market is not generally representative of Africa – in terms of regu- encouraging investment, job creation and facilities for business and leisure tourism.”
latory framework it is seen as being the most developed, and it’s also the largest national
market. It is the only African country to have a casino association, CASA, and yet it only has
six members (soon to be seven). By international standards, that’s quite small.
In countries with predominantly Moslem-based governments, gambling can be seen as a
‘no-go’, which presents a problem in some but not all African countries. For example, in
Tanzania the island of Zanzibar is theoretically part of mainland Tanzania, but the island is
predominantly a Moslem state, so casino operations are not permitted on Zanzibar
although it’s a 20-minute flight from mainland Tanzania where casinos are permitted.
And North Africa is host to a significant number of casinos, primarily in Egypt, Morocco
and Tunisia, but it’s that tourist trade rather than local players they exist to serve. In Egypt,
for instance, you need to be over 21 and in possession of a non-Egyptian passport before
you can play in a casino, and it is illegal to play using the local currency, or even to change
local currency inside a casino.
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