Submitted by freenet on Mon, 15/12/2008 - 18:14
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By Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane
Nelspruit - The Mpumalanga Gambling Board (MGB) has extended the deadline for bids for the province's fourth and final casino license until next year.
The original deadline was 27 October, but MGB Chief Executive Officer Bheki Mlambo has extended it to 31 March.
"A number of prospective applicants requested more time to complete their preliminary proposals," Mr Mlambo said.
He said the board considered the matter and resolved that it was better to give an extension in order to ensure that more applicants had a chance to bid for the license.
He said the fourth casino was expected to create investment opportunities, develop tourism and help grow the provincial economy.
"Applicants for the license must specify significant associated benefits for the economy, including the local communities, as a result of the proposed development," Mr Mlambo said.
He said applicants must be able to prove their financial capabilities, experience and involvement in implementing successful projects of a similar nature.
They also have to submit evidence of their ability to design and build an architecturally sound casino complex.
Applicants will also be expected to appoint black managers from within Mpumalanga.
"The board may accept the fact that an applicant held a gambling licence in other comparable regulatory environments for at least five years to indicate the necessary expertise," said Mr Mlambo.
Eighteen casino licenses are available in South Africa, four of which were awarded to Mpumalanga.
The three other casinos already operating in the province are the Emnotweni Casino in Nelspruit, Graceland Hotel Casino and Country Club in Secunda and Champions Casino in Emalahleni.
The three casinos provide 1 150 jobs, draw more than one million visitors a year and generate around R3 billion.
Mpumalanga Economic Development and Planning MEC Craig Padayachee said in his budget speech earlier this year the casino industry had a market share of about 74 percent, followed by the limited payout machine industry with a market share of about 14 percent and the horse-racing and betting industry with about 12 percent.
Interested applicants can download the Request for Applications (RFA) document from the MGB website www.mgb.org.za or collect them from the MGB offices in First Avenue, White River. - BuaNews
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