A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts For the degree of Master of Arts, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies University of Zululand, 1998. / The gaming practice or activity commonly known as gambling has become a major force in the tourism industry and an important money earner in the economy of many countries. It has always been a popular form of recreation yet gambling remains a controversial issue in many societies. The Empangeni-Richards Bay urban environment has been confronted with the emerging debate whether or not to introduce casino gaming or not in the area. This study examines the local residents' perceptions of the proposed establishment of a casino gambling resort in their locality. The study has revealed two opposing perceptions, the group lobbying for and the group lobbying against the casino. The group in favour of the casino proved to be in the majority, emanating from the poor Black population whose members hope for job opportunities and increased tourism activity. The anti-casino lobbying group was found to be in the minority and comprised the higher income people from the prestigious residential areas of Richards Bay, who fear the disadvantages associated with commercial gaming. The study makes several recommendations relating to what would be best for both groups in the study area. Some of these include that: (a) the gaming casino is to be located away from both prestigious and lower income residential areas; (b) the casino should be established for purposes of promoting eco-tourism, where its location assumes a balance between natural wildlife and modernised African cultural artefacts and facilities for attracting tourists. (c) a gaming studies and research institute should be established at a local provincial university, so as to facilitate tourism education among the populace, as well as gaming-based skills and professional training. In conclusion, the study found that there was significant support for the establishment of the gaming casino, with the hope that its negative social, economic and environmental impacts could be well managed and minimised. / KwaZulu-Natal Sustainable Tourism Research Programme

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: For the purposes of this study the term "gambling" refers only to casino style gambling and does not necessarily include horse racing and the national lottery. The study is partly based on the theoretical model for policy analysis as described by Dunn in his book "Public Policy Analysis" (1994). The thesis is divided into two sections. The first section deals mainly with the stage of monitoring and is a retrospective analysis of the development of the gambling industry in seventeenth and eighteenth century Venice and more recently in the United States, Australia, Namibia and South Afiica prior to 1994. The last section deals mainly with the stage of policy evaluation and questions the possible discrepancies between the expected and actual gambling policy performance in the Western Cape after 1994 when large scale gambling was legalised throughout the country. It uses the recommendations of the Main Report on Gambling in the Republic of South Afiica (Wiehahn Report) as a basis for the evaluation of the Western Cape gambling policy from both a social and economic perspective. More specifically the study attempts to shed light on the issues of the problems related to the scientific research of gambling, the economic profile of gamblers, the location of casinos, the displacement of capital and the correlation between crime and gambling. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vir die doeleindes van hierdie studie word die term "gambling" slegs gebruik met verwysing na dobbel in casinos en sluit nie noodwendig perdewedrenne en die nasionale lotery in nie. Die studie word gedeeltelik gebaseer op die teoretiese model vir beleids-analise soos weergegee deur Dunn in sy boek "Public Policy Analysis" (1994). Die studie word verdeel in twee afdelings. Die eerste gedeelte behandel die stadium van monitering en is hoofsaaklik a retrospektiewe analise oor die ontwikkeling van die dobbelbedryf in sewentiende eeuse Venesië en meer onlangs in die Verenigde State van Amerika, Australië, Namibië, asook Suid-Afrikavoor 1994. Die laaste gedeelte behandel hoofsaaklik die stadium van beleids-evaluering. Dit bevraagteken die moontlike verskil tussen die verwagte en werklike vertoning en uitkoms van die dobbelbeleid in die Wes Kaap na 1994. Hoofstuk 3 gebruik die aanbevelings van die Hoofverslag oor Dobbel in die Republiek van Suid-Afrika (Wiehahn verslag) as 'n basis vir die evaluering van die dobbelbeleid van die Wes Kaap van beide 'n sosiale asook 'n ekonomiese perspektief Meer spesifiek beoog die studie om lig te werp op die probleme wat verband hou met die wetenskaplike navorsing van dobbelary, die ekonomiese profiel van dobbelaars, die geografiese plasing van casinos, die verplasing van kapitaal en die korrelasie tussen misdaad en dobbel.

For many individuals, gambling is regarded as a recreational activity, a socially encompassed pastime. For the individuals who partook in the present study, gambling is an Achilles heel at which the individuals were hopelessly at the mercy of. Initially a ‘fun’ activity, gambling emerged as an activity that provided both an aspect of enjoyment and escapism. Later, as the behaviour increased, interpersonal and intrapersonal consequences emerged; which eventually led participants to take action and break free from the activity once experienced as recreational and now as a “monster”. The aim of the study was to explore the lived experience of six South African individuals who met the criteria for a gambling disorder. Both a phenomenological approach and ecological perspective were used to elicit the essence of this particular phenomenon as experienced by the participants. Purposive sampling procedures were implemented. Data was collected through the use of a biographical questionnaire and individual, open ended conversations with six gamblers. The data was processed and analysed according to qualitative data processing and analysis procedures. Due to the gap in qualitative research in this particular area, specifically in the South African context, this research study has the potential to create a better understanding of the lived experience of gambling addiction through the shared experiences of participants.

Thesis (MEdPsych)-- Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Adolescent gambling is regarded as one of the relatively new areas of interest within the wider field of adolescent risk behaviour, with international research highlighting the rise in popularity of various gambling games and the associated behavioural, emotional, academic, interpersonal and psychological outcomes that have been linked to adolescent gambling. These trends raise concern with regard to the youth in South Africa, as the overall risk profile of risk behaviours among South African adolescents is comparable to the risk profiles of youths around the globe. Research in the field of adolescent gambling is still in its infancy in South Africa and additional literature is necessary to curb possible problems in this area. The methodology of this study can be described as basic exploratory qualitative research. The study was conducted within the interpretive paradigm and was also informed by ecosystemic theory. Purposive sampling was used to select twenty-six adolescent learners who were enrolled at a single, private, all boys' school in the Western Cape. The methods of data collection included semi-structured focus group and individual interviews. The method of analysis employed to analyse the research data was qualitative content analysis. The research findings from the study indicated that the participants had a clear understanding of the concept of gambling, the associated activities and possible risks linked to gambling, as well as the various motives for participating in gambling activities. Congruent with international findings, the popularity of poker was acknowledged, with a number of adolescents discussing their awareness of their peers' participation in this gambling activity. Whilst financial reward was recognised as a possible outcome of gambling, the majority of the participants regarded social reward and entertainment as some of the key motivating factors for participation in gambling during adolescence. While acknowledging the role of skill in games such as poker, the majority of the participants were still of the opinion that the outcome was largely unpredictable. In addition, the following factors were identified as playing a fundamental role in shaping their perceptions of gambling: media, family, peers, school, religion, personality and personal experiences. Keywords: Adolescence, Perception, Gambling, Pathological Gambling, Problem Gambling, Risk Behaviour, Ecosystemic Theory. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Adolessente dobbelary word gesien as een van die nuwer belangstellingsvelde binne die breër gebied van navorsing oor riskante gedrag onder adolessente, met internasionale navorsing wat toegespits word op die toename in die gewildheid van verskeie dobbelspeletjies en die daarmee gepaardgaande gedrags-, emosionele, akademiese, interpersoonlike en psigologiese uitkomste wat met adolessente dobbelary verbind word. Hierdie tendens wek kommer ten opsigte van die jeug in Suid-Afrika daar die algehele risikoprofiel van riskante gedrag onder Suid-Afrikaanse adolessente vergelykbaar is met die risikoprofiel van jeugdiges reg rondom die wêreld. Navorsing op die gebied van adolessente dobbelary in Suid-Afrika is nog in 'n beginstadium en daar is 'n behoefte aan bykomende literatuur om moontlike probleme binne hierdie gebied te beperk. Die metodologie wat vir hierdie studie gevolg is, kan as basiese verkennende kwalitatiewe navorsing beskryf word. Die studie is teen die agtergrond van die interpretiwistiese paradigma onderneem en is ook toegelig deur die ekosistemiese teorie. Doelbewuste steekproefneming is uitgevoer om ses-en-twintig adolessente leerders uit 'n enkele private seunskool in die Wes-Kaap te selekteer. Data is deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde fokusgroep- en indiwiduele onderhoude ingesamel. Die ontleding van die navorsingsdata is met behulp van kwalitatiewe inhoudsanalise uitgevoer. Die bevindings uit die studie het getoon dat die deelnemers 'n duidelike begrip van die dobbelarykonsep, die gepaardgaande aktiwiteite en die moontlike risiko verbonde aan dobbelary gehad het, asook van die onderskeie motiewe vir deelname aan dobbelaktiwiteite. Die gewildheid van die pokerspel is ooreenstemmend met internasionale bevindings bevestig deur middel van 'n gesprek met 'n aantal adolessente oor hul bewustheid van hul portuurgroep se deelname aan hierdie dobbelaktiwiteit. Terwyl die moontlike uitkoms van finansiële wins by dobbelary erken is, het die meerderheid deelnemers die sosiale bate en vermaak as onder die vernaamste motiveringsfaktore vir deelname aan dobbelary gedurende adolessensie beskou. Die rol van vaardigheid in 'n spel soos poker is erken, maar die meerderheid deelnemers het die opinie gehandhaaf dat die resultaat grootliks onvoorspelbaar is. Daarbenewens is die media, gesin, portuurgroep, skool, geloof, persoonlikheid en persoonlike ervarings as grondliggende faktore tot die vorming van persepsies oor dobbelary beskou.

The objectives of this study were to provide a detailed biopsychosocial description of the characteristics of a sample of 100 individuals screened and referred by the National Responsible Gaming Programme helpline for their outpatient treatment programme over an eighteen month period, and, importantly, to measure the success of this specific treatment programme at set intervals, up to a one year follow-up period. While 80% of the sample did not relapse during the six-week treatment programme, the number of treatment seekers without any gambling relapses during each follow-up period declined, and those falling back into gambling increased as time went on. After one year 47% of treatment seekers managed not to revert back to gambling – total abstinence. A further 28% reported having relapsed once or twice or that their gambling was controlled. 25% of treatment seekers reported that they reverted back to gambling fulltime which leaves the success rate of the treatment at 75%. Treatment seekers reported an overall reduction in gambling participation, debt and expenditure and an overall improvement in social and vocational functioning. There is evidence in this study to support the perspective that pathological gambling is a multidimensional disorder and that certain sub-groups of gamblers have distinct gambling behaviour. / Psychology / M.Soc.Sc.

The objectives of this study were to provide a detailed biopsychosocial description of the characteristics of a sample of 100 individuals screened and referred by the National Responsible Gaming Programme helpline for their outpatient treatment programme over an eighteen month period, and, importantly, to measure the success of this specific treatment programme at set intervals, up to a one year follow-up period. While 80% of the sample did not relapse during the six-week treatment programme, the number of treatment seekers without any gambling relapses during each follow-up period declined, and those falling back into gambling increased as time went on. After one year 47% of treatment seekers managed not to revert back to gambling – total abstinence. A further 28% reported having relapsed once or twice or that their gambling was controlled. 25% of treatment seekers reported that they reverted back to gambling fulltime which leaves the success rate of the treatment at 75%. Treatment seekers reported an overall reduction in gambling participation, debt and expenditure and an overall improvement in social and vocational functioning. There is evidence in this study to support the perspective that pathological gambling is a multidimensional disorder and that certain sub-groups of gamblers have distinct gambling behaviour. / Psychology / M.Soc.Sc.

With the exception of horse racing, any form of gambling was criminalised in South Africa until the dawn of constitutional democracy in 1994. In the same year, the Lotteries and Gambling Board Act, 1993, came into force decriminalising, amongst others, casinos and gambling games within the Republic. This Act has since been repealed and gambling is governed by the National Gambling Act, 2004, as well as by provincial gambling laws. Interactive / online gambling is illegal pending authorisation by a national legislation. Such legislation, the National Gambling Amendment Act, 2008, seeking to regulate interactive gambling awaits proclamation of the date of its commencement by the President. The National Gambling Policy, 2016, dashes any hope of regulation of interactive gambling, however, as it seeks to embargo the introduction of (new) forms of gambling, including but not limited to interactive gambling. The scourge of problem gambling and the protection of traditional forms of gambling, that is, casinos, are the main reasons for advocating for the continued prohibition of interactive gambling. Problem gambling is not unique to interactive gambling, but affects all modes of gambling. South Africa is among countries with a high rate of problem gambling. It is feared that interactive gambling will exacerbate the scourge of problem gambling as gamblers with access to the internet will now have unlimited gambling opportunities around the clock. On the other hand, interactive gambling offers practical solutions to the implementation of harm minimisation strategies to deal with problem gambling such as limitations on gambling deposits, losses and time. Prohibition of interactive gambling is difficult to enforce and deprives the country of an opportunity to control, through licensing, this mode of gambling and possible benefit from taxation and licensing fees. It further exposes gamblers – who despite prohibition choose this mode of gambling – to unregulated and illegal gambling websites. This thesis attempts to provide safeguards for regulation of interactive gambling and to embrace the benefits of the technological development that makes interactive gambling a reality. The United Kingdom (UK) is a prime example of a country that has successfully legalised and licensed interactive gambling in its jurisdiction. / Criminal and Procedural Law / LL. D.