MEYERTON. – Members of a multidisciplinary task team consisting of police, representatives of the gambling board, law enforcement officials from the Midvaal Municipality and various other government departments cracked down on illegal gambling venues located in the Meyerton CBD.

The operation sent out a strong message to gambling venues operating without gambling licenses and certification obtained from the Gambling Board as a requirement of the National Gambling Act.

Typically labelled as “Internet Cafe’s” these venues are widespread throughout the country and are especially common in various parts of the Vaal Triangle.

According to lt. col JP Rautenbach of the Gauteng Police Firearms Liquor and Second Hand Goods Control (FLASH) the landlord, owner of the venue, patrons found inside a venue which does not posess a valid gambling license and does not adhere to provisions set out in the National Gambling Act could face criminal prosecution.

“We have already charged a person whom we had warned on a previous occasion that we found inside one of these venues again,” Rautenbach said during the crackdown.

According to him those supporting or operating such illegal venues often claim not to be aware of the illegality thereof.

The police have advised people visiting gambling venues to enure that the establishment is compliant and is registered.

In terms of the National Gambling Act anyone who

possess or makes available for play a gambling machine or gambling device for use in a gambling activity needs to be registered with the gambling board.

In addition to this every gambling machine or gambling device must be registered in accordance with the act.

The National Gambling Board is responsible for theoversight of the regulation in the gambling industry throughout the country and to preserve the integrity of South Africa as a responsible global citizen.

More information on relevant legislation is availible on the official website of the National Gamblin Board at www.ngb.org.za.