Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-09-02

The South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) together with communities in KwaZulu-Natal has raised concerns about the installation of Electronic Bingo Terminals (EBT’s) in shopping malls.

“We imagine that this will become a national initiative and we voice our opposition to this and have written to the Premier of KZN Senzo Mchunu, the MEC of Finance in KZN, Ms Belinda Scott and to the KZN Gambling and Betting Board opposing any such installations within shopping malls,” Dr. Faisal Suliman, chairperson of SAMNET said in a statement.

The People’s Forum Against Electronic Bingo (PAEBT), constituting 21 civic, religious and political bodies has been established, together with a Facebook page, “Stop EBT” and a Twitter account, @stopebt.

Suliman urged communities to oppose the installations of EBT’s by signing a petition on its Facebook page.

“Introducing these “mini casinos” into shopping malls, in an already saturated area, will bring with it many social ills, for example, gambling addiction, delinquency and a possible increase in absenteeism of school-going children.”

“Over and above the immorality of gambling, most if not all, holy scriptures condemn gambling which is not only immoral but also a sure way of distributing money from the poor to the very rich,” said Suliman.