CASA (Casino Association South Africa)

The Casino Association of South Africa (CASA) was founded in 2003 to serve as the representative voice of the licensed casino industry in South Africa. CASA’s role extends far beyond advocacy — it works to promote understanding of the casino sector, highlight its contribution to the economy, and ensure that casinos operate to the highest ethical and regulatory standards.

CASA represents the vast majority of licensed casinos in South Africa, an industry that has played a key role in driving infrastructure development, tourism investment, and job creation across all nine provinces. During the construction phase, the industry created nearly 100,000 direct and indirect jobs, and today CASA members sustain around 53,000 employees, many of whom gained their first work opportunities through casino operations. The industry also contributes significantly to tax revenue, with government effectively holding a “40% stake” in casino income through fiscal channels.

🎯 Role and Responsibilities

CASA’s mandate is built around advocacy, representation, and the promotion of responsible business practices. Its responsibilities include:

• Education & Advocacy → Providing facts about casino entertainment to the public, policymakers, regulators, and the media.
• Industry Representation → Acting as the unified voice of South Africa’s licensed casino sector.
• Economic Development → Showcasing the role of casinos in GDP growth, tax contribution, and tourism investment.
• Employment & Transformation → Sustaining tens of thousands of jobs and contributing to socio-economic upliftment in all provinces.

🛡️ Licensing, Safety & Trust

CASA ensures that members comply not only with provincial and national laws but also with broader standards of trust and accountability. Through its Code of Conduct, CASA reinforces:

• Consumer Protection → Respecting rights under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), including fairness, transparency, and access to redress.
• Ethics in Business → Prohibiting misleading marketing, ensuring honest dealings, and delivering services to fair standards of quality.
• Zero Tolerance for Corruption → Rejecting bribery, extortion, or any unethical influence on business or government decisions.
• Anti-Money Laundering → Enforcing “know your customer” principles, training staff, and cooperating fully with the Financial Intelligence Centre and law enforcement agencies.

📊 Commitment to Responsible Gambling

CASA and its members integrate responsible gambling practices into daily operations across all casinos. This includes:

• Employee Training → New staff education, refresher training, and awareness programmes on responsible gambling.
• Customer Support → Brochures, helpline numbers, and self-exclusion options available both on-site and online.
• Youth Protection → Preventing underage gambling, training staff to address unattended children, and monitoring alcohol service responsibly.
• Advertising Standards → Prohibiting misleading claims, youth-targeted messaging, or depictions of gambling as a guaranteed path to financial success.
• Funding & Research → Ongoing support for the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) to advance education, prevention, and treatment.

🤝 Ethics & Public Responsibility

CASA members are committed to strong corporate citizenship, which includes:

• Combatting Corruption → Working with government and regulators to maintain a clean, ethical casino industry.
• Preventing Money Lending Abuse → Investigating and acting against harmful money lending on casino premises.
• Community Investment → Promoting transformation, social responsibility, and contributions to community development projects.

📌 Why CASA Matters to Players

For South African players, CASA’s role is essential:

• Guarantees that casinos are legal, licensed, and professionally regulated.
• Upholds consumer rights, safety, and access to fair dispute resolution.
• Protects against illegal operators, unfair practices, and unsafe gambling environments.
• Provides resources and partnerships that promote responsible gambling.

🏁 Final Word

The Casino Association of South Africa (CASA) is more than an industry body — it is a guardian of fairness, transparency, and responsible entertainment. By representing licensed casinos and enforcing a robust Code of Conduct, CASA ensures that casino entertainment in South Africa remains secure, ethical, and beneficial to both players and the broader economy.