South Africans gambled away close to R16bn last year, most of it at land based casinos. 

According to the National Gambling Board's 2008/09 annual report, tabled at Parliament, this was more than they spent on casinos, betting, bingo and limited payout machines (LPMs) the year before. "The results for 2008/09 continued to show an increase in gross gambling revenue (GGR) around the country. The GGR increased by 1.94%, from R15.618bn in 2007/08, to R15.921bn in 2008/09," it said.
 
However, real growth, taking into account inflation, was negative. Figures included in the report show the bulk of the revenue (84.8%) went to casinos. Betting took a 10.3% slice out of the gambling gross revenue pie. 
The report covers the 12-month period ending on March 31 this year. On that date, there were 36 licensed casinos operating around the country, including 21 944 working slot machines and 798 gambling tables. 

Gambling taxes netted government R1.539bn. The report gives no indication of how much money gamblers won. 
News Courtesy of News24.com