The newly appointed Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has taken a bold stance in favour of legalizing sports betting and sponsorships in South Africa. In a country where gambling is often viewed through a lens of controversy, McKenzie’s unorthodox approach is stirring quite the debate.
A Betting Man in Office
Gayton McKenzie, in his new role, has made it clear that he believes sports betting is a necessary and beneficial activity. Speaking candidly to SportsBoom.com, he asserted, “I’ve got an unpopular view with regards to that, that sports betting should be allowed. There are ones that say sports betting will do damage if you allow them to operate but personally, I think sports betting should be allowed.”
This isn’t just political rhetoric for McKenzie; it’s a personal conviction. He reminisced about his father and uncles betting on Premier Soccer League teams like Kaizer Chiefs and Wallows, underscoring that gambling has long been a part of South African culture. “People bet anyway,” he said, highlighting the futility of resisting a practice so deeply ingrained in society.
Railing Against Restrictions
McKenzie is not shy about his disdain for current regulations. “It is ridiculous it is not allowed or people fighting against it. Some say it isn’t good when we see these [advertisement] on TV and will encourage people to get involved in gambling. There are so many kids [young sports stars] that need funding and sponsorship exposure,” he exclaimed, passionately defending the potential benefits of sports betting advertising.
Betting Sponsorships: A Lifeline for Sports
As an advocate for the underdog, McKenzie sees betting sponsorships as a crucial financial lifeline for struggling sports teams. He recounted, “That money can help them, there are ways where people can get help from addiction. You cannot deny people in becoming sports stars, I know first-hand what sponsorship can do and sport in the country is in dire need of sponsorship. I will be one of the people that will fight for it.”
McKenzie drew parallels to the already established Castle League, a South African Football League sponsored by an alcohol brand, questioning why betting should be treated any differently.
“We have got the Castle League; you don’t think people will become alcoholics surely? If we are honest and accept that can help keep our children off the streets and not fear. There is that saying that goes, sometimes you fear the roar of a lion and you run away unto a crouching tiger. That’s what I think is happening here.”
Budgeting with Accountability
McKenzie’s approach to the budget for sports federations is equally pragmatic. During the recent Budget Vote, he emphasized the importance of accountability in fund allocation. “The budget is 108 Million Rand, we will be giving it to various sports federations. For example, take Netball, I am very inspired by what they have managed to do. In the last financial year, we gave them 5 Million [Rand], they have come back and showed us what they did with the 5 Million. Now you can’t give them 5 Million again, they are showing you seriousness and we need to give them much more of which we are going to do. That’s how we decide.”
He’s also calling on corporate South Africa to step up, arguing that the reluctance to sponsor often stems from a lack of accountability. “Corporates in South Africa get a lot of flak because they don’t want to sponsor, that is not the case. People [corporates] want accountability, people get money from sponsorships and then they buy Range Rovers instead of the money being spent on athletes. This budget we will give to people that have showed willingness and transparency, we want a bang for our buck. We want to see where our money went to.”
In a country where sports and culture hold immense importance, McKenzie’s views are set to ignite discussions and potentially pave the way for significant changes in the sports betting landscape. Whether his “unpopular” views will gain traction remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Gayton McKenzie is a man on a mission to revolutionize sports funding in South Africa.
