-Andrew Smith photo
Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
DESPITE INDICATIONS that a rising number of Jamai-cans are becoming addicted to gambling, Government's recent announcement to rethink its ban on casino gaming has been met with approval from local and international stakeholders, in-cluding a United States Pro-fessor of gambling.
Bill Eadington, Professor of Economics and director of the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming at the University of Nevada, Reno, told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday that the Jamaican Government may be wise in reconsidering legal casinos if it approaches the issue carefully.
Last June, the professor was brought to Jamaica to enlighten Government advisers on how the administration should approach the emotive casino gambling issue that often provokes a firestorm of debate.
Citing the Bahamas and the Atlantis Resort, the professor noted that the best kind of casinos for Jamaica should be linked to 'destination resort hotels'. He, however, suggested the implementing of a "competent" and "honest" body to monitor the industry if and when it becomes legalised.
"The objective should be to attract major international hotels, casinos, or leisure companies to consider major developments in Jamaica, with casino as part of the offering," Professor Eadington said, noting that legislation dealing with casinos should be drafted to provide an environment that is competently regulated at international standards.
"It is important that the Government and the legislation provide enough trust in the strength and stability of the legislation that potential investors will be able to project more than adequate returns on their invested capital," he said.
STUDYING OPTIONS
Recently, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson an-nounced that the Betting, Gaming, and Lotteries Com-mission was engaged in a comprehensive review of casino gaming. He said the gaming regulator had already visited destinations which have casinos "to determine the best option to consider."
Backing his administration's new thinking, the Prime Minister conceded there were inherent contradictions in the continued maintenance of an official ban on casinos, while hotels and other businesses freely operate game rooms, which stop just short of the official designation of a casino.
The Government's present thinking was being influenced in part by an analysis provided by a private sector group that had been mandated to undertake its own review of the issue. The group was mandated to study the matter following a meeting with the Government at a retreat in Montego Bay, St. James, a year ago. It was this private sector group that Professor Eadington advised last year.
Meanwhile, the professor told The Sunday Gleaner that the benefits of casino gambling will eclipse any associated negatives. The professor identified tourism and employment as two areas that are set to gain.
"With successful destination resort casinos, the interest in selecting Jamaica as a destination will certainly increase for Americans, Canadians, Latin Americans and Europeans," he said. "I would expect that, with good legislation and subsequent attractive casino resort developments, international visitors to Jamaica will increase. This will stimulate jobs and incomes in the tourism industry, with spill-overs into the rest of the economy."
Casino gambling has always caused heated debate within Jamaica, especially inside the church whose members mostly do not support the idea because of some of the negatives trends it may pose, especially addictions.
SOCIAL PROBLEM
During his presentation here last year, Professor Eadington said only between one and five per cent of Americans were "pathological" or problem gamblers. He also noted there would be fewer negatives to legalised casino gambling here since there already exists a considerable amount of slot machine-style gaming, accessible by Jamaican citizens throughout the country.
"Again I must emphasise the importance of good legislation along with competent and honest regulatory oversight at an international standard," the professor noted. "Without those things, other problems, such as crime and loan-sharking could occur."
Regarding the issue of addiction, which is euphemistically called problem gambling, Professor Eadington said this must be examined "in an incremental context." He added that if the Jamaican Government chooses to restrict citizens' access to new resort casinos, it is very likely there would be only marginal changes in the current situation regarding problem gambling.
"With new and attractive casinos, some Jamaicans may get themselves in trouble with gambling, but my suspicion is that such problems are already present in Jamaican society because of the availability of slot machine gaming," the professor explained.
He recommended new casino legislation that would include "proper funding for problem gambling issues, such as treatment, research, and public education and awareness."
"This is very much the approach the British are undertaking with their proposed legislation," Professor Eadington said.
For her part, Beverley Lopez, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), told The Sunday Gleaner last week that the Government's decision to review its ban on casino gaming was timely, and that legalisation of such gambling could boost the economy and tourism.
