John Myers, Jr., Staff ReporterJAMAICANS WITH an insatiable appetite for gambling are shelling out big bucks to get a chunk of the billions of dollars floating in this industry.
They spent more than $17 billion last year on gaming which range from the lottery to horse racing, data obtained from the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission's (BGLC) web site, reveal. But while several have become overnight millionaires, many others are not getting the chunk they had gambled on getting. The Government, with a better hand in the deal, is reaping rich dividends from lottery sales by way of taxes and levies. The statistics indicate that a total of $663 million was paid to the Government in 2003, representing an increase of 19 per cent when compared with the similar period the previous year.
Individuals say they sometimes spend thousands of dollars in a day but that their winnings have been negligible most times, or nothing at all. This was the experience of The Sunday Gleaner last when on testing the market spent $3,000 on various games including the lotto. From that sum, the winning was just over $100.
Many persons take notes of dreams and occurrences, form long queues at the gaming outlets around the country, finding it a source of income, hoping to improve their economic status or for the entertainment they say gambling provides.
Cedric Taylor, University of the West Indies sociologist, said a number of Jamaicans perceive gaming as a means of improving their social status. "People are seeing it more and more as an opportunity for social mobility and self improvement," Mr. Taylor said. "It is affording persons the opportunity they may not have had from education or from being born in circumstances of financial sustainability."
He noted that gambling is proving to be even more attractive now in light of the prevailing poor economic conditions.
But Walter Scott, chairman of the BGLC, believes that the majority of persons in Jamaica engage in gaming as a means of entertainment. He pointed out that persons in Jamaica win on an average $1,200 from lotteries.
"I have no doubt that some people do (engage in gaming as a means improving their standard of living), but I think that the majority, and this is a totally uninformed view because there is no scientific bases for it, see it as a form of entertainment," said Mr. Scott.
Several persons with whom The Sunday Gleaner spoke last week, who were seen 'buying their lucky numbers' said they view gambling and, especially the playing of lotteries, as a source of income. They said that they had no jobs or that they were looking for an additional money source..
"Some people are professional gamblers, they gamble for a living; while some gamble just to try their luck at winning some money," said Glen, who confessed to being a regular racehorse better who also likes to play the lotteries and slot machines.
Yvonne believes people gamble "because they want to make money. I think it is the easiest way of making money right now."
"People gamble to get rich quick, especially now dat nutten naah gwaan," asserted Evadne, a middle-aged professional.
The most common forms of a gambling, as it relates to Jamaica, involves lotteries, horse racing and other sporting events, bingo and slot machines. Lotteries are, by far, the most popular form of gaming in Jamaica. Casino gaming is another popular form, however, Jamaica has not yet legalised it although reports suggest that it may be going on in certain places, mainly in resort areas.
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A breakdown of the estimated average yearly revenues generated from the sale of lottery shows the United States earning US$41,409.9 million, Europe with US$56,923.85 million, Asia and the Middle East gaining US$14,068.05 million, Australia and New Zealand amassing US$2,604.37 million and Africa with US$424.45 million. Jamaica earns some US$300,000.
