By Dennie Quill, Contributor IT TOOK enormous courage for civil servant Kingsley Thomas, head of the Development Bank of Jamaica, to revive the debate on gambling in face of the Government's continued resistance to calls for the introduction of casinos. Someone needed to do it and I applaud Mr. Thomas. For more then two decades the government has been studying and analysing the potential social, political and economic impact of casino gaming and ever so often the casino debate hogs the headlines. Yet no decision has been forthcoming. Mark my word, when the decision comes, it will be accompanied by an odour of sanctity.
Casinos are not the shady Mafia-infested dens of old. Today integrated glitzy resorts feature entertainment centres, casinos, theme attractions, convention facilities, fine dining and other amenities which are all part of their tourist-pulling power. Gaming and non-gaming facilities complement each other. Besides, casinos are among the most regulated and monitored within the entertainment industry.
Let us look at the experience of the Bahamas, our CARICOM sister. The Atlantis resort on idyllic Paradise Island sports a marina, giant water park and spa and attracts about a million tourists each year and the traffic continues to increase. The complex employs 8,000 and in 2003 earned US$500 million. Isn't that something, Mr. Patterson?
PROS AND CONS OF TOURISM
While our Prime Minister and his Cabinet continue to study the pros and cons of tourism, other countries have come to the realisation that the casino could be the Holy Grail of tourism and they are taking advantage as the rivalry for the tourist dollar becomes more intense. There is now tough competition for casino investment. Britain is at present studying proposals for 96 casinos to be established across the country.
Kerry Packer, remember him the Australian who shook up West Indies cricket, now the richest man in his country - is making energetic plans to expand his casino operations and snatch the largest casino in Britain. Mexico, Japan and Singapore are all considering legislation to lift the ban on casinos. And Thailand's parliament voted overwhelmingly in March to introduce casinos.
Macau where the emphasis is on entertainment above gambling introduced casinos in May and is reported to be raking in the dollars. American entrepreneur Donald Trump of Atlantic City and Las Vegas fame was recently in South Korea where he signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a US$3b-casino complex in Seoul. The point is the sun is rising on casinos all over the world.
ARGUMENTS
I have heard all the arguments from church groups and casino objectors, they range from addiction to fracturing of families and increase in crime. Many of these arguments are short on facts but very high on fear. In terms of crime, our Police Commissioner would gladly change places with his colleague in the Bahamas in terms of the crime portfolio. Of course, casinos are off-limits to Bahamians. This is one way of minimising impulse gambling as well as ensuring that the pool of gamblers does not swell.
If gambling is corrupt why not ban horseracing and the various forms of lottery and games of chance? In fact we have recently opened the floodgates to many forms of gambling which were once illegal. Any Government that actively supports horseracing had no business banning any form of gambling. There will never be universal acceptance of the decision to introduce casinos. But who can object to the argument that Government intends to tap into new sources of tax revenues to support education and health. The way I see it, gambling is a form of entertainment and as a mature adult why should the government or any parson decide that I should not
enjoy casinos at my own risk.
Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com.
