Pro-Gaming Organization Launches Website
The Bermuda Gaming School has recently launched their website, which is aimed at educating the general public about the benefits of gaming.
The organization is headed up by Steve Simons who said if legislation is passed to allow the expansion of gaming, Bermuda could experience an influx of foreigners being brought in to staff the casinos if we do not prepare in advance.
He said the more ideal scenario to bring the greatest benefit to the island is to have Bermudians educated in advance and able to be employed in various capacities within casinos.
On the website’s section about supporting gaming it says: “Gaming, if established in Bermuda, will offer a complementary nightlife amenity. Based on interviews of hotel management and other tourism industry professionals, Bermuda formerly featured a higher level of entertainment and other evening activities. The drop in evening activities is a lost opportunity, in that some tourists will likely participate in gaming if it were available.
“The evidence is clear from other jurisdictions that given the right legislative policies, tax structures and operating environment, casino gaming can be a catalyst for additional capital investment.
“Bermuda’s location and access to the major metropolitan areas of the Eastern United States provides a dynamic opportunity for the Tourism Industry.
“With a large percentage of adult leisure travelers stating that the ability to participate in casino gambling while on vacation is important to them, Bermuda is at a disadvantage to other jurisdictions, particularly in the Caribbean, in attracting these leisure travelers.”
Earlier this year, Premier Paula Cox tabled the Referendum Act 2012 in the House of Assembly, saying it would be followed by a referendum on gaming in Bermuda in due course.
According to a Government-commissioned study done by the New Orlean’s based Innovation Group [PDF], gaming would add nearly 3,000 jobs and up to $146 million a year to Bermuda’s economy.
Most of the island’s religious community is in strong opposition to gaming, with dozens of religious groups forming a group ‘United to Change’ to work to oppose any change to the law.
During the debate on gaming in the House of Assembly in 2010 the majority of MPs spoke in opposition to expanding gaming in Bermuda, including Paula Cox, Wayne Furbert, Patrice Minors, Elvin James, Alex Scott, Randy Horton, Dale Butler, Dame Jennifer Smith, Ashfield DeVent, Dennis Lister, Kim Swan, Bob Richards, Dr Grant Gibbons, Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, Louise Jackson, Charles Swan, Cole Simons, Trevor Moniz, and Donte Hunt.
3000 jobs is sufficient justification for Bermuda to allow an individual the choice to gamble or not.
If Bermuda is to survive these dire times then there is a need to ‘get with the times’ and sieze opportunities such as this.
What rights do the religious communities have to tell others what they can and cannot do. God will be the judge at the end not you!
I agree !! Bermuda is livin in the 80′s.. when times were good and the white construction worker covered for the lazy ,high ,unqualified bermudian. Gambling is the only thing that will save Bermuda in the Short term. But the Uneducated, weak willed, lazy but some how optimistic bermudians will gamble everything they own (and a stole moped or handbag) and then blame the ex-pats and their government!! for selling them short… Bermudians fear a life of servitude but they better get used to it !!!
Someone help me understand please. if we have more jobs that eligilbe Bermudains that can work them (1/3 of our workforce are guest workers according to the Chamber and Immigration) that means for the 3000 jobs created, 1000 will potentially before guest workers. Let’s be real, with what an influx of guest workers do the the island…its not just about the mighty dollar. I like being able to negotiate my rent, find a parking space in town, and get a doctors appointment the same week. #umjustsayin
I don’t see why you’ll need a parking space in town…
Jeez, look if there are 3000 jobs and 2000 are filled by Bermudians it’s still 2000 Bermudians in work. Secondly, it’s 3000 people paying tax, consuming, paying rent and this may mean that 1000 people are able to pay their mortgages. It’s also a potential 3000 votes for the government who takes action!
Okay, I’m going off on a tangent, here’s how it is!
Guest workers are not necessarily detrimental since they bring skills and experience that cannot be found in such a small population like Bermuda. A fine example of such shortages can be seen in the need to airlift people for medical care and the need to bring specialists to the island to perform surgery etc.
It also encourages competition in the employment market thus allowing employers to be choosy for the first time in a long time. This means that everyone needs to prove themselves, commit themselves, give excellent service and provide value for money. There is nothing wrong with stimulating the employment market to encourage a more productive workforce.
I am however happy that you can negotiate your rent, greed has always been an issue with over stretched homeowners. But at the end of the day you get what you pay for so if you want more luxury you have to work for it, save for it, earn it and deserve it! Or be corrupt according the several recent news articles!
Finding a parking space should never be a problem so long as a person can get their ass out of the house with time in hand, or is willing to move that ass for a few blocks of free exercise. Seems that this day and age people double park outside places like KFC and to save their spouse from walking half a block to a more convenient place.
The waiting time at the doctors is irrelevant really since I would be more concerned about the double figure annual increases in our medical insurance mostly due to the cost of the hospital according to the insurance companies.
At the end of the day what everyone needs to see, including the religious communities is that their own self righteousness is causing hardship that could be avoided. It can also create a solid and profitable income stream in creating jobs in several industries other than gambling for many workers, improve tourism and bring in taxes that we desperately need. At the end of the day let your God be the judge and give everyone the freedom to choose where to spend their money.
I am amazed that you are not able to see what is happening to everyone around you when you talk about your happy life. Perhaps it’s just that self righteousness that is so prevalent on this island that makes you just see things through your own eyes and not notice the hardship that has become so many people in Bermuda. I bet my last $10 dollars that you ‘work’ for the government or are a politician and trust me, my final deduction is not as praising.
While there are some in the community that are rubbing their hands at the thought of running a casino, it would be a travesty if any casino was to be operated anywhere other than the hotels. Proposals to operate a casino on Front Street or in North Hamiton make no sense. Who will own these casinos? Those persons that already have the money to invest in a casino will only get richer, with very little benefit to the tourism and the hotel industry.
The biggest destinations in the western hemisphere for gamblers are places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City, but the casinos in these cities are only located in the hotels. Do we want more hotel beds? Do we want and need new hotel developements? If we allowed gambling only in the major hotels we would no longer need to give hotels tax breaks to upgrade their facilities, there would be plenty of funding for entertainment in the hotels, the government would be able to tax the profits on the casino (which would help pay our ballooning debt) and hoteliers will be happy to invest in hotels in Bermuda, as they will be almost guaranteed a profit.
It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to put a casino on Front Street. Hamilton is Bermuda’s capital city, which makes it an attraction in itself and having a casino in the city does absolutely nothing for tourism or the hotel business.
I suggest that John Swan (who has previously suggested that a casino be placed on Front Street) or Mr. Simons are only thinking of profits and not the big picture of reviving tourism and giving a big lift to the local hotels.
If a referendum is held for the public to decide on casinos, I hope that options are given on where these casinos should be located. If they are not operated in the major hotels (i.e. the Fairmonts, Elbow Beach, Tuckers Point, the new St. Regis, Grotto Bay, etc.) then there will be no benefit to the overall community accept for those lucky persons that will get the contract to operate casinos as a private businesses.
The church is quite right to oppose casinos in Bermuda. After all, they have been hosting gambling ever since they were built – and it will seriously cut into their business.
As I recall, you give them 10% of your money to assure your safe passage into heaven when you die. If that isn’t a gamble – then what is?
Build the casinos already!
It amazes me that so many people that go to other countries to gamble think its a bad idea to allow it here. If it will create jobs, encourage people to visit and have fun, lets do it already.
It also amazes me that churches try to have so much say an influence on what Bermuda does. Are we in Vatican city? I see no better way to test the faith of the flock. Lets broaden our horizons and start a new chapter.
Sometimes you have to take risks to know your limits!
Note the biggest proponents of casinos are those in line to profit. Yet in their greed they haven’t reasoned this thing through. In other jurisdictions, casinos are such a draw that hotels are dirt cheap. $49 a night in Vegas so that you can throw your $1000 away on the tables. Can anyone see BDA lowering their amazingly high room rates to draw in a gambler? If the casino is not at the same site as the hotel, there is a MAJOR lack of attraction for the tourist relative to what they can get elsewhere (cheap good quality room). This is not a complete assessment but just want to START broadening the so far weak assessment (more jobs vs. condemnation by God). This is not to mention the “other” things that go along with the gambling culture.
Bermuda is going down the toilet, slowly. Promoters of sex marriage marriage, legalizing herb, gambling…what’s next?
Next? maybe your “holier than thou” self can run the country, that’s whats worse than everything you listed.
Religion aside, I am a freqent attender of Alynon. My family has had the significant scars of addiction and its wide spread implications on our family unit and those around our loved one dealing with addiction. The support her in Bermuda is very poor when it deals with recovery and support navigation for alcoholic addictions and their family members. This place is so small that the environment does not contribute favourably to becoming sober. I doubt that the programs for sex, narcotic and other addicts are as robost and holistic. Does Bermuda have the support structure to deal with the addicts of Gambling? These addicts contribute to the anti-social behavior that many complain about.
If this pro-gaming group is serious they need to put together a proposal of implementation to deal with the negative outfall. If we are worried about cruise ships leaving our ports because casinos are closed, can we make exception to them by amending the law?
Thank you Bermy news for revealing those against gambling, I guess I won’t be voting at all….Too many closed minds and slavedrivers bent on telling us how we should live our lives and spend our money….There is gambling everyday, horses keno ect right across from Police station!!!so whats the fuss..there used to be slots on court street at swinging doors and down on front street at the Beach, there was less problems as I recall and I recall seeing at least one of those persons listed against gambling in the slot rooms on numerous occasions,how hypocritical… Those that can’t manage their money will decide where and to who they want to lose it to..Its fair game these days, afterall government gambles everyday with our running debt! I’m on your side Stevie, prepare whilst pending.. never know whats gonna happen in future.. People feared the plastic age and it is now full throttle upon us!!1Hahah…
If gaming was allowed in Bermuda, what is the opinion on whether locals should be allowed in the casino’s or not? I’m just asking the question…
allowed to gamble that is.
Build the casinos already and stop living in the 1900′s! My goodness it’s not the end of the world cheekums! Typical mentality..people just don’t like change.