Bermuda Could Benefit From UK Lottery

September 27, 2011

HenryBellinghamL_228x347Winding down his visit to Bermuda at a press conference at Government House today [Sept.27] Henry Bellingham, the UK’s Minister for Overseas Territories, said that he would be seeking to start talks to have funds from Britain’s National Lottery made available for use in Overseas Territories such as Bermuda.

Mr Bellingham said that the National Lottery was currently sitting on a cash pile of 1.5 billion pounds [about $2.3 billion] and that this could be used to help fund sports and other activities amongst the 280,000 persons who live in the Overseas Territories.

He said that this would require working with the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport. “I made it absolutely clear to my fellow Ministers that this is something that they really have got to sort out.”

He went on to say that there was: “…a complete illogicality to not having that money available to the…280,000 or so citizens…” of the Overseas Territories. He compared this Overseas Territory population to the size of Norwich, which he said was in his county.

He went on to say: “It seems to me grossly unfair that the citizens of these Territories who have British passports..that they are keen to retain the link with Britain and it seems to me..quite wrong and anomalous that they can’t enjoy the benefits of the Lottery.”

He said he was working on this but that there are some practical problems to be gotten around such as a need for legislation and problems working with the big Lottery Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund. He pointed out that he could not promise when this would happen, but said: “To me this is a priority.”

The fourteen Overseas Territories are: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St Helena and St Helena Dependencies, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, The Turks & Caicos Islands. Bermuda has the largest population.

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Comments (25)

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  1. Free Thinker says:

    I wander if the Christians in the Government would reject this fund because it’s from sinful means. After all, how can you be against gambling based on you christian values and accept this. If they want to accept it, I think they should be made to legalize gambling first.

    • Tired of nonsense says:

      Agreed. Don’t the churches down here also hold a lottery at certain times throughout the year?

  2. Terry says:

    Yah gutta pay to play. This is bullsh$t. He’s gonna give away free money to Bermuda?

    Where the hell is my needle…………………………

    Anyone know the meaning…read between lines?

    Screw it…um owa it…

  3. Chart says:

    Believe it when I see it. And our Government has a history of wasting “free money”. I’d only trust the funds going to things like the Aquarium, Maritime Museum, or Natl Trust … or a handful of well organised social charities.

  4. Cool says:

    Why cant Bermuda have it own lottery?

    • 1minute says:

      Not enough people to make the pot worth taking. BUT, why not have a place in Bermuda where you can buy British lottery tickets???

  5. Rob says:

    Briton to the rescue, oh! its coming.

  6. Familiar says:

    Mr. Bellingham needs to seriously reconsider this as it is an incredibly poor idea. As it stands, UK citizens are already incensed over what is being done with the lottery money. It would be better if we could actually put money into the lottery before any consideration is given to us taking money from it.

    • Agreed 2 says:

      I’m sure Britons will be positively delighted that their lotto money is going to some ‘Jewel in the Altantic’ considered a wealthy tax haven .

  7. specialgirl4 says:

    Yes Mr Bellingham, I sure do miss playing the Lottery., I tried to do it online, but was not allowed from Bermuda. Bring it on…….

  8. The Future says:

    This will NEVER happen.

  9. Citizen John (Son) says:

    The church will never allow it. That is because the church controls everything in Bermuda. And they get incredibly upset when I say that they are con artists, and liars. Mainly because they know that they are.

  10. Say Say Say says:

    Bermuda should have its own lottery. It could fund all kinds of Government and charitable programs and would discourage people from wasting their money by betting online. At least the money would stay here.

  11. Truth is killin' me... says:

    @ Bernews…find out for us why Bermudians cannot play the UK Lottery online. The only way is to buy a ticket in the UK in a betting shop. Why is this?

  12. CFA???? says:

    Please people the British don’t even have their own finances in order can you imagine the public up roar if hard earned British Pounds were to leave to go to an overseas dependent territory. Besides I thought everyone wanted to get rid of the queen…oh now that we’re talking about money them giving us money its ok.

  13. 32n64w says:

    Just waiting to see which PLP insider will end up with the exclusive distribution rights for Bermuda.

    • Hmmmmm says:

      Surely not if the almighty, all wise, great bwanna from Britain has spoken it ?! How do you all feel about the “clean bill of health” he gave to your Government? Is he corrupt too ?

  14. NCB says:

    It won’t happen, UK Lottery Funding is notoriously difficult to come by. Just as Bermuda is British when it suits it, Britain feels the same way. Most people in the UK don’t even know Bermuda is British soil, so would never support overseas funding.

  15. If you want to have your say on the FCO’s Overseas Territories Consultation here is the link. http://ukoverseasterritories.readandcomment.com/