‘Tourism Forward’: Crown & Anchor In Casinos?
[Part of the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s ‘Tourism Forward’ series]
Now that the government has passed legislation to allow casino gaming in Bermuda, we wanted to know what kind of games would be offered to visiting gamblers.
Richard Schuetz, the executive director of Bermuda’s Casino Gaming Commission, told us the list of games on offer aren’t known definitively yet because it would be a matter for the gaming commissioners to discuss, but he is leaving the door wide open to include Crown & Anchor in local casinos.
It could present a golden opportunity to weave something unique and distinguishable into Bermuda’s version of casino gambling. From a tourism product and experiences perspective, infusing Bermuda’s authenticity into the Bermuda visitor experience is always an asset.
Mr. Schuetz said: “I think we are not going to surprise anybody by having things there that they had never seen before. I am sure that there will be an effort to put Crown & Anchor in there and I will be more than willing to accommodate that. That is a game with a rich history in this Island.”
Roulette, blackjack, baccarat, sports betting and slot machines are expected to make the list as well, according to Mr. Schuetz.
The timetable for when the first casino in Bermuda might open is not known. Examples in Jamaica and Singapore took between seven and ten years to go from concept to reality.
Watch the Tourism Forward video series online at the BTA’s Vimeo channel. Tourism Forward also airs on cable on Channel 82.
You are taking too long so we all betting on our phones now.
Yup, Bet365 taking more of my money than im taking theirs, but I’m still getting mines.
They would have to to adjust the payout structure. Anyone that has taken a statistics course can tell you that the house advantage is massive.
“The timetable for when the first casino in Bermuda might open is not known. Examples in Jamaica and Singapore took between seven and ten years to go from concept to reality”.
Beginning to wonder why we are even bothering with casinos. Whilst I am sure there will be many that say “well, it takes time”, it seems to be that time is one of the things we really don’t have too much of.
Bring it all on!
Why are casinos limited to a few selected resort hotels? Why can’t entrepreneurial Bermudians open a casino outside of a hotel?
By limiting this to a few hotels, we are effectively excluding Bermudians from this new opportunity. Yes, a Bermudian family owns the HP, but aside from this, all the hotels are in the hands of foreign ownership.
The Reefs is Bermudian owned as well as the soon to be Morgan’s Point resort as well.
Casino licenses are tied to hotel developments.
You guys just won’t stop with the constant negativity will you.
Actual the Morgans Point is owned by every TAX PAYER on the Island.
Thanks to the OBA Government they have pledged to support the financing of this project by using Government TAX Payer money… with a guarantee of up to $165 million for a project cost of $400 million.
I thought the PLP spent all the money.
the guarantee does not equal providing financing. Guarantee is like insurance cover.
It is called a guarantee for a reason.
No cash changes hands and only will in the event of a default.
Much like how the PLP guaranteed $200mn for BNTB.
And yes the PLP sure dis spend all the money. Between 2004 and 2012 they increased our national deficit by more than 2,600%.
But facts are you guys kryptonite.
“Default”. As in the Par la Ville case?
@Double S
Yes but the question is why only hotel developments?
Because hotel developments are needed to revitalize our tourism industry and create jobs.
And as a poster noted below without additional lines of revenue no developer would touch Bermuda as their investment would yield a negative return.
Pretty simple logic.
I am not into gaming and am glad that it will be limited to certain sites instead of turning Bermuda into one mini Las Vegas. You think we have social problems now.
I am not being negative and I appreciate your comments about the Reef and Morgans Point. My main question is why casinos are tied to hotel developments.
If I want to take the risk of opening a casino, why should I be denied because I am not a hotel owner?
Because it’s better for Bermuda and more logical if it is tied to a hotel development.
Why would you be against something that is good for Bermuda?
I tend to agree with you, but perhaps they could make a compromise and the Hotels/Resorts mainly for tourists can have the full casino’s like you see in Vegas with the live tables, poker tournaments, etc… but they can allow bars/members clubs to have sectioned off areas to have slot machines and various video betting games, which would be focused on the local clientele. As of now a lot of money is flowing out of Bermuda because the locals are using oversea betting websites to gamble, and that is taking cash out of the Bermuda economy never to be seen again!
“…but aside from this, all the hotels are in the hands of foreign ownership”
Complete rubbish of course. But even if it were true, it would be a result of the 90+ hotels and guest houses that closed between 1999 and 2012.
Casino licenses are tied to hotel developments.
It costs approximately $1mn per room to construct a hotel in Bermuda. Without another revenue making source we would see no new construction anytime soon. The government (both OBA and PLP) have been told this by potential developers. That is also the reason why hotels look to construct fractional units as traditional income from bookings re insufficient to cover development and operational costs.
So if Bermudians want to open a casino they will need tens of millions to construct a hotel, pay a license fee, outfit the casino and have enough capital (float) to operate it. Opportunities are there but opening a casino requires deep pockets.
Oh and by the way the Reefs and Morgan’s Point hotels are also owned by locals.
The have not’s will always be have not’s – this government will ensure that. I don’t support gaming, but if we are going to have gaming I am glad that Crown and Anchor is in there. By the time the civil service is finished with their grand taxing design, there will be no money to be made by any gaming operator – you can bet on that.
The Gaming Commission is nothing but a talking shop. These people are feathering their own nests. Years before any kind of gaming facility and these so-called professionals are collecting for their retirement. It’s ridiculous, it’s costing jobs and income for Government coffers and we are missing America’s Cup. Pitiful in the extreme.
More wasted staff time and money by BTA on a 59 second video that says nothing new. Do we have to support Schuetz for 6 more years before we see results?
If you want it done right, yes possibly.
I always win thousands of dollars when I go play in casinos so yes open a casino in Bermuda I will not be rich anymore I will be millionaire hehe he
Yes, I am sure they would be pleased to have you. Ultimately, the house always wins.
I so Glad that after all this time they have allowed gaming. I have been running Crown & anchor Tables From B4 I could and Last year had to take the Police court just to run at cup match. All Summer long i am invited to cruises house and beach parties and other events to do so.I have been asking for a yearly licence to operate for over 15 years as people love to place a little bet. It cost upwards of $20,000 just to do cup match for the two days I think that if you can operate crown & anchor they should give you a casino licence as you need to have money for every chip thats on the floor as long as you do you are in the law. I can bet that the hotels are not going to call me or any of the other operators to run their tables they are going to train they own which is sad. But I will be calling them as Im not working I live off of crown & anchor. I still have nine gaming machines in my house so alls not lost.