Vexed Bermoothes

So, the dialogue is heating up over gambling again.

Without making too much of a fuss, I am against gambling being legalised in Bermuda for the following reasons:

1. I don’t think it will do anything for tourism. Gaming venues require a critical mass of hotel rooms to feed them and to create the buzz. Bermuda no longer has sufficient rooms in close proximity to create a destination. Even more so, much of the projected growth in our rooms is in fractional units – which are not a normal gaming audience.
2. Moreover, gambling takes us further away from the essential qualities that our visitors say they appreciate about Bermuda.  The Minister of Tourism loves to talk up “pop & sizzle” but everyone in the industry will tell you that it’s the “calm & balmy” tourists that spend money.
3. No-one has made a believable economic case, either in terms of employment for Bermudians or taxes. The pro arguments have mainly consisted of dreams.
4. I have little faith in the Bermuda Government’s ability – or desire – to regulate gaming so that it remained clean and fair … never mind free from money laundering.
5. Internet gaming:  don’t touch it unless you are willing to battle the US.

I don’t think the current $300,000 study is a waste – as long as it is truly being conducted impartially, rather than being a “commissioned justification” for a political decision already made.  I look forward to getting facts on which to base our decision.

We all know that, if gaming is allowed without thorough consideration of the objections, this will be a very divisive issue for our little teacup. And lord knows we already have enough to fight about.