Survey shows majority oppose gambling change

26.10.2009, Bermuda's gaming laws should not be relaxed, voters told a Royal Gazette survey.

Forty-seven percent of people are against changing the laws to allow initiatives like casinos, with just 34 percent in favour, according to the poll carried out by Research.bm this month.

The news comes after Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown announced he was going to let the people of Bermuda make a decision over the controversial subject which has split the Island down the middle.

Former Premier Alex Scott — a firm opponent of relaxing gaming laws — yesterday urged the Premier not to waste time and money on the issue when he believes it's already clear the public don't want gaming.

Mr. Scott said Dr. Brown's intention to "go to the people" indicates he no longer believes he can get enough support for his pro-gaming agenda from MPs in the House of Assembly.

Reflecting on the results of the poll yesterday, Mr. Scott told The Royal Gazette: "It simply confirms that Bermudians are not prepared to gamble with Bermuda's future.

"I hope that we are not going to expend too much parliamentary time or other resources on this now. Parliament has spoken on it; this poll suggests that, if we were to canvass, what the results would be. I hope that we are not going to beat the bush trying to drum up support for gaming."

In a speech at the PLP delegates conference on Wednesday night, Dr. Brown raised the idea of gambling to a cool reception from his party's supporters.

He had received warm cheers when he mentioned crowd-pleasing subjects such as FutureCare and Mirrors, and hearty laughter for his jibes at the expense of the fallen Mid-Ocean News.

However, silence fell over Ruth Seaton James Auditorium when he started saying gaming would give hotels on the Island a boost.

Dr. Brown told the audience: "I think we are going to the people of Bermuda to allow them to make a decision."

Yesterday, his press secretary Arnold Minors clarified: "The Premier was not proposing a referendum. He was referring to citizens giving their input to their elected representatives."

This July, Dr. Brown sparked anger by attempting to push pro-gaming legislation through behind the backs of several anti-gaming Progressive Labour Party MPs. That move failed when a host of Dr. Brown's party colleagues, including Mr. Scott, got wind of the tactic and dashed into the House to vote against the bill, which would have allowed cruise ships to run casinos while in port.

Mr. Scott said yesterday: "This poll confirms that the stand taken by the parliamentarians reflected what the community wanted.

"I think the Premier has done his numbers on the MPs and concluded he would end up with the same result if gaming went to the House again. So that could be why he is now going to 'go to the people'."

Explaining his stance on gaming, Mr. Scott said: "I'm not a kill-sport, I don't have anything against gaming, just not in my backyard."

The Warwick South East MP said when he was Premier he spoke with then-UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and US Senator John McCain, who both praised Bermuda's lack of gaming.

Mr. Scott said gaming had created social problems in places such as Atlantic City, and that Bermuda could become more attractive by concentrating on marketing itself as a golfing destination and improving the facilities it already has.

A breakdown of the poll results shows gaming is more popular with younger people, with 51 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds in favour, but every other age group against, particularly the over 65s, among whom 63 percent opposed.

The poll also showed blacks were more strong-minded on the subject. Thirty-nine percent of blacks were in support of gaming, with 48 percent against. Whites were more likely to sit on the fence, with 25 percent in support and 43 percent against.

Asked for Dr. Brown's response to the poll results, Mr. Minors said: "We are concerned that the poll does not accurately reflect Bermuda's population."

Earlier this week, the PLP launched an attack on Research.bm after the telephone poll of 400 people showed the PLP and UBP both lost points as voters pondered the idea of a third political party in Bermuda.

Research.bm says its methodology is fair and that the PLP's complaints are consistent with its defensive approach to the private sector, Bermuda public and some of its own party members.

Asked for their stance on gaming, new party MPs Shawn Crockwell, Donte Hunt and Mark Pettingill said they would review the Government-commissioned study on gambling with an open mind before "making a determination that is in the best interest of Bermuda's future".

Bermuda Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church president Jeffrey Brown said: "It is not the desire of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to impose its morals on the larger society. We would not, however, desire that gambling laws be relaxed. We would not be in favour of any activity that can negatively affect the welfare of communities and the stability of families."

Über iGaming News:

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