In Jamaica the new casino law has been signed, sealed and delivered, allowing the government to establish a Casino Gaming Commission to oversee the granting of casino licences. However, in Bermuda, for the second time in less than twelve months, efforts to allow some form of casino gambling have been shot down. Bermuda’s Premier, Dr Ewart Brown, will now have to consider whether to press ahead with the White Paper on Gaming, originally planned for later this year, as the Green Paper has received little support from MPs.

The legalisation of casinos in Jamaica has come after nearly a year of debates in which the proposal was vociferously opposed by religious groups. In April 2008 Prime Minister Bruce Golding stated that the issue of licences would be dependent upon a minimum investment of US$1.5 billion and the construction of not less than 1,000 hotel rooms, now raised to a minimum 2,000 rooms. Now Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett has suggested fast tracking a school of hospitality to meet the needs of the future casino industry on the island.

The Jamaica Observer reports that the Minister is aware of the need to develop social models to deal with some of the downsides that will attend legalised gambling but that the need to prepare was critical. "If we are going to have casino activities in the next six or 12 months, we have to begin to work overtime to produce the quality of entertainers and workers that the industry will require," he said.

In Bermuda Dr Brown, who is both Premier and Tourism Minister, has defended his support for a casino industry in Bermuda. Following the lengthy debate in the House of Assembly, in which only five MPs were in favour, he insisted that casinos could bring benefits and controls could be put in place to limit casino gambling to tourists. “It can be a transparent enterprise with Bermudian ownership and workers that adds to the economy of our nation and attracts those tourists who would want it." Dr Brown also commented that there was room for further debate. (E-05.11.10)

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