Yesterday Felix Camacho, Governor of the Pacific Island of Guam, reversed his own decision to allow a casino at this year’s Liberation Day carnival. The casino at the month long carnival, a tradition that has been banned for the past three years, was hoped to raise as much as US$500,000 from the concession tender. Since the casino ban the carnival has not made a profit and is still in debt by US$30,000 from last year. Carnival organizers will find it difficult to beak even this year without funds from the concession fee.

The Guam Governor says he has reversed his previous decision after speaking to both pro and anti gambling supporters and realizing that the casino fund raising effort was too controversial and divisive, and that it would take the focus away from worthy causes. Governor Camacho’s term ends in January and he is up for re-election. The fact that there will be no gambling again at this year’s carnival has been met by a mixed reaction from island residents.

Whilst many Guam voters feel there is little harm in allowing gambling for the thirty days of the carnival in a location apart from the family entertainment, they have twice voted against casino legislation in recent years. However, opposition to casinos is decreasing. In November 1996 the proposed Guam Casino Gambling Control Act was defeated by a 27,801 to 9,509. In November 2004 a proposition to make casinos legal in large hotels failed by less than 8,000 votes. (E-06.16.06)

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