A recent poll in Bermuda revealed that only 34% of those questioned were in favour of relaxing gambling legislation and 47% against. In the 2009 Throne Speech on 6 November at the convening of the legislature Governor Sir Richard Gozney said that the ‘vexed issue’ of gaming must be fully debated and MPs will be invited to consider a green paper on ‘Gaming for Bermuda’. The green paper is a just a small step in the process to change the law, detailing possible courses of action, and Premier Ewart Brown may run out of time to push through definitive changes in legislation.

Testing the legislative water with a green paper could lead to a white paper on gambling but the term of Premier Brown ends in October 2010. A change in law may well take longer to achieve and the next Premier may have a different agenda. Many politicians, like the public, oppose gaming liberalisation. However, it was reported in October last year that Innovation Group has been hired to conduct a feasibility study on casino gaming and a national lottery.

At a press conference on the subject Premier Brown commented, “We have listened to the developers who are investing heavily into Bermuda by building new hotels and likewise to those existing hoteliers who are attempting to refresh and renew their hotel product. There is broad support for some form of gaming in Bermuda from their perspective but that is not enough to cause the Government to implement it.”

He added that the study was to openly and fully address all aspects of the issue so that the government could take decisions based on facts. The views of both the public and anti-gambling groups are expected to be part of the study, which is estimated to cost in the region of $300,000. In June 2008 the government approved the late opening of casinos on cruise ships docked in Bermuda in order to remain competitive with other Caribbean ports.

Certain gaming pursuits already have become culturally permissible in Bermuda. These include Crown and Anchor, high-stakes card games, bingo and the various pools. The feasibility study being conducted is to test the water on changing attitudes towards gambling – what was unthinkable twenty years ago is now being considered to boost tourism and expand employment opportunities. However, there is no certainty that casinos will arrive in Bermuda anytime soon. (E-11.09.09)

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