Bermuda would have to hire seven people to deal with addictions if a gaming bill passed.
Preston Swan, acting director of quality and risk management at the Bermuda Hospitals Board, estimated over half a million dollars would have to be spent on staff to help people deal with their gambling problems.
In the Green Paper on Gaming, Mr. Swan estimates Bermuda will have to hire a psychologist ($115,000 a year salary), three certified gambling counsellors ($75,000 each), two addiction counsellors ($70,000 each) and a social worker ($80,000) to help people control their gambling urges.
The psychologist would deal with pathological gamblers.
The report estimates there would also be a need to spend an additional $200k to $400k on building costs and equipment to host the addictive gamblers treatment centre.
The Innovation Group said: "Even if appropriate initiatives are implemented, there are likely to be some additional social and related cost to Bermuda if gaming were enacted.
"However, based upon our analysis and examination of the issues, we conclude that the additional social costs in both terms of services - law enforcement, fire services and health and social costs - are more than mitigated by tax revenues, job creation and capital investment that is likely to occur with the advent of casino gaming."
The report continued: "Revenues provided by commercial casinos cover the costs for problem gambling services and do not burden local governments."
It added that the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling "would be happy" to hold the hold contract for a help line for addictive gamblers.
The report said this would probably cost around $50,000 a year.
I find it very curious that an estimation of 7 mental health workers has already occurred based on a proposal of gaming, yet no estimation has been offered for the mental health workers used or needed to treat the already existant substance dependence, marital conflict, depression, anxiety, thought disorders, suicidality, homicidality, antisocial behaviors, mental health in the prison system, sex addiction, etc.? But GAMBLING is proposed and all of a sudden there is concern about the mental wellness of the community???? How about getting the rest of the mental health community up to par and equipped with enough qualified clinicians first if you are REALLY concerned.
