Casino debate on the table for next session

The parliamentary debate over casino gaming is likely to continue regardless of the ongoing signature-gathering petition that is calling for a ballot referendum on the issue.

It’s unclear exactly when lawmakers will tackle casino gaming, although a government spokesman did say this week: “The Government intends to have the enabling Act debated during the next Parliamentary session.”

The next parliamentary session begins May 9.

Supporters of a casino ballot initiative, meanwhile, say they are “nearing the completion of the task of reviewing the petition signatures that we have collected to date”.

Earlier this week, Jonathan Starling, one of the activists behind the petition, has said members of the public can still add their name to the petition, although the campaign’s signature-gathering is nearing its end.

Supporters of the petition say the public should have the opportunity to weigh in on such a topic and that
the government’s decision to move away from the referendum late last year broke previous promises made to the public. n