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This whole Casino idea is a gamble. We're being asked to roll the dice on whether casino gambling will bring prosperity or calamity to Bermuda.

Gambling proponents will point out that most people can gamble without negative consequences. However, a percentage of people who gamble are prone to serious social, economic, and psychological damage, which affects the individuals, their families and communities.

What do the studies show? Increased domestic violence, abuse and neglect of children, and heightened child dysfunction (including drugs and overeating) are linked to the availability of gambling.

Problem gamblers often resort to crime to pay debts, keep up appearances and acquire money to gamble more. Typical gambling-related crimes are embezzlement, cheque forgery, credit card theft, employee theft and fraud, insurance fraud, and selling of stolen goods.

The Green Paper on "Gaming" is really a promotion paper rather than a discussion one. Its hook is that rejuvenating tourism is almost guaranteed if we legalize gambling.

But we should pay special attention to the conditional statements in the paper. An example is this: "The evidence is clear from other jurisdictions that given the right legislative policies, tax structures and operating environment, casino gaming can be a catalyst for additional tourism development."

Note the first set of conditions, "given the right legislative policies, tax structures and operating environment". But if the legislative policies aren't right, or the tax structures or the operating environment aren't right then all bets are off.

Despite ten years of knowing changes were needed, we still don't have the right legislative policies to deal with corruption, one of the prime evils attending high-stakes gambling. Our tax structures have been questioned by both major parties, though more-so when they were/are occupying the opposition benches. And we hear from hoteliers and international companies that Bermuda's operating environment leaves much to be desired.

If we have found it difficult or nearly impossible to meet these conditions at the best of times, what confidence should we have that they will be put into place now, when everyone is under pressure?

Vulnerable souls

I see a glint of gold in the eyes of community leaders pushing for this leap into exploitation of a human weakness - the lust for excitement and instant riches. And that lust for gold outshines any of the dangers casino gambling might bring to our shores.

There is zero socially redeeming value in the gambling industry, whether it is dice on the corner, poker on the Internet or plush casinos searching for ways to entice the weakest and most vulnerable souls into their trap.

One can speculate to high heaven about all the social ills that could be cured with the influx of gambling revenues. But the real danger is the host of social ills that will be caused or made worse by the influx of the gambling culture.

We are experiencing now the mismanagement of public funds, where millions are spent to import tawdry entertainment while seniors are bilked for their pensions to get healthcare; where leaders luxuriate in $4,000 a night hotel rooms while ordinary Bermudians are living in cars or tents; where a clinic for the indigent was shut down while millions disappear in a string of hospital reconstruction plots.

We overpaid overseas consultants to essentially produce a document to promote casino gambling.

At the same time, the government's own Attorney General is pointing out that dysfunction in the family unit, the most fundamental component of our society, is at the root of the recent rise in gang violence, juvenile delinquency, child pornography and poor education.

How intelligent it is to recognise that the family is the focal point of our spate of social ills but then to propose the introduction of an industry whose primary casualty is the family? It's not sense. It's gambling with our future.

Bermudians should read as much as they can about the pros and cons of casino gambling - that means read more than the propaganda sheet produced by industry cheerleaders. Then let your voices be heard.

To get a variety of views on the debate, visit website www.dotnews.com/2010/casino-pros-and-cons-scrutinized-legislative-debate-nears. Then try Googling 'casino gambling'.

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