Casinos Soon Becoming Reality in Jamaica

Casino gambling is soon to become a reality in Jamaica, the Jamaican government is planning to introduce casino gaming through a proposed investment of US$6.8 billion in two gaming resorts Harmony Cove and Celebration Jamaica in Montego Bay.

This development has brought joy and delight to the big spenders and other punters who enjoy life on the razor’s edge of chance, where the spin of a roulette wheel, the throw of the dice or the turn of a playing card can make or break an individual’s future.

The uncertainty, accompanied by the high stakes, creates the “rush” that stimulates and excites the human impulse for instant self-gratification. The “easy come, easy go” nature of gambling can be a strong substitute for hard work in the real world.

Undoubtedly, judging by the reported successes of casino gambling worldwide, there has been economic gain from certain types of casinos operating in a well-ordered and controlled environment. There are also inevitable causalities resulting from the subliminally addictive nature associated with games of chance, from cards and machines at one end of the spectrum to the other extremity of Russian roulette.

Jamaica’s close affiliation with guns and narcotics is cause for serious disquiet in the minds of conservatives who are already worried by the other side effects connected with this contentious industry.

When comparing Jamaica with other casino locations, some recognition should be given to Jamaica’s unique and unenviable reputation as the “murder capital of the world” and its significant level of domestic violence. Additionally, its close association with narcotics together with its outstanding penchant for “ginnalship” that is capable of neutralising security systems similar to those prevalent in the gaming industry.

The conservative minorities seem more concerned with the unfortunate side effects which plague the industry worldwide. These range from a burgeoning male and female prostitution trade with its own liability of spreading STDs, the addictive nature of “easy come, easy go” opulence, and principally the escalation of violent crime in concert with financial and technological malfeasance. The churches, together with other spiritual and social organisations, are the most vocal and form a formidable obstacle to any easy passage of the casino law in Parliament.

Many forms of gambling already exist locally clustered around horse racing, slot machines, lotto games now launching new big-figure prizes, and certain gaming houses which appear to be flourishing. The move to casinos, however, involves very large foreign direct investments in casino hotels and extensive gaming complexes that are expected to generate significant revenues which would assist in substituting for import duties surrendered at the border through tariff liberalisation. Such gambling proceeds would reduce the necessity for taxation measures to be applied domestically to replace lost border revenue. In this regard, casinos can be considered financially beneficial for the country.

The Bahamian casino hotel model has been referred to as suitable for Jamaica. However, there is a major element that must be carefully studied. Casino gambling in The Bahamas is intended as a diversification of their tourist industry and consequently only foreigners and other Caribbean nationals are welcomed. Some Jamaican punters enjoy the Bahamian facilities and report that the arrangement works very well. It is generally maintained that the restriction on nationals is undesirable and thus unacceptable for Jamaica.

Some years ago, the president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce proposed the establishment of “Red-Light Districts” on the north coast, as a means of improving the health and safety measures for tourists, citizens and local sex workers. The districts would be operated similarly to centres in major European countries such as Germany and Holland. Great Britain also permits small units usually consisting of two or three sex workers, presumably male and female, working in a house, but so far no major districts exist like those in continental Europe. The Chamber’s proposal brought strong reactions from religious groups, who objected on moral grounds to organising such commercial philandering. With the advent of casino gambling, this proposal may have to be revisited.

Briefly, the following quote from Professor Ian Boxill’s presentation at UWI provides a concise description of the social impact of gambling which is very relevant when debating the casino gambling law, as these lifestyle aberrations are likely to accompany the industry in Jamaica and deserve serious attention: “A great deal has been written about the social impact of casino gambling on communities and families. First, some studies reveal that divorce rates among casino gamblers tend to be higher than for the rest of the population. Second, studies reveal that there is a link between the rate of compulsive gambling and child neglect. Third, high rates of compulsive gambling have been associated with the prevalence of casinos in some communities, which in turn is linked to higher rates of family violence.

Fourth, suicide rates are said to increase with the introduction of gambling. Fifth, casino gambling has been often linked to increased crime rates. Sixth, higher rates of gambling have been linked with poorer communities in the US and Australia. Poorer people are more likely to view gambling as a means of earning money, compared to well-off people who view it as a social activity.

Seventh, casino gambling has been linked to a rise in adolescent gambling and an increase in pathological gambling.”

When opening the first casino in Jamaica, it is hoped the prime minister would step up to the table and be the first to spin the roulette wheel – The Wheel of Fortune – as a good luck gesture for the future of the industry.