Gambling returns to table
Posted on Wed, 08/08/2012 - 13:31 in Local News
(CNS): Although it has not yet been confirmed, the issue of legalised gambling, including the introduction of casinos, was under discussion during the recent meeting with the premier and leading members of the business community in the search for alternatives to direct taxation. It is understood that casinos and other forms of gambling do not yet have the support of the wider community but the proposal is still on the table. The issue is one that the opposition says needs to go to a referendum, while Ezzaard Miller says legalising the existing numbers game immediately could generate several million dollars for this budget.
Miller said he believes Cayman has to consider introducing casinos but in the first instance, he said, it would be easier and simpler to legalise the numbers game and charge a 25% fee on the lottery sellers.
“The business is estimated to be worth around $1 million per week, even though it is illegal,” Miller told CNS, adding that once it was legalised it would probably attract even more players and would be relatively easy to collect.
Although the police were unable to give an estimate of the number of players and sellers involved in the illegal lottery, a spokesperson confirmed that the figure of $1 million being spent on the numbers in Cayman was a reasonable estimate.
The debate about gambling in all forms, from a national legal lottery to full scale gaming and casinos, has been raging in Cayman for many years. A number of developers and those in the tourism market are in support of casinos, even if they were for the exclusive use of visitors and out of bounds for locals. A number of private sector bodies, such as CITA, some members of the Chamber of Commerce, CIREBA and Cayman Finance, as well as a various private sector individuals have supported past proposals to overturn the gambling laws and introduce a national lottery or limited gaming licences as a way of addressing government’s budget difficulties.
Premier McKeeva Bush indicated that he was willing to hold a referendum on the subject when he first took office and faced his first budget crisis but shelved the idea in favour of increasing fees to help balance the public books. A petition was started by radio host and former Cabinet minister, Gilbert McLean, in an effort to trigger a people-initiated referendum in 2010 but he was only able to gather around 500 signatures in support. Meanwhile, a petition against gambling started by the Cayman Ministers Association was able to attract over 1,200 signatures in a matter of days.
The subject continues to divide the community, with those who say it is an easy way of raising revenue for government pointing to the access people already have to the illegal local lottery and on-line gambling, which makes a mockery of the prohibition, versus those who are concerned about lotteries being a tax on the poor and the vice and crime that is associated with gaming and casinos.
With the churches opposed to gambling, successive governments had been hesitant to push ahead with legalising it but each and every time government faces a revenue problem the subject returns to the table.
The opposition leader said that while the PPM is against the legalisation of gambling, he would support a referendum on the subject. “We have always taken a position against legalised gambling and there has been no reason presented to change that but we do support a referendum,” he said. “Following a referendum, despite the party’s position, whatever the outcome we would be duty bound by that democratic decision.”
Although the premier has never come out and publicly supported the concept of a legalised lottery or casinos, sources close to him say that he is in favour. But given that may of his own supporters are against the idea, he would be unlikely to declare his hand.
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If this gets passed I hope
If this gets passed I hope that since Caymanians cant go inside we will at least see the staff 100% Caymanian like all other countries that protect there own.
I remember about 10 years
I remember about 10 years ago there was a lottery committee set up to review the options of doing a lottery here. I Think Burns Connoly chaired it and if I remember correctly they found there was a very high level of support for a lottery but not too much for casinos. We should find out exactly what they found out and recommended to government. I heard they even spoke to some of the numbers people as well as the churches.
Many, many moons ago, a
Many, many moons ago, a group wanted to purchase Pagent Beach.
These investors wanted to build a dock for gaming boats, boats that would take passengers out to International waters to gamble.
Of course gaming was a TABOO subject back then so the deal was squashed.
Instead of building Casinos - why not utilize boats?
They could be put into use in the near future, after all, it will take a very long time to build even one casino let alone several.
Gambling would not be on island yet it would be available to tourists and residents alike if the gaming law(s) allowed.
The Churches should be pacified, the Government fed revenue and many people employed.
It would be a win win for all.
Revenue from licencing the
Revenue from licencing the boats also.
Let's not call the casino area Mac(au) Cayman:)
Put a Church on one end of
Put a Church on one end of the boat and a casino on the other end. Everyone wins. Souls will be saved.
Maybe a good place to
Maybe a good place to start is to save the 10 million dollars + that's budgeted and given to the local churches every year!
The above story implies that
The above story implies that the police are aware who is selling the illegal lottery tickets.
Why aren't they being arrested?
All of the bank robberies in the history of Cayman don't add up to one week's worth of illegal lotteries whick takes monies from the unsuspecting just as sure as a bank robber.
Look when these people are
Look when these people are selling raffle tickets I dont care what the cause is for its still gambling so if its legal for churches and other community organizations to sell tickets to benifit them why dont they just legalize gamblin.
Next time there is a
Next time there is a referendum, lets pose the question the other way around. Then we'll see if no showers really "intended" to vote NO on the OMOV or if they simply didnt bother to vote!
I listened to as much of Mad
I listened to as much of Mad Mac's rant as I could stand last night and something occurred to me: maybe he has realised that the civil service is unsustainable and needs to be cut, and all this is just an elaborate act so that when he finally does it he can say he tried everything else he could, and blame it all on the PPM for spending the money? I hope so.
Casinos DO NOT inject money
Casinos DO NOT inject money into the economy, IT TAKES IT OUT!
Just look at Vegas, Atlantic City the Bahamas. the surrounding neighbourhoods are cespools and ghettos.
This whole tax fraud that somehow Casions somehow helps cities or countries via tax revenue is exactly what it is "A Fraud". Only the government sees any revenue, the public sees crumbs and low paying jobs. Where the government uses the revenue to distrubutes those crumbs to buy votes.
Do not allows Casinos here as the cash will go from and out of here to modern mafia bosses in new york.
Don't be foolish idiots.
Leave us alone. We like being
Leave us alone. We like being foolish idiots.
Mr. Anonymous, you are
Mr. Anonymous, you are correct, but it appears there are a lot of ''foolish idiots here..... just look at the "thumbs down".
You really have no clue do
You really have no clue do you.
The only and let me say again ONLY way for a Casino to TAKE more than it GIVES from an area if you allow the locals to use the facility. It you make this either illegal or put a very high price on it then it CAN NOT TAKE more than it GIVES.
Jobs wise we have an 8% unemployment rate. I really don't think we are choosers here. Any job available should be better than none.
I also believe you watch far too much TV and engage your brain too little.
I don't think I can make a
I don't think I can make a more moronic statement if I tried to. Obviously you are not familiar with Cities like New Jersey and countries like France, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Spain. all of which have casinos.
Casino's can absolutely take more than it gives! How does one even come up with with such an idiotic and false premise?? On that note the Bahamas should be claiming that casinos are giving into the economy more than it takes FALSE! You are abviously not even giving an once of thought into the ripple effect casinos have on the economy.
FACTS
1- Casinos reduce the amount of money a tourist spends into the economy (because it does into gambling). you obvious don't factor this amount.
2- the quality of the tourist coming into the the country is Less, they seek cheaper accomodations and entertainment (because the gambler "who is who you are looking to attract" cares about gambling, not cayman tourist sites)
3- the supposed tax revenue that will supposedly go to "good causes" on the island _don't_ they go to cronies to buy votes.
4- the money gained from the "tourism" that you are supposed to be "gaining" DOESN'T STAY IN CAYMAN, nor does it become avaialbe to financial instituition here fore lending etc. it goes to BUILD MORE CASINOS from suckers like you.
Open your eyes and take a trip somewhere, you might learn something.
There should be nowhere in
There should be nowhere in Cayman than Caymanians are not allowed to enter. Period.
9:24, the only foolish idiot
9:24, the only foolish idiot is you, stop smoking crack.
I partially agree with this
I partially agree with this part of your post:
"Only the government sees any revenue, the public sees crumbs and low paying jobs. Where the government uses the revenue to distriubute those crumbs to buy votes."
I disagree that the government might see any revenue though.
Oh Dear!
I thought you were talking about the Dart agreement and the Economic Zone, and the Shetty Hospital.
Sorry for my mis-understanding...
The clouds are blocking my vision today...
As a Caymanian, I for one am
As a Caymanian, I for one am glad that the Premier is not cutting the civil service and has contributed to helping churches financially so they can build shelters and day care centers whilst being managed and government would not pay a center to upkeep them. It make sense, seeing we will be paying 20 million dollars a year to upkeep the new schools. Sometimes you have to help those outside of government where they will do a better job at maintaining. It is like privatization which reduces government cost. As for civil servants it is good that many in the private see their value and importance. Imagine cutting police officers, imagine cutting teachers, cutting immigration officers, doctors at emergency ward... these things have an positive effect not only on the private sector, but on society. We are bless to be in one of the lowest crime rated countries in the world. We only had 7 murders for one year... compare that to other places. We are doing good and although there may be some complaints, our large civil service pay off.
Whilst there are some
Whilst there are some benefits to being in a generous government - the reality is we cannot afford it. We have spent more than we have earned consistently for years. we cannot go on borrowing forever - and the time has come to face up to reality.
I agree that the Police, Teachers and Doctors are clearly not where cuts should be made. But read the Auditor Generals report on the gas card system for example - it is still wide open to theft and abuse because it is not managed properly. Closing that loophole saves the CIG money. How many other areas of concern are there where money is being lost, stolen, wasted or spent on unnecessary expenses? Tightening up on where the money is spent, how it is spent, and on what, is vital, given that money is scarce now.
How many vehicles does the CIG have? Seems we have thousands of them - do we really need to give everyone a shiny new F150 truck? I doubt the business need of the C.S. needs all these people to have vehicles.
There should not be any department still holding out from moving into the expensive new Government building. Thats rent going to waste when there is brand new government building laying half empty.
Cayman Airways - that is so damn expensive and has not made a profit in years, or even broken even. Why?
The Turtle Farm - again a huge waste of money turning it into a disney theme park and now we are paying the bloated bill. Sell it, take the loss and move on.
Can someone please explain to
Can someone please explain to this sceptic what is the religious objection to gambling?
Casinos,Gaming, and
Casinos,Gaming, and Lottery.
Lotteries are easy and are actually played in churches and at family functions very regularly
.BINGO anyone.
Casinos. The only degree a casino manager usually has is a bachelors or masters in hospitality management....HMMM how many people in cayman already acheaved this goal.
OTB,(OFF TRACK BETTING). Bet on aything anywhere in the world at anytime
odds base and unbiased.
By the way did i mention i work for a casino and it is regulated and licensed in florida as a bank.
Gambling is not the sin it's the greed in everybody and self control casinos andother forms of gambling can be fun.
I support gaming in things
I support gaming in things like church bingo, however I would not buy a lottery ticket here as Cayman lacks the expertise to run one properly. The Ontario gaming commission has had a scandals in the last few years with the way tickets were sold etc. Can you imagine one run by Mac? Casino's and the lottery would open the door to further corruption and this island does not need it.
We need to find another way.
don't jump to conclusions
don't jump to conclusions about experience
So the truth has come clear,
So the truth has come clear, Mac had this gaming trick up his sleeve from day one. Upset the natives by saying "taxes" and they'll go mad then see if the casino/lottery might be an option. Sorry for those who oppose but its going ahead, government needs the cash and forget about a 10% civil service cut as it ain't happening with the elections just 9 months away. We all know that the numbers generate about $50-75million a year with t90% of it leaving Cayman so its hightime we get it legalized. Churches well they get $5 mil a year and a good portion of that money comes from alcohol and tobacco duty and you don't hear them complaining bunch of Sunday morning hypocrites.Grant 1 casino license and charge a flat license fee of $50 million + a 15% fee on all winnings and casino profits. As we've seen from the Olympics sports and education can benefit greatly from lottery so will social programs such as NCVO and Humane Society. Have a Gaming Authority that'll collect and monitor the industry, a possible 200-300 new jobs in tourism and hopefully more Caymanians.
Trust me we already have Mafia and crime rings in Cayman oh and prostitution is alive and well so if you gonna dance with the devil then you may as well drink and be merry. Ni need for another referendum just do a petition for 5,000 signatures and start getting our economy back on track and quit the politricks, get people working and businesses makibg prifits.
Agreed and if what I hear on
Agreed and if what I hear on the grapevine is true - our illustrious Leader is regularly seen in Casinos on his trips to the US - nothing wrong with that - so then he should be first to jump on the Bandwagon to support it here.
Besides, let's face it - as has been said many many times before.... Regardless of how you 'tie it up in pretty bows' .... ALL of the Fund Raisning we now have in Cayman ( whether by Churches, Charities, Sport Club efforts or Whatever worthy cause - and they are All worthy causes) are ALL A FORM OF GAMBLING !! I am sorry Ms. Church lady, you cannot say that this is going to God's work so it is NOT gambling - IT IS !!!!! and it is NOT necessarily EVIL when part or all of the proceeds are going to the good of the community.
Nearly every Country in the world has some form of Legal Lottery and even though I must admit I would prefer a Lottery to a Casino (if there had to be a choice between the 2) I am not going to cry off against a Casino AS WELL , if this brings our current Illegal betting into a Legal Framework....
Please keep the Olympic
Please keep the Olympic Committee (IOC) out of this if you don't know what you are talking about.
The IOC sells its TV rights around the world every 4 years for $100 million dollars and do NOT derive any funding from gambling nor do they need to. JM
Just as long as it is with
Just as long as it is with individuals/corporations of stellar quality and reputation, not some shady organization. Especially not one(CHEC?) that would send profits made in Cayman to a communist government(CHINA?) who tramples the human rights of its own people!
As soon as Lord Dart requests
As soon as Lord Dart requests that he be allowed to build a casino it will be done.
So, is it true that Mac asked
So, is it true that Mac asked the business group of five to support gambling and two of them said no?
Well I didn't see anything
Well I didn't see anything about casinos come out of tonight's meeting but I did see a whole bunch of shit spouted again !
1) sure lets increase permit fees - make it harder to do business here and will keep salaries pegged by the same amount as the increase in fees, especially in the average employment sector
2) stay over tourism is screwed and Cayman is already perceived as a expensive destination that is not offering the value for money that it once did - so lets increase the tax on that sector as well....
3) departure tax - see above, now add in the extra cost that food, beers and restaurants, tour operators will add to their prices to cov their work permit fee increases.....
4) again no mention of a viable revenue increase ie a casino or 4
5) probably the biggest issue, yet again no mention of cost cutting either in the CS, Nation Building fund , anywhere....
Oh and on a parting comment anyone motive how over the last two weeks if you have tried to licence your car the DVLC is so overrun they can't actually give you anything other than a receipt because they have been too busy processing the 2 week ' let's raise some emergency cash for naughty drivers' initiative .....
No additional fees! UDP
No additional fees! UDP already priced us out the raw market from 2009 on promise of a balanced budget that never materialised!
No fees! Cut your expenses!
The biggest problem facing
The biggest problem facing Cayman today is the simple truth that too many voters are on an intellectual par with McKeeva. For that we can thank the lorg term failure of our education system and those with responsibility for its standard.
ON!!! or ABOVE!!!!
ON!!! or ABOVE!!!!
I think you mean below.
I think you mean below. Because if voters had more sense than him, he wouldn't be in power, and we wouldn't have this mess we find ourselves in today!
NO Gambling. CHURCHS WIN
NO Gambling. CHURCHS WIN AGAIN!!!!
Glad to know you thieving
Glad to know you thieving gypsies are enjoyimg the $4M we gave you.
Hypocrites and parasites.
Caymanians have eaten of the
Caymanians have eaten of the fruit of greed and have lost their paradise forever. Gambling and Casinos are two alternative that we should approach with great caution.
1200 CMA signatures were
1200 CMA signatures were enough to mothball casinos versus how many signatures for OMOV? Lol!
Cayman is like a little Iran,
Cayman is like a little Iran, a delusional leader in a fantasy world supported by crazy clerics.
One, two, three. 1 Give the
One, two, three.
1 Give the churches so much money they will look the other way no matter what I do..
2 Threaten the foreigners with Taxation, A lot of the locals will most likely agree, but those that do not will only fear direct tax, because they think they will be next. They too will look the other way no matter what I do.
3. Introduce Casino gambling. The churches will look the other way, no matter what I do!. The people that wanted direct taxation on the foreigners, will agree, no problems there. Those that feared the tax will no do anything other than agree to direct taxation.
I knowed, it I knowed it!
Legalize gay marriage and
Legalize gay marriage and marijuana while you are at it. There are millions to be made in both.
Lottery is OK. It will work
Lottery is OK. It will work and get some revenue.
Cansinos? In theory yes. In practice no. The casion industry is controlled by organized crime. XXXXXXX
Lottery nah good either. It
Lottery nah good either. It be disorganized crime. Nah good for people.
You are so naive and watch
You are so naive and watch far too much tv.
As opposed to the
As opposed to the disorganized crime we presently enjoy.
Well I am a christian and I
Well I am a christian and I wont be doing any gambling!
I believe in natural stuff like wine, women, and song.
I do the first two for six nights at the bar, then the third one in the choir at church on sunday...
More likely all three at the
More likely all three at the bar. Drunks love to sing.
Casinos would be the best
Casinos would be the best thing that could ever happened to the Cayman Islands. If it weren't sold out to places like China Harbor, or people like Dart. I think the Casino should be C.I. Government owned.
AND treat it like the American Indian Casinos. Native American Indian Casinos pay their Tribes {MAN, WOMAN, and Child} $4 of every $10 that people wager at their casinos. WOW nice!!
The Associated Press reported in 2003 that each at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa Florida, that every Seminole man, woman and child in the tribe received $42,000 a year - and that's before the two Florida Hard Rock hotels and casinos got off the ground. 2003 was 11 years ago. I can only imagine the Seminole's tribes now have a much larger pay-check. Remember this check is paid out to every "man' woman, and child in the tribe.
Just think how IF a casino were to happen here in the Cayman Islands, just think' how wealthy every Caymanian man, woman, and child and the C.I Government would be IF the C.I. Government would think of the people first, and not themselves.
The Cayman People said NO to the TAXES to the Expats. Caymanians can say NO or YES to the casinos to, BUT use your mind here Caymanians, Say YES, but use few stipulations. The main number 1 stipulation should be that every Caymanian man, woman, and child be treated fairly in a monthly dividend payment.
American Indian Tribes Are Profiting, American Indian tribes are profiting from gambling, and Florida is where it all began. Since then, Indian gaming has greatly expanded. It generated $22.6 billion in revenue in 2005, up 14.6 percent from the previous year 2004, according to the Indian Gaming Industry Report by Alan Meister, an economist with Analysis Group. Florida's tribes - the Seminoles and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians - placed sixth among the highest grossing states with more than $1.26 billion in revenue in 2005 - up 36.1 percent from 2004, the study showed. YES you read that right : $1.26 billion in revenue..... WOW nice...
The Seminoles account for a large chunk of Florida Indian gaming revenue, and 90 percent of their budget comes from gambling. The Seminoles have seven casinos, including thriving Hard Rock Hotel and Casinos in Hollywood and Tampa.
Caymanians a casino in the Cayman Islands "will be" the opportunity that every Caymanian Man, woman, and child should look forward to. BUT only if it's owned by the C.I. Government, and its Caymanian people.
The second stipulation should be a law that the C.I. Government put's into effect, as NO Caymanian, or Cayman resident can GAMBLE at all, at anytime with-in the Cayman Islands Gambling establishment. "Every American Indian Tribe" has this very LAW set in place at all their "over" 500 Gambling Casinos across the U.S.
Indian Casino Facts
I say: SAY YES to CASINOS in the Cayman Islands. AS long as it's Government owed, and ALL Caymanians reap the winnings.
Have you personally been to
Have you personally been to Canada or the US and visited a Indian Reservation. I have and if any Caymanian wants that life style he/she is mad, the idea of being drunk and on drugs all day is not my idea of the good life. So be careful what you wish for. You may get it.
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