Church still set against casinos
published: Tuesday | January 20, 2004

By Roy Sanford, Staff Reporter

WITH THE renewed call for the introduction of casino gambling on the island there are conflicting opinions on the matter among religious and political leaders in the resort city of Montego Bay.

Religious leaders have reiterated that casino gaming is 'not scriptural' and contrary to Christian teachings while political leaders argue that it is a viable option that needs to be explored in light of the nation's ailing economy.

"The purpose of gambling is to provide wealth and this is not the means by which the Bible teaches that wealth is to be acquired," declared Calvin Brown, pastor of Weslyan Holiness Church in Montego Bay. He argued that "wealth is to be acquired by honest labour."

However, Noel Donaldson, Mayor of Montego Bay, said the issue was worth considering. "It has the potential to create jobs and to lend a wider variety in terms of what we have to offer through our tourist industry," he told The Gleaner yesterday.

One The Net: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/glean...ead/lead5.html


What is your view, in terms of employment, economic benefits, or being morally wrong?

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Casino's are the same thing as the lotteries and Jamaica has that cash cow right? One major difference is that lotto's don't create jobs...casino's do.

Economic benefits could be great because #1...one of Jamaica's TOP revenue earners is tourism and tourists WILL gamble....Vegas makes a living at it! #2....It creates jobs which will lower unemployment rates which benefits everyone because maybe fewer people will be living off society.

As for the moral issue...I say leave it to the individual to decide. The ones who think it against their morals don't have to do it. For the rest of them they can gamble to their hearts delight. I think the major users of a casino would be the tourists anyways.

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Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

The Hydra of legalized gambling can eat up a society. Am I opposed to it? Hell no, I gamble myself, occasionally. It is good in Vegas because it is limited, pretty much, to the tourists. It does not prey on the Vegans. Upon whom would it prey in Jam? The beast bit me once real good and now I am careful to keep my flirtations light. Tough call to make. Let the people decide.
If you're going to dine with the Devil, be sure to use a long spoon.

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The horizon is not my boundry - rather an ever-expanding destination. Enjoy the ride!

So this thread is a year old now. Any updates? KC, Bounty how bout you 2 fill us in?

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Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

Mobay has the one casino and I've never set foot in it. Not that I'm opposed to them in moderation, but just haven't been interested on an island with so much more to offer in the line of entertainment.

I was told by a Jamaican that other Jamaicans have come out of there crying because they gamble all their money away and had none to use for everyday living. It does devastate some individuals and families.

Also the lottery is a big thing with some Jamaicans. They ask if I play it, and I tell them the only way to win is put the money in the bank and get interest, which by the way is really inviting, anywhere from 5 to 11% depending on the principal.

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Harmony Cove, an elaborate resort complex, that will cost $72 billion to construct, which will have a posh Casino. The Churches here are losing the battle to keep casinos outta Jamaica. the govt looks at casinos as another avenue to win another election as this will provide thousand of jobs upon construction and after construction. The govt's ideology is to mix casino with land development so the grumblings will be less.

That said Supreme Ventures, the company who handles all lottery and gambling games in Jamaica plans to buy out Coral Cliff in Mobay and turn it into a full-fledge casino, they already tried this concept in Kingston at the Ambrosia to some success

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