As a long debate on the relaxation of the Island’s gambling laws came to a conclusion today, Members voted by 36 to 11 against a casino.
They also rejected commercial bingo by 24 to 23 but allowed the introduction of online gambling.
Yesterday the Economic Development Committee had made the argument for a casino on the grounds that it would be good for tourism, good for the economy and good for the States treasury – which they claimed could get an extra £3 million in revenue a year from the operation.
However, committee vice-president Deputy Lyndon Farnham said that the debate was not just about a casino, but was also about preparing new legislation for the introduction of commercial bingo and online gambling, about negotiating with Camelot or another European lottery operator to replace the CI lottery, and about modernising the Island’s gambling laws which currently consist of 92 separate pieces of legislation.
