The president of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, Philip Barnett, was happy with the announcement in June that cruise ships visiting the island would be allowed to operate their casinos at night while in port.

But according to a report in the Royal Gazette, he’d be even happier if Bermuda had its own land-based casinos to offer visitors.

“We need to have a dialogue to move towards allowing a casino operation to be on land in Bermuda,” said Barnett, who owns the Island Restaurant Group Ltd. “We have lost our original cachet that we had 30 or 40 years ago with regard to our nightlife and entertainment.”

Barnett believes that it is unfair to have outside operators offering casino gaming when Bermuda’s own businesses are prevented by law from providing the same service. He claims that many Chamber members have come to him with their concerns on the subject.

In June, Premier Ewart Brown announced that visiting cruise ships would be allowed to “provide full entertainment inclusive of the opening of casinos after 10 p.m. while in port.”

In return, the cruise lines must contribute six-figure amounts to on-shore cultural events.

Brown is attempting to reverse the anti-gambling trend created by his predecessor, Alex Scott, who managed to outlaw Bermuda’s gaming machines in 2004. The Royal Gazette reports that the pro-gaming premier has played in poker tournaments outside Bermuda and appeared at a gaming tournament at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles.

Barnett fully agrees with the new policy.

“For many people, the majority of people actually, gambling is simply a form of entertainment,” he said.

Of course, there is opposition to casino development as well.

Bishop Lloyd Duncan of the New Testament Churches of God calls gambling a vice and says land-based casinos could hurt the island’s inhabitants.

“I feel as a community we just need to be very careful as to what we legislate,” Duncan said. “To me, it’s just opening the door and the vice gets its foot in the door.”

Barnett believes otherwise.

“Gaming is not a vice,” he said.

Pointing to the fact that Bermuda residents can already bet on sports, play bingo, gamble online or fly to Atlantic City in a few hours, Barnett said it is ridiculous to ban casinos.

“There’s all sorts of unlimited access to gaming,” he said.

By GGB Staff

Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.