Gambling seen as way to boost winter tourism in Bermuda

In a statement released this week, Burgess said: “The Tourism Board continues to support the matter of legalized gaming in Bermuda. The specific views of the individual members of the Tourism Board are currently being sought prior to a more comprehensive statement.”

“I have asked the deputy chairman of the Tourism Board, John Jefferis, who heads up the gaming sub-committee to further enumerate, through additional research, the positive advantages that could accrue to tourism, including, as expeditiously as possible, obtaining the opinion of a variety of qualified hotel developers with reference to the possible increase in their interest in investing in hotel developments in Bermuda as a result of the introduction of gaming to the island. There is no doubt that a major advantage of gaming is that it is a non-weather related activity and could have a positive effect on winter business.”

Burgess was speaking after Premier Paula Cox last week tabled a bill on referendum procedures in the House of Assembly. And she confirmed that - as signalled in this year’s Throne Speech - that a referendum on gambling would be held in due course.

The new legislation means that legislators will no longer have to pass a separate law every time government wants to call a referendum.