Wednesday, January 31, 2007

am writing to express my thanks to Mr Peter Browne for his published letter
entitled "Organised gambling will only create more poverty and crime." I
find his letter rather intriguing and needless to say I share most his
expressed views on this issue. Incidentally, on the same day Mr Hudson
George's letter ("Organised gambling can erase poverty") was published; the
BBC website published an article entitled "Britain's Streets of Debt." The
sub-header went on: "From the hidden story of the elderly and debt, to the
explosion of online gambling which is causing financial misery to thousands
and the story of the loan sharks and doorstep lenders, BBC one's Britain's
streets of debt explores five stories of individual debt. Personal debt in
the UK is over £1.1 trillion and is growing by £1 million every four
minutes."
From the Caribbean to the UK I have has some experience of what gambling can
do to some of us. In Grenada as a child I had seen people on more than one
occasion running out of a particular gambling establishment with bloody
clothing and others chasing after them with sharp objects; in Trinidad as a
young man; someone I had known in a personal capacity died as a result of
gambling. The Union Park horse racing circuit was not too far away from
where I lived in San Fernando, so I knew a lot of the regular punters; none
of which became better off. They were always short of a dollar or two;
always living from hand to mouth. Same in Britain; some regulars even have
accounts with their local betting shops referred to as the bookies; some
people I have known even have shares in race horses. However, none of these
people are rich or well off. Most, if not all, are living yet again hand to
mouth as we say in Britain. Going back to Mr Browne's article, it is the
misery that organised gambling inflicts on families that one should be aware
of. Some of us believe in the get rich quick philosophy; others are weak and
vulnerable while most people who are hooked on gambling are addicted to it
and cannot help themselves. They borrow as much as they can from credit card
companies; families; friends and loan sharks to feed their gambling habit.
Some even get involve with drug trafficking; breaking and entering into
other people's properties. This spiral escalates to the point where it
causes family and marriage break ups; people loosing their jobs; their
homes; their friends and acquaintances and even their self respect. Too
often in Britain the Social Services; the Volunteer Services sector and the
Welfare Services (all funded by the hard pressed taxpayers) have to pick up
the pieces. Some of the most depressing aspects of this dreadfulness are
where children are involved and in the worst cases they have to be taken
into Social Care for their own welfare and safety as family life
disintegrates. In the UK a lot of thoughts are put into legislation that is
then used to regulate; control; and monitor gambling at almost all levels.
Political parties are generally very nervous about the effects gambling is
likely to have on citizens especially the poor; the weak and vulnerable.
They also work closely with and take notice of the Police Service; Probation
Service; and concerns expressed by various pressure groups. One can say the
gambling industry in the UK is regulated and closely monitored. From time to
time new legislations are passed by parliament to tighten up on what can be
seen as loop holes in existing legislations that control particular parts
the industry. They are also limitation on growth; locations; mix;
operational hours; and a gambling age limit for punters. The legislations
also give local communities the opportunity to voice their concerns through
their local Borough or District Councils who are usually the Planning and
Licensing Authority for the areas concern.

As a business; organised gambling or gambling of various forms for that
matter does provide some sort of employment; they are also spin offs to the
supply and service industries however; one must ask the question. Does the
limited employment it provides for the lucky few erase overall poverty?
In setting up business; the person or persons involve will want to know (a)
is there a market? And (b) how big is it? Then consideration is given to
growth etc.

Before sovereign states in the Caribbean consider passing legislation for
organised gambling, perhaps their governments should, like most business
people, consider (a) who is the market, i.e. who is the target? And (b)
where will the money come from?

Finally, within weeks of the British National Lotteries started operating
they were an outcry from most of the charitable organisations such as the
Red Cross; Oxfam and many others. Their complaints were the shortfall in
financial donation receipts. Apparently, most of the money some volunteers
donated to these charitable organisations was used instead to play the
lottery. You see, in most cases our income remains the same therefore if our
habits or tastes should change for what ever reason something has to give
and this is exactly what Mr Browne meant when he said "organised gambling
will only create more poverty and crime." If our income is spent on
gambling, then our standard of living and our family lifestyle is most
likely to end up in a collapsed state.