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.

Winston Strachan
Northampton
England