Numbers Houses Grow:

By Candia Dames -
Nassau, Bahamas:




At least 29 web cafes in New Providence believed to be operating illegal numbers houses have business licenses, the Bahama Journal has learnt.

In fact, at numerous Over-the-Hill web cafes on Wednesday, customers going in and out were not ashamed or afraid to admit that they gamble and did not hesitate to call for the government to act and legalize what many say has become an accepted and major part of Bahamian culture.

The issue was also raised in the House of Assembly as Member of Parliament for Lucaya Neko Grant questioned whether the Consumer Protection Bill, which House members later passed, would require that web shops be registered businesses under the new legislation.

"Does this bill protect the consumers from these web shops?" Mr. Grant asked. "Will these web shops be registered [under the act]…Will they be registered or closed after the bill is enacted?"

V. Alfred Gray, the minister responsible for Consumer Protection, assured that there will be no protection for people who are gambling illegally.

"Those who buy numbers are taking changes; that’s the nature of the game they play," Minister Gray said. "Gamblers take risks. Are [FNM members] suggesting – and I hope they are not suggesting – that we have to protect criminals?"

He said the government was not attempting to confuse legalities with illegalities.

But for many who gamble, the time has long come for the government to legalize gaming for Bahamians.

"I feel that everybody deserves a chance to win," said Benjamin Seymour, a gambler who spoke with the Journal outside a web shop.

"The ghetto people at least [should be able to gamble]. It’s really rough. I play numbers. I try my hand a lot. I catch sometimes; sometimes I don’t catch, but I still play because 25 cents can give me $150. Who else would give you that?"

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe, who is also responsible for gaming in The Bahamas, recognizes that illegal gaming is big business.

He said on Wednesday that it would be difficult for any government to convince Bahamians that it is serious about fighting crime if it turns a "blind eye" to the proliferation of illegal numbers houses in the country.

Minister Wilchcombe has reported that there are at least 45 illegal gambling houses in New Providence and 12 in Grand Bahama, and 60 percent of the population spends anywhere from $1.8 million to $2 million locally and abroad on games of chance each week.

Asked on Wednesday why the promised final report on the gambling study was never made public, Minister Wilchcombe said officials investigating the problem for several years found that it is even more complex than they originally thought.

"We are taking a serious look at it," he assured. "You don’t want to have a knee-jerk reaction. You don’t want to fire and you don’t know what you’re doing."

He said a company out of London has been contracted to "look at the entire situation".

Chairman of the Gaming Board Kenyatta Gibson has reported that The Florida Lottery conservatively estimates that $US100 million is spent every year by Bahamians playing the Florida Lottery.

"This is money that we can keep here in The Bahamas," he once said in the House of Assembly.

But the government is likely to come up against strong reaction from the religious community which has for decades been voicing objections to any move to legalize gambling.

The argument from the church continues to be that gambling is a sin which destroys families and ultimately has a detrimental impact on communities.

Dorothea Knowles, a Christian who makes her living as a hairstylist, agrees.

"I think that if we say we’re a Christian nation, we can’t just talk that talk," Ms. Knowles said on Wednesday. "We have to walk that walk. I believe we should not legalize gambling."

Minister Wilchcombe said the government will consult widely as it continues to address the illegal gambling problem.

"We certainly would have to talk to the church to see where the church’s position is, to see [whether] it is changing any and then talk to the Bahamian people about what is going on," said Minister Wilchcombe, who has in the past said there should be a referendum for Bahamians to determine whether gambling should be legalized.

The minister has said repeatedly that the laws as they relate to illegal gaming should be enforced or gaming should be legalized for Bahamians.

"It has been a part of our culture for a long time," he noted. "It just didn’t happen overnight. We have for the most part turned a blind eye."

Freeman Ferguson, who said he gambles regularly, explained that spending $1 on a number could bring anywhere between $400 and $1,000.

"I play when I can afford about $5 or $10 out of my lunch money," Mr. Ferguson said.

He added that there are many people who use their winnings to feed their families.

"I think it’s a good help to the economy," said Mr. Ferguson, adding that he had just finished putting in his numbers.

He said numbers houses are growing in many communities and it is becoming easier for anyone who wants to, to try their luck.

Tyrone Stubbs, another Bahamian who spoke with the Journal on Wednesday, said he does not gamble, but he believes that any adult who wishes to, should be able to gamble legally in The Bahamas.

"We are a Christian nation, but if you look at it where you see a church there [is usually] a bar on the opposite side and they sell numbers," Mr. Stubbs said. "So I don’t see why they don’t legalize the gambling one time. We cannot go in the casino."

Kimberly Wright, an East Street roadside vendor, said she doesn’t gamble either, but she said, "It’s cheaper they make it legal."

The government, meanwhile, is facing new concerns as it regards gambling.

Several weeks ago, the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, released by the US Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said there are more than 10 Internet gaming sites based in The Bahamas, although none is licensed with Bahamian authorities.

Cyberspace has created a number of difficult situations when it comes to finding ways to deal with illegal gambling, according to Minister Wilchcombe.

"We’ve been challenged," he admitted.

"We are acutely aware of it and are trying to find ways in which to deal with it. It is a problem and until it is legalized or we enhance the penalty for gaming, it’s going to be a difficult situation for us to deal with."

30 March 2006