Is education funding a good enough reason for legalising casinos?

A debate seems to be raging in Jamaica about whether to introduce casinos. An article in yesterday's Jamaica Gleaner, available here (Thanks to Christine McKay for sending me this article), has a leading educator in the Carribean nation suggesting that casinos are the solution to meeting the island's future education funding requirements.

Dr Ralph Thompson, a member of the National Council of Education believes that the benefit of gambling would outweigh any costs:

Dr. Thompson argued that the benefits from casino gambling would outweigh any perceived drawbacks, saying the Govern-ment had an obligation to exhibit leadership in putting it in place regardless of whatever political fallout it may cause.

DECISION

The prominent educator said he was flabbergasted as to why such a logical decision had not yet been made, adding that it was better to gamble on casinos rather than to gamble on the future education of children.

Is it really worthwhile introducing casinos for a percieved 'good cause' despite the potential impacts or is this just an opinion that doesn't fully consider the consequences of legalised gambling upon communities.

Nonetheless it is a debate that needs to happen in every jurisdiction before gambling can proceed. Unfortunately it often does not occur. This is because usually government and industry are for gambling, service providers are usually neutral and there is a small group usually led by churches that are opposed. The anti-gambling lobby usually develops after legalised gambling is introduced, when people begin to suffer from the harmful impacts of gambling. However by then it is too late and if is difficult, if not impossible to go back.

If your community is considering gambling develop you opinion before they are introduced. It is then that the opinion of the community has the greatest impact.

GG