Montfort Tadier
The lottery is a voluntary tax for those who are bad at maths. The generalprinciple can be extended to all forms of gambling

Roy Travert
Fort Regent is not the venue for a Casino.

It should be refurbished with the public in mind, not profit for our greedy business men that have come to the Island to make a quick buck.

If they want a casino it should be located at the waterfront.

Fort Regent has in principle project 181 passed by the states for it to developed into a centre of sporting excellance. Untill this is recinded by the states they cannot do anything to the fort.

It should remain a place for the general public to enjoy and under no circumstance should it be "given" to private developers and speculators.

Bob Williams
How can we comment until we know the full details - some casinos can be tastefull and even glamourous, but too many are cheap and tacky - anybody care to bet which option Jersey will end up with ?

Richard
Err - who do the States propose will visit their Casino? It's not as if people are going to copme to Jersey simply to visit the Casino.

Why not work on developing something unique to the Island which will attract visitors. Spending the equivilant on for example supporting films (£100,000 is apparently too much to support a Hollywood film) could increase Tourism.

If not why not plough money into 'niche' markets such as Chateux La Chaire - this is far more likely to attract visitors rather than trying to compete with Seaside resorts in Britain which it costs a fraction of a price to get to!!!

paul hadikin
no thank you there are enough problems as it is do somthing for the children instead of thinking of making money all the time

paul hadikin
no thanks there is more important things to come first

Eamonn Gray
I do wonder why a person who said they worked in the gaming industry in Australia for 28 years would, as part of his by-election campaign oppose to a casino on the island. And then give the sharp comment “why should I have” when asked if he should have informed the voters of his private proposals on gaming machines, mini casinos prior to the election.

On the front page of Tuesdays Jersey Evening Post there was the shocking news that Mr Ted Vibert had privately submitted proposals to the Gambling Control Committee last June to allow gaming mini casinos into our pubs and clubs on the island, he further argued that these machines would reinvigorate the tourism industry of the island, what planet is Mr Vibert on to think that the worlds holiday makers would flock to the island just to play machines in our pubs. The majority of the islands pubs are very family friendly and should not have, in my own opinion machines where younger members of the public could have access to them.

It has always been stated that Mr Ted Vibert worked in the gaming industry for 28 years in Australia, but the Jersey Evening Post goes on to say that Mr Vibert worked in the “Gambling Machine Business”, what would be his exact link to gaming in Australia, working in the gaming industry or production of gaming machines, if it is the latter it would be in comparison to the company who supplies cork to the wine industry and then claims themselves to be wine producers.

Granting a gaming licence to one company would not decimate the business of other companies or hotels but would help (not mend) the islands ailing tourism industry as there is a void to be filled for visitor and locals alike who are looking for more choice in evening entertainment.

One of the main points of his statement is that there would be minimum implications to the overall employment numbers, as his machines were electronic so the staffing levels would be low. I have personally noticed over time that there is a drip-drip effect in our finance industry with a number of banks letting staff go due to relocation of departments to the Isle of Man Ect. Other industries need to be encouraged to help in our Islands future and employment. I feel qualified to make these comments as I have held managerial positions with the UK’s largest provincial casino for 7 years prior to coming over to the Island in 2001.

Pete, St Helier
What is so "special" about a casino in Jersey? Where is the "wow" factor that 1, 5, or even 10 casinos could offer, that would make people say "let's go on holiday to Jersey, to see their fantastic casino(s)!" It's just never going to happen.

A casino is usually just a tacky yet humdrum building, already available in every dull satellite town in the UK - UK based tourists who want to attend a casino will do so at home, those who have never been to a casino in the UK are highly unlikely to flock to ours - they'll just not be interested. We'd be better off building something interesting, like a dry ski slope on that grassy bit by Fort Regent/Mount Bingham, and sending gamblers in the direction of the National Lottery where they can expect a far bigger payout.

My objections have nothing to do with morality, I'm simply concerned with feasibility, profitability and to a certain extent, aesthetics. I feel we're jumping on a bandwagon that swept through the UK decades ago, and is now a tired and jaded idea. Where is all the market research on this? - I've seen none. I'm 30 years old, grew up in the UK, but settled in Jersey. My disposable income and social life are good and I take a few nice holidays a year. In some respects, I'm the perfect customer for a casino, for the next 30 years. But no market research seems to have been done, not on me for starters - if anyone did ask me, I'd say that I'm not interested as casinos are quite frankly, dull.

Gareth, St Lawrence
Don't be so quick to judge 'little' island thinking Chris. I'm 22 and don't consider myself to be narrow minded. However, I have no desire to see a casino in Jersey for the following reasons.

1) Casions are means for wealthy individuals to gain yet more material wealth from those who usually cannot afford to lose it.

2) I have yet to come across a gaming facility that goes any way at all in dispelling the associated image of tackiness. This is not an image I want associated with my Island (any more than it already is!). The image of drink, drugs and criminal connections may be outdated Helen, but casinos will always be tacky.

3) After seeing first hand in Las Vegas how gambling can diminish a person's resolve to hold together a normal family life i.e. gambling through the night or until the pay packet is empty, I have no wish to see this happen in Jersey.

I have little doubt that the States will vote to build a casino, as the associated revenues seem attractive at first sight. As always, greed is the name of the game.

Chris, Grouville
I have to agree with Helen. there seem to be so many opponents to a casino in jersey. i think most of them believe they're all run by gun-toting drug-dealing money-laundering pimps! i'm afraid it's another case of 'little' island thinking.

Helen, St Helier
I have worked in casinos in the uk my husband was a manager in the biggest provincial casino in the uk.

Under the uk Gaming law you can not work or be a member of a casino if you have a police record.

In the uk it is against the law to have alcohol on the gaming floor believe me they do not want any drunks on the premises.

They want everyone to have a great night the restaurants are normally subsidized by the casino.

The money laundering laws in the uk casinos are very strict and are adhered to as no casino wants to lose their license (they make enough without having to).

Any image of drink drugs and criminal connections are very outdated the industry was completely overhauled in 1968 when the Gaming Board was set up and it was made impossible to operate a casino without a licence issued by them.

When they do open a casino in jersey Fort regent is the perfect place plenty of parking for staff and punters alike, and you don't have to walk through st helier which is very unpleasant at night (too many drunks and junkies for my liking and as for having a nightclub called babylon right opposite tourism what can I say)

Tony, St Helier
I think that a Casino would promote exactly the wrong image for Jersey both as a tourism destination (where it gives an image of drink, drugs and gambling), and for the finance industry (where it gives an image of money laundering).

If it did go ahead, how would money laundering be prevented?

As usual from the States, the Casino is a quick fix option which has not been thought through by its proposers.