By KRYSTEL ROLLE

Guardian Staff Reporter

The widely debated issue of whether gambling should be legalized may have garnered an unlikely source of support on Sunday with Christian Council President Patrick Paul reluctantly conceding that there should be some consideration regarding the issue.

Rev. Paul, who was a guest on GEMS radio talk show Tell It Like It Is, along with Gaming Reform Chairman Sidney Strachan, said while he does not support gambling, he admitted that there is a double standard in the country.

He said on one hand, churches are allowed to openly carry out raffles, bingo games and similar games of chance, while Bahamians in society can be prosecuted if they play in local casinos or numbers houses.

When asked by guest show host Debbie Bartlett whether he thought that aspects of gambling should be legalized, Rev. Paul responded: "I think to some degree that should be considered.

"I'm referring to when we consider the raffle once a year, or scratch and win game," he expounded. "I do believe that there has to be some degree of regulation. In relation to our history in the last 25, 30, 40 years as it relates to (games such as bingo and other raffles) I'm saying that there should be a regulation in that regard," he added.

Rev. Paul said he believes that there should be dialogue in regards to legalizing aspects of gambling.

"I think that would be the right approach to go in relation to the overwhelming question that is before us. I think that is the best thing for us to do as a country at this particular juncture in our history," he said during the pre-recorded show which aired yesterday.

Nonetheless, Rev. Paul stood by his belief that gambling is a destructive vice. He warned that gambling is addictive and can have negative effects on society.

"It has to do with chance – you're uncertain with what you're going to get at the end – It's a fantasy. Proverbs 28:20 says the trustworthy person gets a rich reward, but a person who wants a quick reward will get into problems.

"And so hence, persons who want to take these types of chance, they will erode their personal life... and that will spill over into the community and we will have this constant erosion of fantasy chasing," he said.

Gaming Reform Chairman Strachan, who agreed that gambling could have some negative effects on society, said if the industry is regulated properly, that is unlikely to happen.

"Any logical thinking government would do what certain other jurisdictions are doing today. They would bring in experts, they would complete research, they would do a complete survey to see what form of gaming would be best for the community," he said.

Strachan added: "This thing is done strategically, by experts, who could determine that this could work here, this wouldn't work, this is the kind of regulation you need."

He said gaming is legalized by governments for two reasons: To create revenue and to stop illegal gambling.

"People will gamble whether you like it or not. So do you sit by and let them go by their own will? Or do you let a certain group gamble? Do we let those people get away with it?" He said, referring to those who hold raffles and bingo games.

As chairman of the Gaming Reform, Strachan said he is seeking to "end the discrimination that prohibits Bahamians" gambling in local casinos, to push for a legalized gaming industry in the Bahamas, so that Bahamians can be stakeholders in the industry.

Over the past several days, the issue has sparked serious debate.

Last week, National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest said it is his personal view that the question of legalizing gambling should be put to a referendum.

"I think that we ought to have a referendum and let the people decide," said Turnquest in an interview with The Nassau Guardian yesterday.

"We don't have a mandate to do so (legalize gambling). It wasn't a part of our Manifesto. So the only other way is that there has to be a mandate from the people," said Turnquest.

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has said that legalizing gambling is not a part of his current legislative agenda. However, Ingraham said he would not stand in the way of changing the laws if others made the move.

In one of his first news conferences after coming to office in 2007, Ingraham said that there will be no referenda put forward by his government.

Last Tuesday, police raided the FML Group of Companies at Wulff Road and Our Place Sporting Lounge at the Meldon Shopping Mall on Mackey Street. Both businesses are suspected of being illegal gaming establishments.

On Friday several people involved in the raid were arraigned on gambling related charges.

Alleged numbers boss Craig Flowers has been charged with allowing his premises to be used to conduct a lottery.

Our Place Sporting Lounge owner Don Brown and Moneste Allen were charged with possession of 18 slot machines and permitting their business to be used to conduct a lottery.

Several others were charged with being found on a premises where a lottery was taking place.

Last week's raids have led to public calls for the legalization of gambling for Bahamians, although a group of pastors has praised the police for their efforts to crackdown on illegal gaming.