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1240/5(6719)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY DEPUTY T.M. PITMAN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 21st FEBRUARY 2012
Question
Following the decision to proceed with moves to bring in revenues from the online gambling market, will the Minister advise whether or not he and his Department are giving consideration to the possibility of a casino being developed in the island and will he further advise what research, if any, has been undertaken to date on the potential revenue that might be forthcoming in the event of a casino being allowed to operate in the Island; and where any official research/reports may be located by States members?
Answer
Although no recent research has been done, work undertaken in 2003/4 (referenced in P62/04) suggested that about £3 million per annum in gambling taxes could be generated through a casino, together with an additional investment in tourism enhancing amenities of some £30 million. The Committee's officers of the day validated this data and four commercial operators expressed interest in the project and provided various projections of return. The proposition can be found on the States Assembly website; and the report it refers to on the reform of gambling law in Jersey is on the States of Jersey website (www.gov.je).
The States has looked at casino gambling many times, most recently in 2004 during the debate of P62/04 as referred to above. The then decision of the States was quite emphatically opposed to the licensing of a terrestrial casino. I have not in my time as Minister sought to change this decision.
However, Jersey is open for business. The States has made significant changes to the Island's gambling laws since 2004, and as such, if operators approach Jersey, their applications should be appropriately considered. Reputational issues would have to be carefully assessed, but if a business case is put forward that provides job opportunities, significant tax generation and considerable secondary revenue streams that may benefit related industries on the Island, such a proposition would be carefully evaluated.
For the avoidance of doubt, at this time, no such application has been made.