Cruise Ships Can Run Casinos While in Bermuda Ports

Cruise ships will be allowed to open late-night casinos in port after Cabinet approved a plan aimed at fighting off increasing competition from rival cruise destinations.

The Opposition United Bermuda Party last night attacked the move, which it said had been made without any public consultation and would open the door to gambling on the Island.

Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown announced the decision in the House of Assembly on Friday as one of a number of alterations to cruise ship legislations. The Premier said ships would now be allowed to open bars and signature shops and “provide full entertainment inclusive of the opening of casinos after 10 p.m. while in port”.

He said cruise lines would in return be required to contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to on-Island activities such as the Bermuda Music Festival and Harbor Nights.

Opinion over gambling has long divided the Island, with the AME Church recently condemning the controversial casino ship Niobe Corinthian which came to Bermuda and the Seventh-day Adventist Church hitting out against poker games which were being played in bars.

Pro-gambling groups hoped Mr. Scott’s successor Dr. Brown would bring a more relaxed attitude, and have pointed to the Premier’s participation in overseas poker tournaments, including his much-criticized recent appearance at a gambling tournament at the notorious Los Angeles Playboy Mansion.

As well as allowing casinos on cruise ships, Cabinet has also approved a proposal to waive the $14 cabin tax for Hamilton and St. George’s for three years from 2009.