December 18, 2014

Dear Sir,

I would like to present to your readers my take on the gaming issue in Bermuda. I am in favor of gaming especially as additional entertainment is so lacking. I am pleased that the government has introduced legislation with necessary guidelines for operators of casinos.

As I see it the operators and managers of ONE casino should be the Bermuda Hotel Association and its members. All should be stakeholders because the smaller hotels are as important as the larger properties and should not feel threatened by the larger hotels. It’s important that gaming is not diluted by having the larger properties all vying to have their own operation. A prime example is the failure of gaming in Atlantic City. The ratio of shares could be based on the number of beds and the financial contribution and the returns could be based on the same ratio.

As I see it there are four components necessary for a successful gaming venue ....a central location, choices of restaurants, shopping and a local island revue — all under the same roof. The venue for this — as I see it — THE WASHINGTON MALL complex.

MILLARD BEACH

Smiths