Somebody somewhere, I bet, must have thought that they were pretty darn clever. I don’t. First of all it took them practically a year to come up with the referendum question. Secondly, none of us likes to be played for a fool or for stupid. The question is anything but even-handed, not by any stretch of anyone’s imagination, political or otherwise.

“Do you favour the introduction of regulated casino gambling for the purposes of creating new jobs for Bermudians and encouraging hotel development? Yes or No?” It is clearly designed to elicit a positive response — no if’s, and’s and but’s or maybe’s about it.

Readers really don’t need me to point out how loaded the question is. Others have weighed in on this already. As one prominent person said about another very recent poll, the results of which were not at all welcomed, it is disconcerting when a question is so heavily weighted as to suggest a prescribed response. Quite.

The One Bermuda Alliance Government is obviously not concerned about tipping their hand on which answer they prefer. It’s pretty obvious, don’t you think? Shameless, really — and shameful. On the plus side at least they can boast that what they are doing is transparent. They were stuck with having to hold a referendum having promised us the vote in their election platform and they can proudly declare that they are delivering on that promise. They can also honestly say — with a straight face? — that they never made any promises on the wording.

Nevertheless, I expect those who have concerns and/or reservations or who are dead set against the introduction of gambling are at the very least going to feel let down or disappointed or angry even. The question doesn’t just minimise or gloss over the downside. It ignores it completely.

On the other hand, those in favour should be happy. But there again, maybe not. The wording appears to suggest that gambling will be restricted to casinos and hotels only. So much then, one presumes, for stand-alone casinos (like one once touted for a developed Hamilton waterfront) or the exploitation of online gaming in and out of Bermuda — a major, major business and revenue spinner in other jurisdictions.

We will have to wait and see just what they do have in mind once they get the answer they want. I think someone, somewhere also still has some ‘spraining to do as to exactly what a yes vote will mean. Regulated? By whom? Jobs? Which jobs? Hotels? Which Hotels? Access for all or just our visitors?

Now some of us have been through this before with the last referendum: on Independence for Bermuda, remember? That was when the question was simply and fairly put: are you in favour of Independence for Bermuda, yes or no? Sure, there were arguments over how the question should be phrased: one side wanted to embellish the positives and the other to highlight the negatives. No surprise there. But in the end, and in fairness, it was decided to keep the question as simple and as straightforward and as neutral as possible and allow those for and against to wage their respective campaigns publicly.

It’s unclear what will happen this time, but as Government has shown us their hand in the wording of the question, voters can hardly expect them to turn around and play honest brokers and provide them with the pros and cons of institutionalised gambling; and typically those who favour its introduction tend to minimise the cons in their zeal and their advocacy. Pity that.

There are some very real downsides to the introduction of institutionalised gambling in Bermuda that need airing. One need only look at the track record elsewhere. Casinos and gaming have always been ushered in with shouts of great promise, a much-heralded component of economic development and big revenue raiser. But the shine rarely lasts long and the bloom — and, yes, the boom — soon fade.

The campaigners also require us to ignore some of the dirtier little secrets: not just that the house always wins but the equally disturbing fact that a significant part of gambling revenues comes from problem gamblers, not to mention all the documented social costs that come with the gambling no matter how hard they try to convince us otherwise.

Believe me, I am trying to keep an open mind. But speaking for myself, I always thought that we prided ourselves on being unique and that we would concentrate on carving out a niche for Bermuda that separates us from all the rest. Now however it seems that we are on a slow rush to be like everyone else.

* Do comment and share your views on The Royal Gazette website or write jbarritt@ibl.bm.