Published On:Tuesday, July 06, 2010

By CHESTER ROBARDS

Business Reporter

crobards@tribunemedia.net

Numbers Houses employ up to 3,000 Bahamians directly with an annual payroll of $6 million, and make $1.2 million in per annum charitable donations, a senior executive told Tribune Business yesterday, adding that the sector could become an $80-$100 million industry if legalised.

Making his case for legalising local gambling or playing numbers, Dicrius Ramsey, general manager of Island Luck, said numbers houses have come to employ directly 3,000 individuals - and indirectly 2,000 - a workforce just 3,000 less than the Bahamas' largest private sector employer, Atlantis.

And with government funding slashed to many community organisations, the Numbers Houses have taken over the role and inject as much as $100,000 per month into those organizations.

Mr Ramsey said, though, that many organisations are reluctant to receive their money publicly, as they are afraid of what some in the community might say about the origin of the funds.

"Some people take it on top of the table, some people take it under the table," he said.

Island Luck recently donated to Doris Johnson High School some $9,000 worth of new computers - the first in the school's history, according to Mr Ramsey. He has also personally made $5,000 donations to the Bilney Lane Children's Home and to the Unity Home.

Mr Ramsey argued that the Government has missed out on a substantial revenue source by choosing to not legalise gambling for Bahamians. Yet he added that shutting down the industry would mean a spike in unemployment and severe a revenue stream for countless entities.

He said the four leading numbers houses spend up to $50,000 per month on cable TV bills, $90,000 on electricity costs, and $75,000 on National Insurance Board (NIB) contributions, while creating indirect employment for the upkeep of their establishments.

Mr Ramsey said the four large number houses pay collectively more than $100,000 in rent for their locations, and carry a $500,000 per month payroll.

"You are talking about half a million in payroll alone and 3,000 people employed," he said. "We want serious consideration to call it a local gaming industry, and we are looking for some regulations to be put in place, so it is recognised as a viable entity. I don't know who outside of government has a half-million payroll monthly."

And Mr Ramsey's figures do not take into account the many smaller number houses that dot the islands.

He said those in the industry were disappointed by the Government's decision not to legalise gambling for Bahamians. He called the law that prohibits the practice archaic, and compared the choice to spend disposable income on gambling to the choice to spend money on the purchase of alcoholic beverages.

He argued that gambling does not contribute to the decay of the Bahamas' moral and social fabric, but that alcohol consumption does.

"Nobody can say that the gaming industry is wreaking havoc on the moral and social fabric," said Mr Ramsey. "Our position is that the local gaming industry... who does it really offend?

"We want people to understand this is a business and it is growing, and we want it to be here for a long time with a seal of approval."

Arguments have arisen from both sides of the fence, with some claiming legalised gambling would 'breed poverty', while others claim the extra tax revenues could be the answer to the Government's high debt.

"Good has come from these web shops," said Mr Ramsey. "They are contributing to the cultural development, and as profits continue to exist, I am quite sure the local community will see a lot more giving back because everyone will give back once it is profitable."