Two to four casinos considered optimal
In a new report released by the Israeli Finance Ministry, there’s good news and bad news about a plan to bring casinos to the southern resort city of Eilat.
According to Haaretz, the study completed in December found that casinos would stem the tide of Israelis gambling overseas or offshore, and keep those tax revenues at home. Casinos would also serve to bring more local and international tourists to the community.
On the downside, they also would increase the number of compulsive gamblers by an estimated 30,000 people, a social cost that would require about 85 million shekels (US$2.17 million) to address each year. The nation’s Social Affairs Ministry has come out four-square against casinos, saying they would lead to increased crime and substance abuse.
On the other side of the coin, the Tourism Ministry estimates that casinos could bring in revenues of $336 million per year, attract an additional 284,000 tourists, and lead to the creation of 11,000 new direct and indirect jobs. As for gambling addiction? “A great deal of knowledge exists for reducing negative side effects,” said the ministry.
Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the plan, which could bring from two to four casinos to Eilat, religious factions have promised to fight it, which could make it harder for the Knesset to OK the plan. And even if the proposal flies, it could take from four to eight years draft the necessary laws and then build the casinos.
An editorial on YNetnews.com noted that legal and illegal gambling already abounds in Israel. “Far more alarming are the Toto and Lotto booths, where poor people blow their meager salaries or unemployment benefits,” wrote columnist Yonatan Yavin. “This injustice is what the opponents of casinos should rail about.
“In any case, I take money from Israel and I spend it abroad, which is bad for the country. The unbearable easiness of online betting casinos give those who oppose the casino plan an ostrich-like aspect, (like) those who would chop down telegram poles to stop messages during the WhatsApp era.”
