NASSAU, Bahamas – Bahamians voted overwhelming in a national referendum yesterday to reject proposals legalising web-shop gambling and a national lottery.
Preliminary results showed that by a margin of almost two to one, the voters in this Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country voted “No” to the questions on “Do you support the regulation and taxation of web shop gaming and Do you support the establishment of a National Lottery?
“This is a victory for the church,” said Dr Ranford Patterson of the Bahamas Christian Council.
“We are excited and thanking God,” he added.
The referendum had been conducted in a campaign similar to a general election with the ruling Progressive Liberal party (PLP) urging supporters to give the thumbs up to the initiatives that Prime Minister Perry Christie said would finalize a new source of government revenue and will facilitate new areas for local employment. (CMC)
