Casino Raze

Gambling has always been a popular recreational pursuit in Trinidad &Tobago. Many people would go to bars regularly and place bets on card games and horse-racing.

The image of senior men sitting around an antique table playing for a couple of dollars, however, is now being overshadowed by casinos, which can be found in every corner of T&T. These casinos have so many Las Vegas attractions that hardly a deck of cards can be seen.

They feature games such as Roulette, Las Vegas style slot machines, Rhum 32, Spanish 21, Baccarat and poker.

Roll of the dice—pull factors.

Casinos can provide an adrenaline rush for many people, and the idea of making easy money entices them to go again and again.

The names of some popular casinos such as Club Casanova, Crystal Palace, Club Regal and Golden Tulip evoke a sense of nobility, splendour, divinity and even love, that is intended to allure prospective gamblers.

Unlike the national lottery system where patrons can buy their tickets and leave, casinos provide an environment that encourages one to stay.

Beautiful women provide you with tokens for the slot machines. Gambling patrons get free drinks including beer, cocktails and other premium liquor.

There is no entry fee and casino doors are open 24 hours daily. Membership fees are required for larger casinos such as Club De Vegas, but most of the casinos surveyed claim that no such fee is required.

Getting hooked

Lisa John, shift manager at Island Club casino, Grand Bazaar, said the average customer stays for a couple of hours, but she knows of occasions where people spend the entire day. She said one of the methods used to attract customers is regular tournaments.

“There are free tournaments where you can win $5,000 as well as other slot tournaments. There is also progressive jackpots where the prize money goes up,” John said, during an interview on June 20.

She said there was a $10 bet minimum on weekdays and $25 on weekends, which meant that going to a casino with $100 was barely enough.

“People in Trinidad always saying that they don’t have any money but they come here.

“People come when they could, some run away during their lunch break or after work,” she said.

More and more young people are now getting caught up in the lure of casinos and await their salaries in the expectation of going back. This was the case of 25-year-old Karen Mohammed (not real name) of Curepe.

“I would go with a group of friends once every month after getting paid,” she said, during an interview at her Port-of-Spain office on June 21.

“We said, ‘Win, lose or draw, we only betting $100.

“After about 45 minutes I won $800,” she said, with a smile.

Mohammed remembers the adrenaline rush she felt especially when the machine lit up indicating that she was a winner.

“It was like a glorious moment, my 15 minutes of fame.

“I had never won any money before, never gambled before.”

After winning, Mohammed began visiting the casino frequently.

“Somewhere during the course of the following week I went by myself and decided to gamble the money I had won ($800),” she recalled.

“I thought that it was so easy the first time that maybe I could win some more.

But to her dismay in the space of an hour she lost $500. I really felt that one.”

“After that I stayed away for a period of six months.”

But Mohammed could not control it; she found herself going again.

“I started up again, every month after receiving my salary, I would be there.

“I never knew it was so easy to get hooked, but once you win is like you cannot stop,” she confessed.

The silent killer

The Gamblers Anonymous Association in Trinidad, run by Sr Violet of the Emmanuel Community, Woodbrook, has been in operation for the past eight years.

Sr Violet estimates that since its inception over 60 people have turned to them to battle gambling addiction.

“It cannot be cured, only arrested,” said one of the association’s counsellors.

Sr Violet and the counselling centre offer help to addicts by giving them the courage to admit that there is a higher power they can surrender to.

Stages of gambling.

According to the Gamblers Anonymous association, there are four stages in gambling: the winning stage, the losing stage, the desperate stage, and the hopeless stage.

Most people turn for help at the desperate stage when they lose their jobs or are personally affected, it says.

The hopeless stage is the stage when you have nothing to live for, and contemplate suicide.

Treatment.

They believe that there is a practical way and a spiritual way to recovery.

The programme involves adjusting the behavioural pattern of the person, while improving their spirituality.

“In every situation when we really follow the Lord and tap into His power then we see a transformation,” said Sr Violet.

“There is the loss of self-respect, but we love you regardless and do not pass judgment—which is important for healing and help restore the dignity of the person.

Symptoms of an addict

Change in personality (less social), mood swings, blaming others for their problems and the disappearance of money/unpaid bills.

Gamblers Anonymous holds meetings every Friday at 7 pm at their Woodbrook office. They can be reached at 628-1586.

Gamblers Anonymous of America has compiled a list of 20 questions that tests addiction. Among these are:

• After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?

• After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?

Compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of the posed questions.

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