It is being promoted as a different and positive aspect to Dominica’s tourism product, an income generator on the island and a premier entertainment spot.
The Mapau Entertainment Centre officially opened its doors at the Krazy kokonut complex in a ceremony on Friday evening.
The facility offers casino-style gambling and according to its CEO John Wallace it is something different on the tourism landscape of Dominica.
“What we are offering is something different, a positive part of the tourism product,” he said. “We are offering another choice in a good way.”
According to Wallace the entertainment centre will be targeting cruise ship passengers and the cruise ship crews. “We want to make sure they come here to enjoy themselves,” he said.
Wallace also disclosed that talks are underway to provide cultural shows in addition to only gambling machines.
In addressing the ceremony Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit praised the presence of the establishment in Dominica and said the government will not be deterred as it seeks to develop the island.
“There has been extensive talks in Dominica about the presence of this establishment but if we have to create employment for our young people, the question is what action should the government take towards reducing unemployment and fight poverty in Dominica,” he said.
“The government will not be deterred in its efforts to build Dominica, towards creating jobs in Dominica and expanding the opportunities for the people.”
Twenty-eight people are employed at the facility.
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GOOD STUFF. I LOOK FORWARD TO GOMING OVER TO SPEND AND WIN SOME MONEY> ENOUGH OF THE SMALL MINDEDNESS PEOPLE
Learn how to construct a proper sentence,with all ur bad spelling also.
mind me woman, right!
some of us too like to do our things in secret and talk openly and condemn the actions of others in public. for example the episode of the once famous pastor. If the bomb did not burst he would continue secretly in his adulterous life and at the same time preaching and talking about wrongdoings in society.
some of us too hypocrite. who the cap fit wear it!
bring casino self! Dominicans have too much tricks. when they travel abroad is in night clubs and casino they staying and engaging in the same things they want to talk against. they want to play hypocrites because they here in Dominica.Go crazy Tee go. Investment and jobs for our people. come casino come! come night club come! come gambling come! Right!
Under our constitution we claim to be a christian nation. Where do our christian chruches stand on this issue? So far their silence has been deafening. Our P.M. professes to be a practising catholic yet the catholic church proscribes gambling under cannon law.Slot machine gaming under this law would be illicit because there is “no equality between the partners”. I would like some theologian to come forward and challenge this.
There is nothing called “christian nation” is time we stop saying this nonsense. The only nation that was ever chosen to be a theocracy with God as its government, was Israel and they threw rejected it and asked for human leaders. If we were a “christian nation” or theocracy, God would be the absolute head.
Slot Casino Gambling, that’s what it is. No twisting of the real meaning will suffice. Dominicans must check the photo. PM Skerritt and the CEO of Mapau opens the Slot Casino gambling facility, coincidentally, at the Krazy Kokonuts.
Slot Casino Gambling = Money-Laundering
Slot Casino Gambling = Youth Addiction to “bad”
life Styles.
The Nature Isle Brand of our Eco-tourism thrust cannot be about Slot Casino Gambling. Something wrong my people.
Expect the boomerang effect. Then the preachers and followers of Christ’s teachings, all over the island, with crocodile tears, complain about increases in crimes and curbing those. Time will tell.
but what u doing in secret is sin too!
rise from your slummber Dominica. is not everything others do that we should do. please be wise Dominican. We as a people dont need that in what tourism name will the ship be there in off seasons. this is opening when the season is shorting down. Lord preserve us as a people and as a nation. Thank You Lord.
all u too hypocrite! adultery and fornication is sin too! Lord preserve us!
Nice place. I won US$60 the night of the opening
and I spent only US$8. I really doh see what the fuss is all about.
Boy, is U.S. dollar they playing? Our steady E.C. money not good enough? All those people despising evil empire U.S.A., well happy to use their money!We’re not prejudiced then, as long as the colour is green! This is the beginning of the end.
The slot machines were made in the US, so of course they were programmed to accept only US dollars. So the evil empire (if you call it that, lol) did get and is getting its share of the pie. lol
Cant wait to get there, i will be polished walking into a joint like that,and i will say am i in Dominica, WOW GREAT FEELING
oh mapau, I thought it was maypuis we… anyway we go see what it brings to Dominica.
Dominicans don’t know the good things they had until they lose it. Its like a young innocent child throwing away her virginity to the first scoundrel that come her way just because most of her friend are non-virgins.
All that for a little Casino…alas.
At the same timethos man has never complained about fornication/adultery, rape, child molestation, murder
Alas all that for a little casino.
Yo, St Maarten hasn’t not done bad nuh with their Casino
We have montains and rivers and all I see is forest and our people leaving to go where casinos are
SO you need to start laughing at yourself
It is laughable to hear the pm talk about employment for young people when he had opportunities to bring jobs to the salsa people as opposed to Chinese or Trini.
This casino is just an avenue for more money laundering.
I have been on many cruises and trust me, when I got to an island the last thing I was thinking about was getting to a casino on land.. Yes, there will be a few diehards who will only want to gamble but I really don’t see the cruise ship industry having a large impact on bringing revenue to DA from casino spending. It is light fun as long as you can control your spending..Like anything else…smoking.. drinking etc. We have to continue to promote Dominica as it is..a beautiful nature island.. Not coming to gamble in an insignificant casino.
all you too ignorant how many tourist that over night in da? thats a form for entertainment and when people come to dominica on holidays.
And your point? How about folks like me who plan on staying a few weeks and want something different to do on the island? I don’t just want to go site seeing , ocean swimming, river bathing and lounging at a hotel or diner and go to bed at 9.00 pm . At least there is something different to do.
I like the spot….real classy and I won some bucks too! What’s all the ‘hoopla’ about nuh?
Globalization and tourism innovation will yield such augments to a given demographically targeted audience via lifestyle and class structure.
With that said, the potential wealth is already geared at being kept with a chosen group.
Domnichen, zor to sort!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so what if is a casino? all other caribbean countries loaded with them things……after all you saying the country backward? But these are steps to bring it forward and mordernized!!!!!!
CRABS IN A BARREL MENTALITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What are you ON? Yes. So many other countries are “loaded with them things”. Have you ever been to one of them? They quickly become cess pools of crime, pollution, and drugs. Why would you want to mirror another country. Dominica needs to stay Dominica. What exactly do you want Dominica to be?- The Modernized Isle? Get in line. Every other country in the world is aspiring to have a similar title.
Tunnel Vision Mentality.
DEBATER,,,, you sound like a real OLD TIMER bro, big up your self its 2012….
@Faceup
I would rather sound old, yet know what I’m talking about than to be young and foolish. I’m guessing you will be the first in line to waste your money, hm?
I still don’t get why the Prime Minister of the country must cut the ribbon at the opening of a private casino….i don’t get it …can someone explain?
i don’t get it either! Does he have shares in in under cover? everything in that country is a big show!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ribbon cutting me A..
investment for the country,stupid
stupid? ….investment? lol….and u call me stupid…
WOW, what you talking about? But is de man investment.
Investment for the country? Let’s check it out still. I believe what is going to happen is that more Dominicans on island will be gambling, and while the government may get more money into their treasuries, the owner of this casino will be taking out a lot of money from the country. Therefore, I believe there will be a net loss of money from the island. I have played slots, and it is enticing to play especially when you are winning, but trust me, most of the time you’ll lose and it would not a nice feeling. You always think you can get back your money on the other try. Yes, it is another place and can be fun to go, but let us watch still. I am cautious to say any positive outcome on this business – i live near a casino. While some people may get some jobs, many individuals are going to lose money.
Good for emloyees having a job, maybe less for dominican customers they will loose there the little moneies they got from their jobs …And never argue that this little place of gambling will attract tourists from worldilde overseas or cruise ships . All of them have bigger and better places and thrue Casinos with all kind of games, entertainments, luxuous environment and facilities……. If they come in Dominica, it will never be for have better than in Las Vagas, but maybe easier way for money laundering !
All what is true for tourisism in Dominica is the good job done since sevral years by Government and Private Sector in view to develop informations about “the Nature Island”: That is the best “niche” to develop that industry.False Casino, of poor attractive power, will never be a “Plus” for Dominica.
well i see d\a trying a ting on the fast life scene.. just now is strip clubs and scene. high scene poppin in a d\a. right now money going to circulate in the spot. when police hold man with excess money all they gotta say is in the casino they win that money. whether is drugs they sell or bwakay they bwakay it.
2 people came from the casino about 3 weeks ago, won a small amount and they were followed,on there arrival to the Bath Estate bridge the guy who followed them took there money at knife point and ran down to Roseau, although the woman screem to the top of her voice, people came out he still got away. LUCK WAS ON THERE SIDE> with there life.
So that is the development plan the Skerritt DLP Govt. has for Dominica? What foolish, backward excuse about avenue for tourists to enjoy the ‘Nature Isle?’ The policy of Gambling would make money for the country? Wasn’t it Skerritt who came out first defending, defending? I wondered why? Now we know why? He expressed boldly, unrepentantly, to all Dominicans and the world that Slot Casino Gambling is not ‘gambling’, but just a game. Whose fools are we? All dictionaries inform us differently from what Skerritt wants us to believe.
It is satisfying to read in that DNO article that the facility offers casino-type gambling. That is what it is, Casino gambling.
Dominicans do some research pleaseeeeeeee. Make your eyes boil your peas. Read for yourself. Slot Casino gambling facilities are avenues for serious MONEY-LAUNDERING. money-laundering is a serious crime all over the world.
Reduce unemployment? Is that I really read there, nuh? gambling will reduce unemployment? Agriculture, manufacturing would do what? Aren’t those occupations more noble that would earn much more revenue for the country and for our people to earn a decent, living?
What about with the increase in crimes of all kinds? Is it a far-fetched idea that the criminals would be planning to wait to attack those going to or coming from Slot casino Gambling, thinking the person had some money? What about the youth and addiction to those games and the negative impacts?
We call for Foreign investment, but when Foreign investment come in, we don’t approve. What do we want the investors to operate in Dominica? Yet another RUM SHOP?
This generation calls for a modern style RUM SHOP.
Dominicans do not know what the want….
Pretty soon they will be establishing “massage palours” which will be open for the “massage services” of a male clientele.
These services are available all over the world and intent is just to hoodwink the masses into accepting debachery in a palatable fashion.
Oh, what a wonderful opportunity to launder some money. The gold medallion, bling-bling posse will be happy.
Based on the photos above, permit me to ask: Who is the local owner of this facility?
Maybe the answer is in the photograph??
very funny
Charlie score big….
Its obvious. those who have eyes will definitely see.
Did anyone see the SANKOFA Dancers? THey were looking gooooood and the moves were hot….
seems d man sent by God not really following d bible na. lol lol
So you people really think that your beautiful unspoilt,naive,nature island is devoid of gambling,just what is the Dominica National lottery or Littlewoods pools
@ Bring Em Young Mormo
2 wrongs don’t make a right!!!
Well said…..
Slowly but surely…everything Thomson Fontaine revealed is coming to light.
Patience Dominicans….Patience…
Thompson Fontaine is in Maryland enjoying life though. He likes what the U.S. has to offer that’s why he’s not in DA. He’s just too damn selfish to not want his own lil island to prosper and for everyone to enjoy a bit of what he now enjoys.
Casino, no, more like a amusement arcade.
Well once in a while I will pay Mapau a visit. I know my limit, so I wont be spending my Marpin, Domlec etc money.
Yes slot machines are addictive, but so is alcohol and I dont hear anyone asking for the ‘Rum Shops’ to close down. We just have to know our limit(s) and go about this in a sensible way.
true that. Plus cigarettes. Tobacco factory right in the centre of town. Who is calling to close it down? no one…
We have too much to say. But when in the USA I see all spending weekends in Las Vegas…
I think we should change the name of your nationality from DOMINICANs to HYPOCRITES!
Gambling is the worst addiction to break.
Forget the fancy name. This is a CASINO!! So what is the clergy saying about the introduction of Casino gambling in Dominica?
I would like to warn all Dominicans to stay away from gambling. It is addictive,considered a mental disorder (Google “Compulsive Gambling” and see for yourself)and will ruin many families.
It also affects productivity, breads crime (including petty theft, prostitution and human trafficking).
This is bad for Dominica. Dominicans are simply going to be wasting their hard-earned money. Forget this nonsense about attracting cruise passengers. The cruise ship passengers are not going to leave the comfort of the many Casinos on the Cruise ships and go to Mapau. So Dominicans seeking a fast buck will be the main ones to patronise this Casino.
In the long run the gambling machine always wins. They are programme like this, otherwise the Casinos will not buy them and the manufacturers of slot machines would go out of business.
But the owners of the Casino, the owners of the property and those who benefit from allowing the Casino into Dominica will be smiling all the way to the bank.
Ok, I should open a Casino in Possie too. Legalize the thing so i can get on the wagon too eh..
Is something wrong with “smiling all the way to the bank”/
DO YOU EVERY GO TO THE BANK?
DO YOU EVER MAKE PLANS TO HEAD STRAIGHT TO THE BANK?
DO YOU WANT TO HEAD STRAIGHT TO THE BANK?
STOP BEING HYPOCRITICAL AND REMEMBER YOU WORK FOR THE SIMPLE REASON TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE BANK.
GROW UP
JB..You need upgrading.
More than half of the population on D/ca is already dirt poor. What they going to gamble, nuh?- bread and butter? What tourists want to come to D/ca to gamble for when they have all of those big machines in their own country? They come to Dominica to get away from all of that and see that nature still exists in the world. All this will do is put the economy in a worse state. Want to see an example of an island gone bad due to modernization? Look at St. Croix.
You need to look at stcroix first when you saying half of Dominica population is dirty poor because is just as poor because half of the people are on food stamp and section 8 they are supported by the government.so they are even more poor than Dominicans because DOminicans making on their own
Because st croix is just as poor
St.Croix have so many casinos, and what is that doing for them? We not even talking about St.Croix. I was merely making a comparison to show how bringing a casino will do nothing to help Dominicans because that is one of the reasons St.Croix people are poor. There are more things that could be done to benefit Dominica like creating a real damn hospital instead of a place for sick people to die. The point is that yes Dominica is considered a third world country BUT I think that Dominicans know how to take care of themselves and their family with little. But if the population already have little money per family, how is a place to gamble going to help anything?
That is common sense !
The last cruise ship call for this season is tomorrow (Sunday, April 22nd). Does it mean that the facility was oficially opened yesterday and will wait to commence operations when the next cruise season begins???
Hello!!!!!!!!
You cannot do two things at the same time. Any cruise ship passengers going to feed those machines will not be spending their money with our tour operators, making a profit for the foreign-owned gambling company instead. I hope that is not all they come to Dominica for and that the impact will be minimal.
We must give our visitors options. Silly. Narrow Minded you are…
Are you a business owner? I don’t so, else you would not have that tread of thought.
The cruise ships all have gambling casinos on them. they are a big money maker for the cruise ships. Do you really think that people will then get off the cruise ships just to go gamble some more in DA? I think not, because they get little perks on the cruise ships for their gambling.
You do not have to go far to see. Just come to St. Kitts where MApau is to see who this attracks. Majority of persons who go there are local women, seeking to make some quick money. They gamble their lives away.Cruise ship tourism only last five months, so who goes there for the other seven months? The answer is locals and ladies at that. This is common sense.
That is their choice people. Who do we think we have a right to make choices for everyone else… Its there choice. STUPES!
Indeed, they have choise. Come to Dominica to see-and experience its natural wonders or go and feed the slot machines.
AND….I will go there when I visit Dominica…
keep the development coming and keep crimes down
Did your brain take a vacation? What development is going to do is bring the economy down down down. Crime will get worse. Dominica needs to remain natural because that is what makes it unique. It’s one of the few places in the world that can say its pollution level is low. Look at other islands that have developed: they have a bad economic standing, it’s polluted, and they have no more nature. Think.
Do u live in Dominica? MOre than likely not. A lot of you immigrated to better lives. BUt you all want us to stay as is so once in every 10 yrs you can come back to visit us and go to the river? NON SENSE
Lets improve this country. either you are on board or not.
If you want nature , we have tons of mountains and forest reserves and we always will.
@ LOL
Firstly, no one needs to live in a place to form a well-thought out opinion- especially after having lived there for one’s life. Now please tell me all about how I know nothing because you believe that since a Dominican goes abroad to get an education or make a living they are abandoning their own people and are therefore incompetent when it comes to having an opinion about something having to do with Dominica. Have YOU ever tried purchasing a plane ticket? More than likely not. It is extremely expensive to travel back an forth and like many people, I am not a millionaire. Back to the point… put more modern things = taking away nature. You cannot have both. It has never worked out before. Besides that, gambling improves the country how exactly? I think we all know what happens when people lose money. They get mad, take their rage out.. and next thing you know it, we have to build more jail cells. So sure.. why don’t we just flitter away the little money that we have so that we can all fall into drugs, deeper poverty, and more problems. Straight up.
Absolutely right. Dominica needs to do what it has the capability of doing best and that is feed the Caribbean unadulterated food. Agriculture is its’ main stay whether or not it ever chooses to acknowledge it. Everything else will go by the wayside. This was once a productive country and agriculture was why it was so.
AS for LOL’s comment that DA has tons of mountains and forest reserves and always will, you had better look at who owns them, not Dominica…try the U.N.
cruise ships are not allowed to operate /open their casinos while in port that’s why tourist flock to the gaming places in St marten that’s why this establishment has a great chance of success
How much money do you think people have to throw away these days? I would say, not much.
Do you think that cruse ship’s passengers sleep day and niht on bacara table ? Maybe they could need to walk in waitukubuli trails better than continue to waste their monnies when they are on shore…!
SO skerro hell with farmers, hell with factories, what u find young people should do is pimp themselves and launder money.
Our eco-tourism product is lost, first u bring fuel from Venezuela now this, next u all will legalize prostitution.
NON SENSE! We need a broad tourism product to attract a larger array of visitors. PLUS there is not night life in Dominica. Before 6 P.M everyone in bed. Do you rally think a stay over visitor wants to do that on a trip? go to bed at 6 pm.? non sense. LOL
man shut up and stop commenting all over the place. go and sleep.
Have a drink by JR or the Cellar, that are in center town ….
I have seen those same slot machine in the casino of the cruise ships that come here, why would the tourist want more of the same?
Is this the best means of employment for our young people? We will reap the benefits of this before long.
I would really like to hear the view of the Church on the presence of casino gambling in Dominica.
Separate Church and State. The State is not a CHURCH!!!!
GIve our people a choice, give our tourist a choice.
Church and state separate huh. Ask those pastors about the checks they got. What about the spiritual advisor fees
In your opinion, it may not be the best means of employment for young people, but its employment never the less.
so what? some of you all act like Dominica is a country where no sins are committed. On the other hand some people are quick to say that Dominica is underdeveloped compared to the other Caribbean islands, but at the same time they seem to conveniently forget that these islands are loaded with casinos, strip clubs etc. Anyway, the 28 people that are employed there won’t have to worry about being unemployed. If you don’t want to see these type of facilities in Dominica, get jobs for the 28 people to start.
@SO WHAT? WELL SAID.
I second that….
lol agreed!
One word to describe this thing – Utter rubbish!!!
And what have you done for Dominica and the Tourism industry? How many employees do you have?
I’ll answer for you, Nothing, Nothing and NONE!
Who is rubbish now? STUPES lol
2 words
All hell broken loose.
it is not a casino.it is not even close to a casino it is more like an amusement centre the licening is different from a casino.iam a croupier and a slot host in england so i know what i am talking about.it is a very great idea.promoting the place is very important
it is not a casino.it is not even close to a casino it is more like an amusement centre the licening is different from a casino.iam a croupier and a slot host in england so i know what i am talking about.it is a very great idea.promoting the place is very important
Ya you need to check your dictionary if you have one and look up the meaning of “casino”
Anyone who believes this to be a tourism product is seriously deluded. This is a money-making venture, a shoe-in for gambling in Dominica – nothing more than that. Hardly nature island. What a shame.
I guess the tourist gonna see all our nature sites with candle when it gets dark. There are many parts, which make up tourism.
WAY OUT THERE, ask yourself what percentage of stayover visitors do we have? They leave the island before it gets dark you idiot!!!!!
Wow ,thats action taken to fight poverty and reduce crime really,by opening a gambling house s.m.h
crazy that is so true u just dont know to please people nothing to do they dont force u to come if u dont want to so get a life they doing worst than that big up to crazy coconut
Just so you all know, gambling is link to drugs, increase in crimes and prostitution. You all should look at the more developed countries and see the amount of crime there is. This is the path that Dominica is taking, more crimes.
LAS VEGAS. GAMBLING AND PROSTITUTION is legal. But where do all fortune 500 Companies and major international com pies host there conferences and forums and expos?
LAS VEGAS… A multi Billion $ idea that has made that dessert a place to be for a short stay.
I have been to Vegas and never gambled nor did employ the services of a prostitute. It is your choice. However the option is there for who who wants it.
IF we are so concerned about crime rate increase, that only means we would need more police others and Nurses and Doctors and Prison officers.. LOL.. Ok I took it too far on this one. But i can’t help but to LOL
Who lied to you and said that drugs, increase in crimes and prostitution were not in Dominica? Maybe you should stay up late at nights, take a trip up Morne Bruce and some of those little hideouts and see who is with who and all what is going on
so what is the problem bring things they talkin when it dont have they borin dominican get a life if u dont like it them dont go leave it for me chaaaa man
ARE YOU EDUCATED?
Props for investing in the country but hoping to target cruise ship passengers to slot machines??? hmmm…almost all cruise ships visiting Dca, if not all have their casino
Yeah man, let the money circulate.
ikr the cruise ship have casinos already lol sure targeting the cruise passengers wait and see how many maje Dominican going to go burn their money there
If that one is not a casino, tell me what is. Those machines are the same kind yu see in st maartin, miami, trinidad and the other islands
so what? some of you all act like Dominica is a country where no sins are committed. On the other hand some people are quick to say that Dominica is underdeveloped compared to the other Caribbean islands, but at the same time they seem to conveniently forget that these islands are loaded with casinos, strip clubs etc. Anyway, the 28 people that are employed there won’t have to worry about being unemployed. If you don’t want to see these type of facilities in Dominica, get jobs for the 28 people to start.
the majority of the 28 were employed elsewhere before this gambling house opened its doors
Exactly, all i hear is how DA is undeveloped like the rest of the world, when foreign iinvestors do somthing about Dominicans complain. Those who complain, are the same ones when they travel, hit a casino spot, but DA can’t have one. 28 people are employed, why we cannot be happy. You complain about lack of development, so their u have it.
AMEN!!!
And what is your point??? Are you scared of it cat man
So what?