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Casino Boom in Suriname Brings Profits and Doubts

"These are new sounds in Suriname, where in the past few years casinos have multiplied at an explosive rate, bringing neon signs and crowds to once-quiet avenues lined with Dutch colonial buildings.

"The rapid growth of casinos in Paramaribo reflects a trend sweeping South America and the Caribbean, where governments are turning to gambling as a way to boost their economies.

"And it has brought fears of new social problems.

"The late legislator Fred Derby crusaded against casinos in this country on the northern coast of South America, calling for tighter controls on the business.

"…Until 1997, Suriname allowed just one casino under partial government ownership. Since then, 10 casinos have opened and more are on the way.

"While the law forbids most gambling by Surinamese, the vast majority of those inside wagering are residents. Some see gambling as a form of recreation. Others turn to casinos as a way to escape the poverty that surrounds them in a country where the average monthly income is just $150.

"…To the government, the casinos offer huge economic payoffs.

"…Despite a lack of clear evidence, some gambling opponents say the casinos have links to the drug trade. Derby and others have said that Suriname's population of 440,000 isn't large enough to support all the casinos and that much of their income must come from laundering drug profits.

"The U.N. Drug Control Program estimates 22 tons of cocaine is shipped through Suriname to Europe each year, and some casinos in other countries have been linked to money laundering, said Flavio Mirella at the program's Caribbean office.

"The U.N. Drug Control Program estimates 22 tons of cocaine is shipped through Suriname to Europe each year, and some casinos in other countries have been linked to money laundering, said Flavio Mirella at the program's Caribbean office…"

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