Yesterday after Jumah prayers as I finished praying and headed outside, a couple of Muslim men were handing me a a piece of hard-paper which says in big letters: NO CASINO TORONTO.... nocasinotoronto.com
On the back:
New York City doesn't have one.
Hong Kong doesn't have one.
Rome doesn't have one.
World-class cities don't need casinos. Say no to a casino in Toronto. We can do better.
Act now! Sign the Petition. Get involved.
The great casino debate is heating up online, where No Casino Toronto’s grassroots lobbying efforts face competition from a slick new MGM Resorts website that says its facility would showcase “the soul of Toronto.” Las Vegas-based MGM and Toronto-based developer Cadillac Fairview promise thousands of jobs, $2 billion to $4 billion in investment and a stampede of tourists, on the website expected to be officially announced Wednesday along with an official Facebook page.
They say an integrated casino resort at Exhibition Place would include a luxury hotel, convention facilities, restaurants, nightlife, “best-in-class” shopping — and gambling in less than 10 per cent of the resort.
The site includes a tab to directly “share your thoughts with your local city councillor.”
Claims on the website include:
“Our hope is that Torontonians see the exciting possibilities that exist if we revitalize Exhibition Place and optimize its true potential as a year-round resort and entertainment destination.”
A Toronto Integrated Resort would be capable of generating between 7,000 and 9,000 full-time permanent union and non-union jobs. Direct and spinoff jobs would generate $350-$500 million in new earnings for Toronto residents.
MGM anticipates its non-executive Toronto casino employees would earn more than $60,000 per year in salaries, wages, benefits and tips.
A new integrated resort will be able to attract at least 1 million new visitors a year from outside Ontario who will spend between $500 million and $1 billion on non-gaming activities.
“Through the design, services, and spectacles offered, guests at the Integrated Resort will experience the ‘soul of Toronto.’”
The website does not mention that Brian Ashton, president of the board that runs the Ex, is lobbying city councillors to reject the proposal, out of fear a casino-resort would take up too much room and kill the annual fair.
And while it acknowledges that gambling addiction is a “public health issue” and touts MGM efforts to curb the problem, the site does not note the city’s board of health has said the public health risks outweigh potential benefits.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.’s modernization plan includes one new privately built and operated casino in the GTA. Other companies eager to build in Toronto include Caesars Entertainment and Las Vegas Sands, but OLG says it won’t force a casino on communities that don’t want one.
Last month, the group boasted to the Star: “We literally own the conversation around Toronto casinos on social media,” based on a dramatic increase in visits to its Facebook page.
“Likes” for the page were growing by 1,000 per week, up from 80 per week in December. The group reported a similar jump in use of its survey that uses respondents’ postal codes to automatically email the results to their city councillor.
Mayor Rob Ford’s executive is expected to vote on the casino question next month, but city council will have the final say, probably in April.
Okay so I have a few questions:
Does your city have casinos?
What are the positives and negatives of having one?
If Islam forbids gambling, why should we be against the building of casinos? Shouldn't we just not support it?
I was thinking of starting a petition in the mall to see whether or not people support or are against the idea.
No!. casinos have been banned in Indonesia since 1980.
That's good, but it's because Indonesia is 80% or so Muslim.
In Canada (the most multi-cultural country in the world), should the creation of a casino be allowed?
In Canada (the most multi-cultural country in the world), should the creation of a casino be allowed?
If Allaah (swt) disapproves of something, shouldn't we too disapprove of it? If we have the option of preventing such a harm occurring in society, then it makes sense we should do all in our ability to prevent it. And Allaah (swt) knows best.
What are the positives and negatives of having one?
There are no positives. It's all negative.
If Islam forbids gambling, why should we be against the building of casinos? Shouldn't we just not support it?
Islam forbids murder. Does that mean we should turn a blind eye to murder happening around us?
Islam forbids theft. Does that mean we should turn a blind eye to theft happening around us?
Yes, building a casino is prohibited in Islam. I don't see the reason for discussing whether it is allowed or not for those who are not Muslim. The Qur'an in verse 2:219 says that there is some advantage in drinking wine and in gambling, but the disadvantage and sin is much greater. Therefore, it is better to keep away from it altogether. This does not distinguish anything between its being unlawful for Muslims and non-Muslims. The only difference is that for us Muslims there are penalties, such as paying Sadaqa for even the suggestion or calling someone to gamble, and the Hudud punishments for drinking wine. That is for us to become purified of our sin.
At least be against this in your hearts. I signed an online petition by many others against the building of this casino. I don't remember where it was, but anyone who can find it should do so and sign it against the petition. I personally don't want to go to downtown Toronto and see this casino. I go there to find Islamic books. I would rather not find that the state of the city degrades into an increase in prostitutes, gambling and drunken savage men who have nothing left but a bottle of beer after losing their finances to such disgusting places.
So anyone who honestly can't think of a reason for this casino to not be built should go and read both verses 2:219 and 5:90-91 of the Holy Qur'an and reflect on them well. Gambling could affect other Muslims, and thus affect their prayers. Gambling is a device of Satan. It eats up men's money and keeps them from remembering Allah. It creates hatred between one another as well. Don't you want peace? Casinos make people miserable and will ultimately affect the economy. It would not do any good for the city in a worldly sense let alone the spiritual. This is why the Holy Prophet (saw) said that Satan hatches his eggs in the marketplaces of a city - because places like this crop up where people want to do business in any way possible, whether it is moral or not.
Protest against this as much as possible. There is no good in it. I don't see anyone who can argue otherwise. The Holy Qur'an is clear on this matter and it states the reasons for this.
That's good, but it's because Indonesia is 80% or so Muslim.
(whisper) Sshhh ..... don't tell it to Muslims in Egypt, UAE, and malaysia, okay?
In Canada (the most multi-cultural country in the world), should the creation of a casino be allowed?
If Canada want to build casino, I could not prevent them. But as Canadian citizen you can say "yes" or no", and you should say "no" to creation of a casino because you cannot support sin.
Does your city have casinos?
What are the positives and negatives of having one?
If Islam forbids gambling, why should we be against the building of casinos? Shouldn't we just not support it?
Here in North Dakota and South Dakota you see a bit of a paradox. Casinos are technically illegal in both States. There are many large and small casinos.
One loophole in the law is the Native American Reservations are not under State Law but under tribal law. Most of the tribal councils have signed contracts with casino owners to have casinos built on the reservations, The idea was they would provide an income and jobs for the reservations.
I see little income from the casinos go to the betterment of the reservations and the jobs have been few and low pay. The bad side is the casinos have brought alcohol onto the reservations and have caused or increased a very serious problem.
Now as for Muslims supporting casinos in any way the answer is a flat no. While we can not stop the building of casinos if they are legal under local laws we can do our best to not being a part of them.
These are my opinions, others may have better suggestions.
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