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Commission to regulate casino gambling in Jamaica

Posted by CaribShout on July 6, 2009 at 8:56pm

KINGSTON, Jamaica, July 6, 2009 - A casino gaming commission is to be established to regulate the industry in Jamaica. Under the Casino Gaming Bill which has been tabled in the House of Representatives, the commission would have regulatory functions over the conduct of casino gaming, including the power to grant gaming licences to persons to conduct casino gaming within an approved integrated resort development. It will also be able to grant personal licences to specific individuals identified as occupying management positions, or carrying out operational functions in a casino, which warrant obtaining assurance that they meet certain criteria of fitness and propriety of character. "The commission will also be empowered to ensure that casino gaming is conducted fairly, legally and in a manner which protects children and vulnerable persons," the Bill's Memorandum of Objects and Reasons disclosed. To facilitate the commission's functions, Finance Minister Audley Shaw has also tabled a Bill amending the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act, under which the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission, a statutory body established in 1975, currently regulates and controls the operations of betting and gaming and the conduct of lotteries in Jamaica. Fabulous Rates for Caricom Nationals The Bill confirms the Government's intention to implement legislation to provide a regulatory framework for the business of casino gaming. "This Bill, therefore, seeks to implement this policy decision which proposed casino gaming, within the context of luxury integrated resort developments of which casino gaming will be but one component," the legislation states. "The integrated resort development concept will provide a mix of various tourism facilities including, but not limited to, hotels, villas, attractions, sporting facilities, service centres and shopping centres." It is proposed that the casino gaming component should be no more than 20 per cent of the total investment, in any approved integrated resort development. The Bill provides for penalties ranging from J$50,000 (US$564) for failing to deliver a licence that has lapsed or ceases to be effective, to J$50 million (US$564,971) for removing seals, or devices of like nature, from the gaming machines. Prime Minister Bruce Golding told a Town Hall Meeting recently that government was hoping to have the Bill debated this and passed into law, as there were at least two investments awaiting the legislative framework. The Government has already given an undertaking to two companies that it is prepared to consider formally their applications for casino licences. (JIS)

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