SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Jamaican Betting Gaming & Lotteries Commission (BGLC) announced the publication of a framework for laying the groundwork to allow regulated online gaming, as well as restructuring current betting and lottery laws concerning the Caribbean nation.
BGLC representative Andral ‘Jack’ Shirley proposed a review of all current gambling and sports betting laws, stating that the nation regulatory bodies needed to look at amending its current state, or Jamaica would miss out on creation of tax generating revenues. Shirley further noted that Jamaica had not implemented the grounds for assessing and regulating the growing igaming market. The BGLC is awaiting approval to proceed with drafting of legislation.
Shirley commented “Jamaica has to act now or lose traction on the matter, I-gaming is a rapidly expanding sector of the industry in which we are not legally participating, It is taking place and Jamaica … is not benefitting from the taxes that this activity attracts,”
As for phone betting services, local lottery company Supreme Ventures Limited has announced plans to develop a mobile payment system to make it easier to place wagers or buy lottery tickets on the go. Supreme Ventures is yet to create the platform to facilitate mobile bets. The service may require approval of the central bank which regulates epayment systems.
