Officials of the Bahamas Gaming Board May 3 announced that they are mulling banning recipients of welfare and social security from playing at its hotel casinos.
The officials were speaking at the Caribbean Gaming Conference, the Tribune reported. The officials said the proposal was under “consideration” to protect the vulnerable and prevent poor families from being driven more into poverty. One official noted that there is software that can block recipients of welfare payments from gambling.
Gaming Board Secretary Ian Tynes added, “There is a component of the tool which has all compliance checks, everything. It is so sophisticated that if you’re receiving benefits from the Government in terms of social services, it blocks your name. You will not be able to gamble. However, that’s just a consideration for now. It’s up to the policymakers.”
Another official, Ryan Brown, said the Gaming Board is also mulling removing a ban from local residents not being allowed to play at local casinos.
Per the Tribune, Brown said, “We must eradicate discrimination in all facets Bahamian. Gaming is no different. Therefore, we propose removing in its entirety section 69 of the Gaming Act. This provision, informed by section two of the Act, defines who a domestic player is. Currently, residents, including citizens and permanent residents, cannot sit at a slot machine at Atlantis, Baha Mar or Resorts World.” He added, “This should not be in a modern country.”
Brown said he also wants to eliminate the rule that restricts casinos to two islands of the Bahamas, but tourists visit all of them.. “We believe that will benefit the industry as a whole by increasing revenue to the licensees; all of them. It will increase taxes to the Bahamian people as well.”
