Gaming operators pitch online shift as Govt moves to tighten rules on gambling shops

Weeks after the Gaming Authority Bill was tabled in Parliament to strengthen oversight of Guyana’s rapidly expanding gambling industry, several gaming businesses have approached the Government with a proposal to close their physical betting shops, and transition to online operations.

A Government official told this publication that the bill is expected to come up for debate in October when Parliament reconvenes, but ahead of that, operators have sought a way to have their businesses still operate through regulated online platforms.

The official said that this proposal comes as some operators met with some members of the Opposition recently. “So some Opposition members met with some of the operators and are saying that the Government is trying to take bread out of their mouths…but at the same time telling us to shut them down,” the official said.

The official added that the proposal made by the operators has found much favour with the Government.

The proposed legislation, tabled by Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, seeks to tighten the regulation of gaming activities amid growing concerns over the social consequences of increased access to gambling through betting shops and mobile applications.

The move follows months of lobbying by religious organisations and other groups concerned about the impact of gambling on vulnerable individuals, families and rural communities. Those concerns have centred on issues such as gambling addiction, financial hardship, and the broader social effects associated with the industry’s rapid growth.

The bill also fulfils a commitment made by Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo in October last year, when he announced that the Government would introduce sweeping reforms to the sector.

At the time, the VP warned that gambling had evolved from a tightly regulated activity associated primarily with the hotel sector into what he described as “gambling on demand”, driven by the proliferation of hundreds of betting outlets and smartphone applications.

The bill is expected to be referred to a Special Select Committee at the next sitting of Parliament, which will allow for a detailed examination of its provisions and provide an opportunity for further consideration of measures aimed at strengthening the regulatory framework governing the gaming industry.

The Government has said the reforms are intended to respond to growing concerns over the industry’s expansion while addressing its social and economic impact on communities across Guyana.