Bahamas Legal Gambling

 
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EDITOR, The Tribune.

Recently, I read a Tribune news story about the Chairman of the DNA, Mr Andrew Wilson, not being allowed to gamble in a local casino. Included in the news story is this incorrect statement: “The main reason he was escorted out of the casino was because the country’s laws allow for visitors to gamble legally in casinos while Bahamians and permanent residents cannot.”

Bahamas to have big announcement to legalize gambling in the speech from the throne next month. Nassau, Bahamas — Hubert Ingraham is determined to leave a lasting legacy when he demits office and in his last legislative agenda as the question of legalizing gambling in the Bahamas. Bahamas’ gambling legislation prohibits residents from partaking in online gambling of any kind. Although there are numerous land-based casinos that offer sports betting, only tourists may participate. Despite the tough regulations that are imposed on residents here, the authorities do not seem to enforce the sports betting regulations.

Bahamas legal gambling age

The truth of the matter is that Mr Wilson was escorted out of the casino because he is a Bahamian resident, not because he is a Bahamian national. Section 50 of the Lotteries and Gaming Act prohibits from gambling in casinos ALL persons who are work permit holders (non-Bahamians), permanent residents (non-Bahamians), ordinary residents of The Bahamas (Bahamian nationals), and the spouses of these persons.

Accordingly, Bahamian nationals who reside abroad and are not married to a person who is prohibited from gambling in local casinos can come home and legally gamble in any casino in this country. Therefore, the reality is that some Bahamians can legally gamble in local casinos, and some Bahamians can’t. And some foreigners can gamble in local casinos, and some foreigners can’t. Why? Simply because the basis for the prohibition is residency, not nationality.

Legal

It is ironic that in his quest to gamble in local casinos Mr Wilson is claiming that the constitution gives him a right to the pursuit of happiness. However, the truth is that our constitution grants no right to the pursuit of happiness; and even if it did, the financially reckless and parasitic practice of gambling is not a viable route because more often than not it leads to misery, not happiness.

Former PLP cabinet minister Rev Carlton Francis was right when he said that gambling was no way to develop our new nation. His words were true then, and they remain true now. Therefore, the political leaders who legalized casino gambling in The Bahamas, and subsequently web shop gambling, and the church leaders who supported them, failed our nation. The evidence of their failure is obvious to all who have eyes to see.

PASTOR CEDRIC MOSS

Nassau,

January 5, 2017.

Gambling

More like this story

The right to gamble is a right given to several matured persons living in the United Sates for the purpose of amusement. The Oxford dictionary defines the word ‘gamble’ as playing games for a chance of winning money. Last year, the current Government of the Bahamas proposed a referendum that asked Bahamians about their views on gambling. The referendum asked Bahamians if they supported the regularization and taxation of web shop gaming. As noted in the results, the mass of the Bahamian people voted no against the referendum. Today, the gambling issue has reawakened and Bahamians are now in a fight against the laws of their country. Several Bahamians believe that the law discriminates against Bahamians because it prohibits Bahamians from owning and legally gambling in casinos within in their homeland. Although any form of gambling is illegal in the Bahamas, there are abundant web houses that allow Bahamians to participate in a few forms of gambling. Gambling in The Bahamas propose that legalized gambling can result in job creation, revenue generation and prevent discrimination of Bahamians however, 'Harms of Legalized Gambling' suggest that gaming can lead to poverty, increased and pathological gambling. Numerous web houses and casinos are found throughout the islands of the Bahamas. In the film 'Gambling in The Bahamas', Acct John Bain stated; that during the time that the Progressive Liberal Party was under the leadership of Sir Linden Pindling, casinos in the