Nassau, Bahamas: The Honourable O. H. Wilchcombe, M.P. Minister responsible for Gaming has today issued the following statement:
On March 10, 2015 ten of the gaming house operators who would have filed Affidavits during December of 2014 allowing them to operate during the transitional period, became official applicants for gaming licences with the submission of their Requests for Proposals to The Bahamas Gaming Board.
From this point onward, all applicants will undergo strict scrutiny from the Gaming Board via due diligence investigations that will delve into all aspects of their business operations. The aim is to establish whether the applicants, their shareholders and directors, and staff are deemed to be fit and proper to hold the licences they have applied for.
Furthermore, their proposals will be meticulously viewed to see whether they possess the requisite abilities and meet the necessary requirements to conform and comply with the provisions of the Gaming and related legislation.
The Board will look at each application, with the view to investigating each and every premises that will be utilised in the conduct of gaming within The Bahamas.
At the time that Gaming House Operator licences are issued by the Responsible Minister, those operators who have not been successful in their bid for licencing, will receive notices instructing them to close their businesses.
Meanwhile operators and the public alike are reminded and advised that noncompliance with the provisions set out in the Gaming Act with regards to the transitional period, namely, the filing of full and frank disclosures, the payment of arrear business licence fees and penalties, in addition to the ongoing timely payment of monthly gaming taxes, will result in closure of those businesses.
Operators who are not in compliance and who are not in possession of a publicly displayed compliance certificate from the Gaming Board should cease operations immediately and the public should refrain from patronizing such premises.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force will assist the Gaming Board in effectively policing and in enforcing the law with respect to those premises that are not permitted to be open; or, that were instructed to close their businesses.
