About Us

The Casino Gaming Commission in Jamaica was established by the Casino Gaming Act, 2010. The Commission is charged with the power to grant casino licences as well as to be the regulatory body for casino gaming in Jamaica.

Overview

The Casino Gaming Commission is a body corporate created by the Casino Gaming Act, 2010 to:

Establish a regulatory scheme for the conduct of casino gaming in Jamaica.
Ensure that casino gaming is conducted in a fair and open manner.
Ensure that casino gaming is regulated efficiently and effectively.
Prevent casino gaming from being a source of crime or disorder or being used to support crime.
Protect children and other vulnerable persons from exploitation due to casino gaming.

As a public body, the Commission is subject to the Public Management and Accountability Act and the Financial Administration and Audit Act.

The Commission executes its operational functions pursuant to the Casino Gaming Act, 2010 and the following Regulations made thereunder:

Application for Declaration of Approved Integrated Resort Development Regulations, 2012;
Prescribed Games Regulations, 2012;
Applications Relating to Licences Regulations, 2015;
Annual Licence Fees for Casino Gaming Licences and Personal Licences Regulations, 2015.

The casino gaming industry in Jamaica operates within the framework of integrated resort developments. Under the Casino Gaming Act, the Honourable Minister of Finance and the Public Service is tasked with issuing orders for approved integrated resort developments, which are developments consisting of a mix of hotel rooms and other tourism amenities and facilities (including casinos and other attractions) on the same property.

The approval of an integrated resort development is therefore the first step towards operation of a casino, and that approval is the basis on which applications for casino gaming and other related licences may be made under the Casino Gaming Act.

In support of the Commission’s statutory mandate to prevent casino gaming from being a source of crime or disorder or being used to support crime, the Commission is the designated Competent Authority in respect of casino gaming under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Terrorism Prevention Act, and the United Nations Security Council Regulations Implementation Act and Regulations made thereunder.

The Commission is currently funded out of the Consolidated Fund. The Casino Gaming Act, 2010 also allows the Commission to be funded by any fees or other charges imposed under the Act or any Regulations made under the Act.

Our Vision

Jamaica’s casino gaming industry is the best regionally in compliance, public confidence and profitability; regulated, facilitated and enabled by an innovative, technology-driven employer of choice.

Mission Statement

To enable a viable and reputable casino gaming industry by balancing the interests of providers, consumers, the general public and the Government.

Core Values

The Casino Gaming Commission values and endeavours to be identified by the following traits:

Transparency

We believe that consistency, openness and honesty in our regulatory practices and in our engagement with all stakeholders creates an environment of trust.

Respect

We believe that all stakeholders should be treated with dignity and endeavour to engage with and take account of different perspectives, thereby challenging the limits of our thinking, and promoting innovation and a healthy, inclusive, and harmonious regulatory culture.

Accountability

We take ownership of our actions, decisions and outcomes, learning from our mistakes and deploying best practices in governance and regulatory philosophy to deliver on our mandate.

Integrity

We uphold ethical behaviour as the minimum standard in all our interactions with stakeholders.

Teamwork

We strive to practise effective communication and adopt a collaborative mindset in order to create opportunities for integration, innovation, and quality improvement.

Strategic Mandate (2023-2025)

The Commission’s Corporate Plan for the period 2023-2025 focuses on execution of the mandate to build capacity to regulate the casino gaming industry through:

The recruitment and training of staff.
The execution of MOUs.
Building out the regulatory framework, including by documenting policies and procedures and promulgating operational Regulations.

Casino Gaming Commission

Facilitating Responsible Casino Gaming