Licensing & Compliance

A developer of an approved integrated resort development or a company nominated by the approved developer who wants to operate a casino within an approved integrated resort development must submit a casino gaming licence application to the Commission in respect of the approved integrated resort development. A casino gaming licence is valid for an indefinite period and will be reviewed every five (5) calendar years from the date of the grant of the licence. A casino operator conducting operations without a casino gaming licence is liable to punishment by fine and/or imprisonment on conviction. Click link to Fixed Penalties below.

The following documents must accompany an Application for a Casino Gaming Licence or for a temporary Casino Gaming Licence:

Applications will not be processed unless accompanied by the required supporting documents summarily described below. A complete application must be submitted in four (4) hard copies and one (1) electronic copy to the Commission’s Company Secretary as follows:

1. Proof of payment for the non-refundable application fee of US$50,000.00 to the Commission;
2. Proof of payment for USD$100,000.00 or equivalent in Jamaican currency to the Commission in connection with investigations and enquiries conducted by the Commission or its agents regarding the assessment of the casino gaming application per section 16(3);

Pursuant to Schedule 2 (Regulations 3(1)(c): 

1. Certified true copies of the company documents, including:
   • Articles of incorporation or Memorandum of Association of the applicant certificate of incorporation of the applicant;
   • Certificate of incorporation of the applicant; 
   • Letter of good standing dated no earlier than the date of the application from the Companies Office of Jamaica.
2. Copy of the approved integrated resort development order (AIRD) for the integrated report development, with the permanent casino site. 
3. Proof of nominee documentation by the approved developer to the applicant for the purposes of casino gaming licence or temporary licence, where applicable.
4. Resumés of the executive team, including the Board of Directors,  CEO, Corporate Secretary, and any other applicable officers and employee reporting directly to the CEO.
5. Organizational Chart for the internal management of the company. 
6. The Business Plan for casino gaming enterprise must be at least five (5) years from the commencement of the casino gaming operations. 
   • However, for a temporary licence the proposed duration must be for the proposed duration of the licence. 
7. (a) Only one (1) of the applicable forms below mentioned must be completed by each individual identified at subset 29(b and c): (b) each director, officer and employee of the applicant named in the application, and (c) each individual who holds directly or indirectly 5% or more of the voting shares of the applicant.
   • Personal History Disclosure Form.
   • The Jamaican Supplemental (Personal Form).
   • Multi-Jurisdictional Personal History Disclosure Form.
8. (a) Each business entity (other than an individual) which directly or indirectly holds 5% or more of voting shares of the applicant must complete:
   • Business Entity Disclosure Form; or
   • Multi-Jurisdictional Business Form and the Jamaican Supplemental Business Entity Form A.
9. (b) However, if the applicant is a subsidiary, the following must be completed: 
   • Business Entity Disclosure Form must be completed by the ultimate parent company; and 
   • Each business entity that indirectly holds, through the ultimate parent company, 5% or more of the voting shares of the applicant. 
10. Plans describing the casino’s facilities, e.g., site plans.

Personal Licences are required for employees who undertake specified management and operational functions in a casino. A personal licence is valid for an indefinite period. Both licence types are non-transferable. A casino operator who employs any person without the requisite personal licence commits an offence and is liable ton conviction to a fine . Click link to Fixed Penalties below.

The following documents must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary of the Commission for an Application of Personal Licence or Temporary Personal Licence:

1. Completed Application Form and attachments, as outlined at items numbered 2-5 below.
2. Personal History Disclosure Form to be completed by the applicant;
3. Proof of payment of the non-refundable application fee ranging from US$500.00 – $1,000.00 depending on the category of specified office to be held by the applicant during employment as defined by section 2 (1) of the Casino Gaming Act;
4. Proof of deposit for US$4,000.00 or equivalent in Jamaican currency to the Commission in connection with due diligence investigations and enquiries conducted by the Commission during the personal application assessment.
5. Any other information, documentation and assurances to the Commission to establish the fitness and probity of the applicant, as necessary.

A casino operator must submit an application and obtain approval for use of any gaming equipment which is intended to be used or operated in a casino. All gaming equipment must comply with any relevant standard issued or approved by the Commission unless otherwise exempted. A casino operator who uses any gaming equipment without the approval of the Commission is liable to disciplinary action, under section 27 of the Casino Gaming Act.