About Us
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Gaming Board of The Bahamas is to protect the integrity of the Gaming Industry by keeping it free from the influences of organized crime; by assuring the honesty, good character and integrity of all licensed operators and employees; and to ensure that Gaming is conducted fairly and in accordance with the provisions of the Gaming Act (2014), the Gaming Regulations (2014), the Gaming House Operator Regulations (2014) and the Gaming Rules (2015).
Gaming Board Structure
- The Administrative Services Division is responsible for matters related to each employee’s personal and professional development as well as their overall well-being. This Division includes the following Departments:
- Human Resources
- The Human Resources Department provides guidance and insight on Human Resources questions and concerns. Enquiries relative to all leaves, inclusive but not limited to those of vacation, casual, maternity, and compassionate leave, are dealt with by the Human Resources Department. Assistance is also provided on all matters related to the Gaming Board’s group health insurance, National Insurance claim benefits, pension, industrial accidents, labour matters and hiring.
- The Human Resources Department bears the responsibility of inputting information, on a monthly basis, that is used to process staff salaries. Additionally, the Department prepares annual appraisals, reference letters and communication to staff on transfers, promotions, and other matters of like area.
- Professional Development & Training
- The Professional Development & Training Department is designed to equip the staff with the necessary skills that will seek to enhance their productivity level. In order to achieve this objective, the department develops training courses which serve to expose all staff to the global best practices that exist in their respective disciplines.
- Additionally, the Professional Development & Training Department is responsible for identifying local and international training opportunities in an effort to expose all staff to a diversified approach to the modern techniques that are available within the Gaming industry.
- The Professional Development & Training Department is in the process of creating a makeshift training casino which will provide an opportunity for trainees to receive firsthand experience regarding the actual mechanics of the casino games. This practical approach to training will be augmented with on-line training which is provided in various reputable international gaming jurisdictions.
- Administration
- The Administration Department is responsible for purchasing all of the goods and services that are used by the Gaming Board. Further, the Administration Department is also responsible for the storage and distribution of certain office equipment, stationary and supplies, including cleaning items, that are used within the Gaming Board.The coordination of travel arrangements for the Gaming Board’s staff and the dispatching of items and documents to the Gaming Board’s satellite offices are also a part of this Department’s functions.
- The Finance Division is essentially the law enforcement arm of the Gaming Board. This division is responsible for the regulation and monitoring of all Casino and Gaming House Operations throughout the Comonwealth of the Bahamas.
- Accounts
- The Account Department provides guidance and insight on Human Resources questions and concerns. Enquiries relative to all leaves, inclusive but not limited to those of vacation, casual, maternity, and compassionate leave, are dealt with by the Human Resources Department. Assistance is also provided on all matters related to the Gaming Board’s group health insurance, National Insurance claim benefits, pension, industrial accidents, labour matters and hiring.
- Revenue & Taxes
- The Revenue & Taxes department currently has a professional staff compliment of 9 employees who are all authorized agents of the Gaming Board.
- The Revenue and Taxes department is charged with the following responsibilities:
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- To ensure compliance with the relevant provisions of the Gaming Act, 2014 and Gaming Regulations, 2014, Gaming Rules 2015 and the Systems of Accounting and Internal Controls submitted by the respective licensed operator consistent with the Gaming Board’s duty as a Regulatory Authority (Gaming Act, Regulations 2014 & Gaming Rules 2015 – sections particularly in relation to revenues, taxes, fees, penalties, financial accounting and reporting)
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- To ensure the accurate reporting of gaming revenues by licensed operators carefully reviewing any revenue adjustments; periodically performing cash counts to attest to the revenues generated from the counts and the accuracy of accounting documentation and internal controls
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- To review filed tax returns to verify the accurate calculation of applicable taxes in accordance with the Gaming Regulations 2014 and Gaming House Operator Regulations 2014
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- To collect and record all gaming taxes, fees, penalties and interest owed by licensed operators, ensure taxes are paid on time and identify taxes owed and collect outstanding arrears (Gaming Act, Regulations & Rules)
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- To routinely monitor licensed operator’s statistical performance; perform analytical reviews of the operating statistics and prepare monthly statistical reports on the operators financial performance and assist with the preparation of annual reports
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- To prepare department’s contribution to the annual forecasts of gaming taxes and fees which are ultimately presented to the Ministry of Finance as a part of the annual Budget Revenue projections exercise. This exercise is prepared in conjunction with the Board’s Accounts department
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- To conduct random and planned audits, the primary objective of which is to determine the proper reporting of gaming revenues and to determine whether the licensee has complied with all applicable Gaming Laws, Regulations, Rules and licensee’s ICS
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- To evaluate the financial information of the operators to monitor the entities continuing financial viability
- The Operations Division is essentially the law enforcement arm of the Gaming Board. This division is responsible for the regulation and monitoring of all Casino and Gaming House Operations throughout the Comonwealth of the Bahamas. The Operations Division, led by the Deputy Secretary, comprises the Licensing, Registry & Data Entry, and Regulatory Complaince departments.
- Licensing
- The Licensing Department is responsible for reviewing applications and conducting probity investigations with respect to all individuals and companies who are required to be licensed and approved by the Board, based on their respective capacities. The purpose of the probity investigations is to determine whether such individuals or companies are suitable for licensure. Thus, these investigations are extensive and result in an examination of personal background and financial activity. Applicants include Casinos and Gaming House Operators, their gaming staff and Gaming Board Personnel.
- The Licensing Department produces detailed reports, with the assistance of the Security Intelligence Branch (S.I.B.) of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and, when necessary, External Enforcement Agencies and other gaming regulatory bodies in various jurisdictions. To qualify for a licence issued under the authority of the Gaming Act, 2014 one must meet the criteria laid down in Section 24 of the said legislation. Licences, certificates or approvals may be issued with or without conditions.
- Registry & Data Entry
- This department is responsible for maintaining the security and confidentiality of all information received from the various Board Departments for historical preservation and retrieval.
- The Registry Section in particular, houses the personal files of all current and former employees of the Casinos and Gaming House Operators. This section also generates the annual re-licensing list. The re-licensing process is a recertification process whereby a casino or gaming house employee who has received approval from the Gaming Board to work is recertified to work for another year, up to three (3) years, and this process requires the collaborative effort of the Registry and Licensing Department.
- Data Entry on the other hand, is responsible for the archiving of all relevant information within the Gaming Board via a document imaging system.
- The Registry & Data Entry Department, in short, is the principle repository for data maintained on all gaming applicants and licenses within our jurisdiction.
- Regulatory Compliance
- Regulatory Compliance comprises of the Enforcement and Electronic Services Sections of the Board. It provides physical presence and remote monitoring of the Casino and Gaming Houses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, while the Electronic Services department has the responsibility to ensure the integrity of all gaming systems, devices and equipment within the jurisdiction through various tests and inspections and ultimately make recommendations to the Secretary for approval by the Gaming Board. Finally, the Compliance section is charged with responsibility of ensuring that the minimum standards for licensees are established and strictly adhered to through the approval and ongoing review and monitoring of mandatory Internal Control Submissions. The Compliance Section is also responsible for reviewing all incoming requests from both Casino and Gaming Hosue Operators and making the necessary recommendations for approval. Overall, the primary goal of the Regulatory Complaince Department is to ensure that the integrity of gaming is protected along with the elimination of risk to money laundering and terrorists financing.
- The Legal Division handles any and all legal issues which may arise during the course of the Board's regulatory duties. Duties that range from the drafting and review and of internal policies to the overseeing of legal proceedings before the courts. The Department provides appropriate legal advice and guidance to both the administrative and executive arms of the Board on a diverse range of substantive and procedural questions of law therby firmly securing the interest of the Board. The duties of this Department also include serving on various standing boards, committees and ad-hoc working groups and task forces as required, to assist with the framing of policies.
- The Internal Operations Department (IOD) is organized in support of the Board’s organizational goals. As a key support element for service delivery in the Board, IOD provides technical support, project management support, systems analysis, consulting services, media design, building maintenance support and security.
- Information Technology
- The Information Technology (IT) Department besides strategy provides the day-to-day support for the IT infrastructure, including the growing Board’s data network, telecommunications systems, data operations, and business continuity program management. The Network Unit within IT is charged with the design, architecture, support, maintenance of the Board’s comprehensive enterprise data network. This network is the backbone of critical Board’s data communications, and serves to interlink all functional departments and employees within the Board.
- Facilities Management
- The Facilities Management (FM) Unit comprises of Security, Support Services and Custodial. FM administers the coordination of operations and maintenance of space, building management, lease, occupancy, furniture, cleaning, emergency preparedness etc. FM consists of four (4) custodial staff, one (1) maintenance support staff, one (1) clerical assistant
Gaming Board Executives
Hon. I. Chester Cooper
Minister Of Tourism, Investments & Aviation
Dr. Daniel Johnson
Chairman
Mr. Ian Tynes
SecretarySearch
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