History - Gaming Board for The Bahamas

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Gaming Board for The Bahamas - History

The Gaming Board for The Bahamas ("the Board") was established in August 1969, in accordance with the Lotteries and Gaming Act, 1969. In November 2014, the Board experienced a significant transformation in the wake of the Government's decision to enact a sweeping new suite of legislation to govern gaming operations in The Bahamas, namely: the Gaming Act 2014, the Gaming Regulations, 2014, the Gaming House Operator Regulations, 2014, the Gaming Rules, 2015 and the Financial Transactions Reporting (Gaming) Regulations, 2014. This new legislative framework was necessary to modernize the gaming regulatory regime in The Bahamas, regulate an otherwise unregulated domestic gaming sector, provide a broader range of gaming services and products, and establish an enhanced and robust licensing regime. These changes facilitated The Bahamas' elevation as one of the leading gaming jurisdictions in the world.

Protecting the integrity of the gaming industry and ensuring fair play for all. Mission of the Gaming Board of The Bahamas

Overview of Domestic Gaming in The Bahamas

In 2014, a framework was incorporated in the Gaming Act 2014 to facilitate the growing popularity of online gambling (Domestic Gaming) in The Bahamas. All gaming transactions are conducted via the Internet. In this sector, there are currently Seven (7) Licensed Operators, termed Gaming House Operators (Island Luck, Chances Games, Paradise Games, A Sure Win, Percy's at the Island Game, Ultra Games, and Everybody Wins Live Company Limited. The game offerings are as follows: Lotto, Slots and Sports Book. These Gaming Houses employ about two thousand eight hundred (2,800) personnel whom the Board licenses.

Overview of the Commercial Casino Sector

Commercial casino gaming in The Bahamas remains a unique form of entertainment, available specifically to tourists who visit the jurisdiction. This type of gaming has had a positive economic impact on the Bahamian economy, particularly concerning investments, job creation, foreign exchange and taxes. It has also provided an economic boost to the tourism industry.

 

Three (3) casinos are operating in The Bahamas: Atlantis Paradise Island Casino, Paradise Island; Baha Mar Casino, Nassau; and Resorts World Bimini Casino, Bimini. These casinos continue contributing significantly to the Bahamian economy's growth and development. They employ approximately one thousand nine hundred and fifty (1,950) personnel whom the Board licenses.

Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and Casino – Paradise Island

The Atlantis Resort and Casino is owned and operated by Brookfield Asset Management. This mega-resort comprises a fifty thousand (50,000) square feet casino, the second largest in the Caribbean. There are a total of 85 gaming tables, including Craps, Baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold 'em Poker, Let It Ride Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Roulette and Blackjack. This casino has private gaming rooms, seven hundred (700) slot machines, and a Sports Book. The property theme features a spectacular marine habitat and the underwater ruins of the legendary lost city of Atlantis.

 

Baha Mar Casino – Cable Beach, New Providence

This mega-resort, owned and operated by Sky Warrior Bahamas Limited, comprises a one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet casino on the Cable Beach Strip. It is the largest casino in the Caribbean. It offers the latest technology in gaming devices for the visitor's entertainment and has over one hundred and nineteen (119) gaming tables that offer various games, including Craps, Craps, Baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold 'em Poker, Let It Ride Poker, Pai Gow Poker Roulette and Blackjack. It also houses private gaming rooms, one thousand (1,000) slot machines and a Sports Book. The property's theme is pure luxury.

Resorts World Bimini Casino – North Bimini, Bimini

The Resorts World Bimini Casino, managed by Genting Bimini Limited and located on the island of Bimini, comprises a casino floor of ten thousand (10,000) square feet. The casino offers many table games for visitors' entertainment, including Baccarat, Craps, Blackjack, Roulette, Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold 'em Poker. It also houses one hundred and sixty-six (166) slot machines, a private gaming room and a Sports Book betting kiosk. This resort's theme is a beautiful tropical setting.