Jamaicans are being urged to speak out against the government’s approval of casino gambling and the passage of legislation to regulate this industry ahead of the opening of the country’s first licensed casino in March.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s insistence that the recent approval of the Casino Gaming (General) Regulations, 2025, in the House of Representatives is aimed at broadening Jamaica’s tourism product has received strong condemnation from at least one Christian leader.
Pastor Donald Stewart, who is now a missionary in Ghana, said this move will plunge Jamaica deeper into moral decay.
“It would be a backward step in terms of morality and spirituality, because instead of moving our people towards productivity and using our God given talents and resources to develop themselves, it is encouraging lose living,” he said.
“It is not a good direction, but again, when you are dealing with people who do not necessarily have a proper moral compass, they would just want to do whatever they think will get quick money from people and make people happy and make tourists come to the country,” he told the Freedom Come Rain newspaper.
Legislation to make casino gaming legal was promulgated in 2010, but none of the early approved resorts came to fruition. Licensing conditions were eased and the bidding process was reopened after amendments were made in 2021, following recommendations from the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force.
The Princess Grand Jamaica Hotel in Hanover will be the location for Jamaica’s first government-approved casino. The Princess Grand Jamaica and the adjacent Princess Senses The Mangrove, a combined US$400m development with more than 1,000 rooms, were officially opened in December last year, by Holness.
In his contribution to the debate to approve the Casino Gaming (General) Regulations, that will govern the Casino Gaming Act, Holness stated that systems and mechanisms are in place to govern the industry.
“It is not the intention of the Government to make Jamaica a casino gambling destination… that’s not what we’re trying to do. So, these are not going to be stand-alone casinos where the only activity is gambling and you can walk off the street and just go inside here; no, that’s not what we’re doing,” he noted before explaining that the concept of the integrated resort is envisioned, where patrons can engage in different activities, including gambling.
But Stewart pointed to the reality that this approval will open the door to other immoral activities that have so far remained illegal.
“If this were to happen, the next step is to make prostitution legal, because that is another way that you would get certain types of tourists to spend money and make Jamaica more popular. When people start on that track where morality and spiritual values are not considered, there are no limits to that and it will just keep on getting deeper and deeper and deeper into the darkness,” he said.
“We should have some voices in Jamaica, who can stand up and say listen, tourism and money is not everything, because you can bring all the tourists, bring all the money and in the long run, will end up like a Las Vegas, which is moral corruption and sewage,” he said.
CASINO GAMBLING CONCERNS RAISED
The strident pushback against the introduction of casino gambling in Jamaica has weakened when compared to the formidable opposition presented by the church in former years.
However, one church group has issued a gentle word of caution to the government. The Watchman Church Leaders Alliance (WCLA) does not believe the country is fully prepared to manage the potential social risks of casino gambling. The coalition noted that while pastors cannot endorse casino gambling, responsible planning must be prioritised if it is to be offered in Jamaica.
“How do we balance the desire for some interests for financial opportunity with the moral and social well-being of our citizens? “What assurances can be provided that adequate preventative and support systems will be established before full-scale casino operations begin?” the coalition, made up of church leaders, asked.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition Mark Golding has pointed to weaknesses in the legislation tabled to introduce casino gambling to the nation. He told the Parliament that the regulations contain gaps that could pose serious risks to Jamaica.
He noted that while the recently approved law appears to reflect regulatory best practice, it lacks meaningful provisions to address problem gambling.
“One can import a construct, which appears to be best practice from a regulatory standpoint, and import it to Jamaica, and pat yourself on your back that you are doing something wonderful, but when you look at the way this is being introduced into our economy and into our society, it is clear that there are glaring omissions which are dangerous and should not be overlooked,” he said during a recent sitting of the House of Representatives to approve the Casino Gaming (General) Regulations, 2025. that will govern the Casino Gaming Act enacted in 2010.
Mr Golding said there are concerns about consumer protection and gambling addiction and highlighted the absence of safeguards for workers while questioning how the industry would be integrated into the local economy. He is concerned that profits from Jamaican gamblers would primarily benefit overseas operators and not the country.