Gov’t moves to amend gambling law to facilitate online betting
Cabinet has made additional strides in reviewing the territory’s Gaming and Betting Control Act.
A Cabinet post-meeting statement issued Thursday revealed that the legislation is being amended to allow for online gaming and betting activities.
Cabinet has therefore agreed for the Premier’s Office to instruct the Attorney General’s Chambers to vet and amend the principal Act to include the proposed changes.
The Bill will then be resubmitted to the Cabinet for approval and then forwarded to the House of Assembly to be passed.
Previously, Premier Andrew Fahie told the House of Assembly the gambling legislation is projected to generate millions of dollars while creating employment opportunities in the territory.
With a decline of the tourism industry, Premier Fahie said the government had to find a new source of revenue to benefit the territory.
“We have been working with a team of consultants who have helped other jurisdictions, including others in the Caribbean, to implement their own online gaming systems and facilitate these kinds of lottery games like Powerball,” Premier Fahie said last year.
Over the years, residents have increasingly called for the legalisation of gambling in the BVI, with many pointing to the neighbouring US Virgin Islands and St Maarten as examples of places where gambling offers enormous business opportunities and is an attractive draw for tourists.
Cabinet has therefore agreed for the Premier’s Office to instruct the Attorney General’s Chambers to vet and amend the principal Act to include the proposed changes.
The Bill will then be resubmitted to the Cabinet for approval and then forwarded to the House of Assembly to be passed.
Previously, Premier Andrew Fahie told the House of Assembly the gambling legislation is projected to generate millions of dollars while creating employment opportunities in the territory.
With a decline of the tourism industry, Premier Fahie said the government had to find a new source of revenue to benefit the territory.
“We have been working with a team of consultants who have helped other jurisdictions, including others in the Caribbean, to implement their own online gaming systems and facilitate these kinds of lottery games like Powerball,” Premier Fahie said last year.
Over the years, residents have increasingly called for the legalisation of gambling in the BVI, with many pointing to the neighbouring US Virgin Islands and St Maarten as examples of places where gambling offers enormous business opportunities and is an attractive draw for tourists.
