By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The web shop industry has issued close to $100 millionworth of mortgages that are outside the Central Bank’s regulatory purview, a leading consultant to the industry yesterday adding that this was costing commercial banks $500,000 in fees per annum.
Paul Major, principal of Major Consulting, told the National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce that the Government could generate $60-$70 million in new revenues “tomorrow” if it taxed both web shop winnings and the sector’s gross take.
He added that the level of technology and sophistication of Bahamian web shop enterprises “far exceeds” that of commercial banks, arguing that this meant it was “almost impossible” for the Government to not have control over the industry once legalised.
Mr Major, a consultant to at least two major web shop enterprises and an advocate of the failed ‘Vote Yes’ campaign in 2013, said: “The level of technology in the web shops today exceeds that of the banking industry. It’s so sophisticated that it’s almost impossible to not have absolute control.
“There is MIS (management information systems) like you would not believe. There is a lot of chatter about not being able to control it; that’s nonsense. There is total and full disclosure, and absolute integrity.
“These people realise that they operate in a sort of underground economy, so they have to have control over what’s happening because they have no recourse. They can’t go to court and say ‘someone ripped me off’. They have absolute control over their systems. This is a controllable industry. It’s up to the Government and the regulators to put in the controls. The technology is there to put in whatever type of controls you want.”
Mr Major added: “While the bankers are coalescing to ban and blackball these people, these people are circumventing the system to drive their profits down. Their fees are going because they are no longer getting to make transfers, and they are offering mortgages, so the banks are not getting that business.
“As their rigid requirements grow, theirs lower. You can’t compete anyway, because their [web shops] money is money is at zero rate. It’s a bad situation all around if the regulators don’t get a grip on this.”
Mr Major estimated that close to $100 million in mortgages issued by the web shops were not recorded with the Central Bank, and that commercial banks were losing $500,000 in fees a year because fewer people were using them.
He added that web shop operators, as in the case of FML chief Craig Flowers, who recently expanded his web shop business to Haiti, were finding ways to export their capital and create employment in other countries.
Mr Major told the Conclave that there were more than 380 web shops in the Bahamas, with 4,000-4,500 people employed in the industry. “Any of us who would like to pretend it’s not an industry are burying our heads in the sand,” he said.
“It’s an industry that is organically grown in the Bahamas. The latest operators have taken it to another level through technology. It’s real and it’s never going to go away. There will never be enough policemen and enough jails. If you attempt to make it go away you might force it a little deeper underground,. which makes it more dangerous and prone to things you don’t want to see happening.”
Mr Major estimated that web shops collectively generated an annual turnover of $400 million per year, noting that there were some patrons who spent as much as $5,000-$10,000 a day.
“You have white, black, middle and upper class. You have a lot of people who are lower class but play regularly,” he added. “People do win, and they win regularly. The problem is, as opponents argue, some get addicted and they keep chasing that win.
“If everyone was losing no one would gamble. The pay out is around 65-75 per cent. At the end of the day, more lose than those who win, otherwise there would be no industry,” said Mr Major, suggesting that a control measure be implemented for persons with gambling issues and limits be imposed on the amount of times a person could play.
He said the web shop industry paid out roughly $260 million a year, and paid out about $40 million in operating expenses. “They are the first to pay their rent. In fact, they pay in advance by six months, their NIB is current, they pay their staff cash, they pay their bills and they give generously,” said Mr Major.
He added that while the Government could look to tax the $100 million net profit the industry made, it should be taxing the gross.
“I think they should tax the winnings too. The winnings are greater than the margin, and certainly the net. $60-70 million is what the Government could generate in taxes tomorrow from this industry,” said Mr Major.
Comments
newcitizen 10 years ago
This is not costing the banks '$500,000' in fees. They would never have been giving mortgages out to the people who get them from webshops anyway.
GrassRoot 10 years ago
well its called money laundering. using revenues from illicit businesses and put them back to the economy. I wonder what the interest rates are for this mortgages. Seems the government, Cabinet, Judiciary, Regulators in the Bahamas all live under a rock.
GrassRoot 10 years ago
Mr. Major you are a paid consultant, so we don't believe you. not a single word. Of course the money house are well organized. I would hope so with all the money they made, to claim a payout ratio of 1:3 is just hot air, and exporting capital for purposes of avoiding taxes is called capital flight. Seems Mr. Flowers and friends are doing everything for their country.
ohdrap4 10 years ago
i heard on the radio that people "save money" by getting a mortgage from the web shop because they don't pay the conveyance and stamp tax right away.
looks like the thing is lease to own, so they can evict you. i am sure the buyers are even less protected from unfair practices than they are at the bank.
also, should gambling be suddenly legalized, these developments will likely be abandoned to the owners who wiill be responsible for all maintenance and costs will be ridiculous.
B_I_D___ 10 years ago
Maybe Ishmael should have got his mortgage from a web shop...
sheeprunner12 10 years ago
So, where are the homes being built with $100 million worth of mortgages???????? The last time I check, I see downturn in the construction sector and more foreclosures?????
Paul Major has his own underground agenda
Reality_Check 10 years ago
BAHAMAS NOW A COUNTRY RUN BY KNOWN CRIMINALS THANKS TO PGC AND HIS MINION CRONIES. JUST LOOK AT WHAT ALL OF THE ILLEGAL DRUG CARTEL MONEY-LAUNDERING HAS DONE TO COUNTRIES LIKE COLOMBIA. GAME OVER THANKS TO THE LIKES OF THE MANY SILENT QCs IN OUR COUNTRY WHO EITHER ARE GREEDY OR LIVE IN FEAR.....THEY ARE THE SILENT FACILITATORS!
killemwitdakno 10 years ago
.. it's been like that with them since Pindling. Glad someone's finally relating all this to how the cartels puppeteer their gov then overthrow them.
sheeprunner12 10 years ago
Reality, the reality is that the judicial system has long been a facilitator for crooks....... both in suit and handcuffs
What we need in this country is a truly independent court system......... not tied to a PM appointed Attorney General, Legal/Police Commissions, CJ, Judges, COP etc.
Thats the real problem...................................... 21st century constitutional reform
killemwitdakno 10 years ago
Legalizing gambling isn't supposed to legalize their mortgages. That's like medical marijuana clinics selling recreational amounts. This is risking our best business affairs because it's going to raise eyebrows with the banks who just took action not to be bullied and bribed by Perry's call. This is bad because he's condoning the numbers boys to drive banks down; all that will be left is gov run BOB. Pindling forced foreigners out before and then he was all about drugs. Realize what is happening..
BahamasGamingAssociation 9 years, 10 months ago
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bahama...">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bahama...
WHICH ON OF THE BELOW REIGNS SUPREME IN THE BAHAMAS?
The Bahamas Lottery and Gaming Act Chapter 387 Section 50 Persons prohibited from Gaming
Or
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Chapter III – Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individual. Section 26 Protection from Discrimination on grounds of Race, Place of Origin etc.
The Bahamas Gaming Association stands by the Ideology that all human beings who are 18 years or older should be treated equally in all sectors of the Bahamian Economy which is enshrined in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
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