The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Gaming Board is moving to address Bahamian casino industry concerns over “a decline in the professionalism and performance quality” of some personnel.

Dr Andre Rollins, the Board’s chairman, told Tribune Business that in preparation for a ‘Yes’ vote in today’s referendum on the legalisation of web shop gaming, the Board - which would be that sector’s lead regulator - was identifying potential high quality recruits who understood how the industry operated.

He added that the Board’s new secretary, Verdant Scott, a former police officer with 30 years’ experience of the gaming industry, planned to “bring a lot of reforms” to the regulator to “make it much more progressive” as it prepares for a hugely expanded role and responsibilities.

And Dr Rollins, who is also the PLP MP for Fort Charlotte, disclosed that the Gaming Board was also looking to add an in-house Legal Department to its four existing divisions of

Investigations, Enforcement, Audit, and Information Technology and Electronics.

But, acknowledging concerns over the quality of its existing labour pool, Dr Rollins told Tribune Business: “We still want to have a much more professional and skilled workforce within the Gaming Board that will enable us to earn the respect of the various stakeholders.

“That is a concern expressed to us by employees and management of the casinos; that they’ve seen in the past a decline in the professionalism and quality of performance by some. We are doing a lot to emphasise the uplifting of the Gaming Board’s esteem in the eyes of those we police. At the end of the day, we’re going to do our part to improve the standing of the Gaming Board.”

Explaining that the Gaming Board’s role was akin to that of a law enforcement agency in the context of Bahamian casinos, Dr Rollins said its 135-strong staff were being encouraged to treat their roles as “more than just a job”.

With one eye on regulating a ‘legalised’ web shop gaming sector, spanning hundreds of locations and multiple islands, he told Tribune Business: “One thing the Gaming Board is doing right away is identifying highly capable individuals as prospective new employees.

“People who have experience in gaming, not necessarily those coming in without prior experience of gaming. It would potentially hurt the industry at a time when it’s experiencing a greater degree of responsibility to have persons with no understanding of gaming regulating it.

“We are looking at having in place a hiring policy to bring on the best and brightest, ensuring people have the skills to ensure the Gaming Board is successful in the future regulation of the sector.”

Speaking to the appointment of Mr Scott as the Board’s secretary, Dr Rollins added: “There was definitely a need for reform to ensure we’re in line with what’s expected of the Board in the 21st century.”

He said there had been “very little effort at any reform” in the past, the Board chairman adding that Mr Scott was familiar with the casino industry’s technology advances, such as mobile and Internet gaming.

This, he added, would help place the Gaming Board “at the cutting edge. You can’t police an industry you don’t understand, although I’m not saying the former secretary didn’t understand it”.

Dr Rollins said Mr Scott also wanted to establish an in-house legal department, which would “deal with any issues the Gaming Board may face in the future with relation to the expansion of the gaming regime”.

It would liaise with the Attorney General’s Office on the expansion of the industry and its responsibilities, plus handle private sector recommendations for legislative upgrades and deal with compliance issues.