The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune  Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE operators of web shop chain Chances Games said they plan to expand the business to several Family Islands and increase staff after being granted a conditional gaming house operator license by the Gaming Board.

Raymond Culmer, CEO and president of Jarol Investment Ltd, accompanied by his wife and Vice-President Dhalene Culmer, made the announcement at their Chances Games headquarters in the Ruthhaven Plaza in Freeport on Wednesday.

Mr Culmer, who currently operates 46 stores and employs 210 workers, plans to expand his gaming business to some 65 stores in the next two weeks once approval is granted for several new gaming shops in Andros, Long Island and San Salvador.

“I feel like I have won an award,” Mr Culmer told reporters at a press conference in Freeport. “We have been awarded a conditional license by the Gaming Board of the Bahamas.”

In addition to 13 web shops in Grand Bahama, Chances Games also has 13 stores in Nassau, 11 in Abaco, and stores in Eleuthera, Bimini, and Cat Island.

“We are planning to open (more) stores and have already secured leases…for three locations in Andros, three in Long Island, and one in San Salvador,” he said. “As soon as those applications are approved we should have somewhere in the region of 65 stores throughout The Bahamas.”

Once the new stores come on stream, Mr Culmer said that staff will increase to around 250-260.

According Mr Culmer, Jarol Investment Ltd has paid around $6m to $7m in taxes and investigative fees to the Gaming Board.

Chances Games has to abide by regulations set forth in its license, which also calls for corporate responsibility to community projects.

Mr Culmer said that they are interested in assisting organisations that cater to young men.

“We are very concerned about the way our young men are going and so those are the projects we would like to contribute most to such as Reach Out Ministries, Bahamas Defence Force Rangers, and we have given to several Junkanoo groups already this year.

“We have also given scholarships to students which have been awarded on the basis of need rather than academic performance. That’s the direction we want to head into, and rescuing our young men,” he said.

Mr Culmer says he has been in the gaming business for the past 21 years, starting out as a writer for a local game operator.

He suggested there should be regulations governing operating hours of gaming establishments.

“Some stores in Nassau go for 24 hours and some until 2am and 3am. That is very dangerous and I feel that no store should be open before 7am and close no later than midnight. Also, we are very much against contact with children and we have noticed that some of our competitors give out awards and gifts to kids. And we would like him (Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe) to use his prerogative to put an end to that,” he said.

He also said while gambling is a pastime, his company is partnering with a local psychiatrist to help treat at-risk individuals or addicts they may encounter.

“Gambling is a pastime and when it is not treated as such that person needs help. Like any pastime, if you indulge in it too much it could affect your life,” he said.

He also said while three local banks have asked the company to close out their accounts, Bank of the Bahamas has stepped in to assist by providing services to them.