The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The only web shop operator to have been denied a gaming licence yesterday blasted as “absolute nonsense” concerns expressed by legalised rivals over the legitimacy of his continuing operations.

Bet Vegas’s president, Anthony Brown, told Tribune Business he was able to remain in operation while the company awaited the outcome of its legal challenge to the Gaming Board’s decision not to grant it a licence.

“I’m not above the law.  If I was really illegal, if I was doing something wrong, I would have been shut down,” he said.

Bet Vegas is currently engaged in a Judicial Review of the Gaming Board/Government decision not to grant it a licence.  Web shop operators, who met on Wednesday with Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, who has responsibility for gaming, outlined a number of concerns regarding the industry, including the continued operation of Bet Vegas.

Craig Flowers, the FML Group of Companies chief, expressed particular concern particular concern about the continued operation of Bet Vegas.

“They are expanding,” Mr Flowers said, claiming that two Bet Vegas gaming houses have emerged “across the road” from two FML web shops.

“They’re not paying their taxes. How can we legitimately accept this?”

However, Mr Brown yesterday fired back: “What they are saying is absolute nonsense. Bet Vegas is the first to be GLI certified, which was a requirement by law.”

He subsequently provided the GLI certification, dated December 4, 2015, and added: “Find any operator that can provide documentation to prove they were certified any time before that date. 

“If any operator that got licenced had it before us, then let them present their’s. How is it that they got licenced and I didn’t? How is it that Bahama Dreams that went out of business got a licence and I didn’t?

“We had everything in place. I never existed before the Gaming Act. I came into existence after that. I paid all the fees and did everything the right way, but I’m the only one denied. Everyone that got licenced existed prior to the Act, and two are now out of business, which means that they couldn’t cut the mustard, but we’re still going.”

Mr Brown said Bet Vegas has lost roughly 60 per cent of its revenue due to the Gaming Board’s earlier pronouncements that its operations had not been licenced,and should close.

“We have lost maybe 60 per cent of revenue. We have had to make cutbacks on staff. At present we have about 64 employees,” he added.

“At our peak we had about 115, so we had to make some cutbacks there. We still have our locations but we are not operating all of them. We had to make cutbacks to remain operational.

“The goal was to remain operational until the court makes its decision.

We have lost a lot from the attacks in the media, but customers keep coming to us because they know that when they win they will get paid. I can’t be concerned about what others say. That’s their opinions. I know and have the facts.”

Mr Brown continued: “If the Government made the decision to legaliae an industry in the Bahamas, I think any Bahamian should have an opportunity to apply and, if they meet the requirement, they should be afforded the opportunity to operate.”

Eight gaming house operators were awarded conditional licences last October. They included: FML Web Shop, A Sure Win, Chances Games, Paradise Games, Island Luck, Percy’s at the Island Game, Asue Draw + Spin, and Bahama Dreams. 

The Gaming Board recently announced that Asue Draw would not be renewing its gaming house operator licence for 2016-2017, while Island Luck has acquired a majority 65 per cent stake in Bahama Dreams, as the costs associated with legalisation, regulation and taxation drive industry consolidation.

It is unclear whether Bet Vegas could apply for the licence being vacated by Asue Draw + Spin, given that Mr Wilchcombe said there had been agreement that eight would be awarded post-legalisation.

However, the Gaming House Operators Association has called for a 10-year moratorium on new licences.Some will view the Association’s position as anti-competitive, and a sign they want to have the multi-million dollar market for themselves and keep out new entrants.