The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

Craig Flowers, the FML group of companies chief weighed in on Bahamians being allowed to gamble in casinos and the implementation of standalone casinos on the Family Islands.

Mr Flowers questioned who would profit from these new endeavours and is of the opinion that revenue distribution must be discussed prior to expanding the country’s gaming industry.

He said: “So my point on the matter is that I think that a discussion needs to be had prior to any decisions being made in reference to mini casinos on the Family Islands because it would have to be defined as to who would be the operators, who would be the recipient of the revenue being generated because all of these things are new revenue that can be generated by the industry.

“I think they see the potential of the industry but the challenge is the industry has a tremendous potential to grow but in a regulated environment who and how does this business take place. Who is going to be the beneficiary of this new growth is the question?”

Dr Daniel Johnson, the Gaming Board’s executive chairman, mentioned the development of standalone casinos on the Family Islands earlier this year and indicated that proposals to make allowances for Freeport, Abaco and Exuma were being considered.

He said: “We also have a very unique opportunity coming, which is our Family Island experience that we’re not wanting it to be as it always was. So, you may see Family Island casinos that will now request that they have a boutique set-up, where they would like anyone to be able to game in those areas.”

“The proposal speaks to Freeport, Abaco and Exuma. They may wish to have a casino where anyone above the proper age, and of the right financial status, would be able to attend and participate in that entertainment experience.”

Mr Flowers said that policymakers are not prepared to allow Bahamians to gamble in casinos and noted that there is still a moratorium on new players being allowed into the sector.

He said: “These are all visions that have been offered as an extension to enlarge or to expand the industry. At present, there’s a moratorium that is in place in reference to additional casinos in the Bahamas, be it small large, standalone, miniature, the concern would be whether or not the policymakers have an appetite to expand the industry.

“We can have our wish list, but policymakers aren’t prepared to let Bahamians into casinos just yet. “

He explained that web shop operators are “enjoying the best of what has been offered” to the industry and will be reluctant to push for the government to allow patrons to gamble in casinos. The consumers would have to petition for this allowance rather as they have the ‘control’.

He said: “Operators are enjoying the best of what has been offered and I don’t think that the operators are going to get into any controversy or discussions on behalf of whether or not [Bahamians should gamble in casinos].

“The patrons who play these games should be asked if they are prepared to make any type of noise in that direction, but the operators won’t be saying anything because the reality is we have no control who has the control is the patron.”

Mr Flowers noted that Bahamians have been calling for a greater portion gaming revenue collected by government to be directed towards social organisations and activities.

He said: “There has been a lot appetite by the public that there should be more of the gaming revenues directed to more social activities and a tremendous amount of associations that needs financial assistance that the gaming platform should be directed more in that direction than the way it is doing now.”

He questioned whether foreigners would be able to establish standalone Family Island casinos and called for a collaborative effort between government, operators and patrons to determine the way forward for the gaming.

He said: “Is it going to be for domestic purposes only, or is it going to be to attract foreign casinos into that area? We would like to know that it is exclusively for Bahamians because if that’s not the case, what is the point?

“These are discussions that needs to be absolutely clear before we go ahead and just open up doors and expanding the industry. Unless we can clearly identify and agree to where the industry is going and not leave it just arbitrarily up to the to the operators, patrons or to the government.

“The three entities need to sit and have a discussion in terms of new or additional revenue that can be generated domestically and do a better job in directing how this revenue is to be dealt with once it is extracted from the public.”