Memories Grand Bahama Beach Resort is located on the Grand Bahama island just outside the town of Freeport and is an all inclusive resort with casino, which opened in 2014. It closed in October last year when it was hit by Hurricane Matthew. Te damage removed 1,500 rooms from Grand Bahamas island’s hotel inventory with Memories closed and just 200 rooms open at the Grand Lucayan which hit more recently has cost around $200m.
Wilchombe said $3m was raised from the one per cent levy on web shop chains but highlighted how useful a lottery would be to boost this figure for such situations.
When web shops were legalised in 2014, Wilchombe said at the time: “Te gaming houses employ 3,600 Bahamians. Our casinos employ just over 1,000. Te contribution they make to the community and taxes they pay are more than those paid by the casinos. Save but one, all of them pay and they pay on time. Tey are good, prudent businessmen.
“Te question is do we consider a lottery in the future? How soon it will be is another question, but it has to be looked at.”
Tey suggested a co-government and public owned lottery which can then be given to a private entity to run. Back in 2013 the subject was put to a referendum but an overwhelming number rejected the regulation.
Tere are some games available which comply with the gaming act which now accommodates ‘lotto’ and other such products.
Tere have also been several queries over a new game launched by Island Luck. Island Luck is a ‘numbers game’ although they recently introduced a Quick Draw game which is a three ball game offering 32 draws per day and this has come under some criticism. However Quick Draw is not a public lottery and number games are permitted under law.
Island Luck is operated by Playtech Systems Ltd. Players can access online and play lottery, casino or sportsbook via 60 locations across the island.
Te problem is many argue that if there is to be a lottery it should be a national lottery and that this lottery doesn’t pay much back at all to charity or organisations.
Tere have been many calls to change the law in the Bahamas to not only permit locals to gamble but also to introduce a more liberal gaming act and allow a national lottery.
Tis particular subject has been debated since the 1990s and it has been estimated that a legal lottery could net the government an extra $20m in taxes.
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