Trinidad and Tobago near gaming law

The Caribbean country is getting closer to a gaming industry legalisation as the market could experience changes in the short run.

Trinidad and Tobago.- Legislators of Trinidad and Tobago have moved forward with the project that would regulate the gaming industry. Although the government has not revealed further information, local press has assured the market could face several changes soon under an updated law.

The Joint Select Committee of Trinidad and Tobago Parliament will continue the evaluation of gaming proposal in September. The Gambling and Betting Control Bill would legislate the industry and also create a special governmental regulator to review the financial and legal situation of gaming operations.

“We are now attempting to hold public hearings with stakeholders. We are trying to fix dates. When Parliament resumes the work of the JSC, it will continue,” explained JSC member Senator Wade Mark. The meetings are expected to be held before Parliament resumes activity on September 6, according to the news outlet Trinidad Express.

The Gambling Control Commission could begin its operations by 2018, if legislators pass the bill during current session. The bill will be evaluated by the Joint Select Committee, which was established last February and is chaired by Finance Minister Colm Imbert. Other 11 officials complete the board.

“The board simply does not have enough resources so the country needs the Revenue Authority very badly. We need an over-arching agency that shares information among all the revenue agencies in the country,” had commented Colm Imbert about regulating and controlling the gaming sector.