Jamaica accepts proposals to develop casinos for the first time

Jamaica looks to boost its tourism industry and Phillips believes offering casinos under the new regulations is how Jamaica will expand its hotel sector.

The Request for Proposal process began on June 1, 2013, and was made possible under the Casino Gaming (Application for Declaration of Approved Integrated Resort Development)
Regulations 2012 and the Casino Gaming (Prescribed Games) Regulations 2012, passed by both the Parliament and the Senate in 2012.

Minister Phillips, in his 2013-2014 Budget presentation, spoke about "the IRD as the means by which the GOJ proposes to substantially grow the Hotel Sector." The project will lead to the expansion and enhancement the tourism product, enabling guests to have access to the full range of gaming facilities including traditional table games as well as gaming machines. 
 
Under an act passed by Jamaica's legislature last year, developers can build casinos that offer traditional table games and slot machines. Currently, Jamaica has just a few facilities in the capital of Kingston and popular tourist areas where people can play gaming machines.

More importantly, the establishment of such developments will not only create jobs for many Jamaicans during the construction phase and when the entity is operationalized, but also trigger new investments in the tourism sector. 

The application documents and a summary of the key RFP specification can be obtained from the Ministry of Finance and Planning website at www.mof.gov.jm. Interested investors have until September 30, 2013 to submit proposals and the review period for applications is estimated to not exceed four months after the deadline of submission of RFPs. A Project Co-ordinator has been appointed to oversee the application process and to act as agent for the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

IRD by definition is a development consisting of a mix of various tourism amenities and facilities in the same precinct including, but not limited to, hotels, hotel rooms, villas, casinos, attractions, sporting facilities, entertainment facilities, service centres and shopping centres.

Religious groups on the island have long worried that casinos will lead to more social problems.