Jamaica Coat of Arm and National Flag Government of Jamaica

Gaming Licenses to be renewed by March 31

Posted on: February 1, 2019

Category: Uncategorized

The Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) is calling for all owners and operators of gaming machines to renew their licences by March 31.

Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on January 30, Director of Licensing at the BGLC, Maurice Thompson, said that sanctions for non-compliance will kick in on April 1 attracting a penalty of up to 60 per cent of the fees.

Director of Licensing at the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), Maurice Thompson, speaking at a JIS Think Tank on January 30

He said that the Commission will be accepting documents for renewal of licenses along with the required fees at tax offices across the island between February 11 and March 19.

The BGLC will be at the tax office in Spanish Town on February 25 and 26; Montego Bay on February 11and 12 and March 4 and 5; Mandeville, February 18 and 19; Port Antonio, February 25 and 26; May Pen, March 4 and 5; Portmore, March 11 and 12; St. Ann’s Bay, March 11 and 12; and Savanna-la-Mar on February 11 and 12 and March 18 and 19.

For the renewal process, licensees are required to pay levies to Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) for each machine and each premises, as well as corresponding fees to the BGLC. The TAJ receipt must be presented at the time of payment of the BGLC fees.

Licensees can pay the Commission fee using their debit or credit card, and so they no longer need to do so through the bank.

Chief Executive Officer at the BGLC, Vitus Evans, said that the Commission is finalising arrangements for Paymaster and Bill Express to accept payments.

Mr. Evans is imploring persons to make their payments on time. “If you are not licensed then you are an illegal operator, and we will have to take action, and your machines can be seized,” he warned.

Operators of locally made machines will pay $5,000 to the TAJ and $5,000 for licensing and disc fees per gaming machine to the BGLC. Owners of premises housing machines are required to pay $2,500 per premises to the TAJ and $1,000 for each premises to the BGLC.

The BGLC is also reminding all new premises owners or machine operators that they are required to pay a due diligence fee of $5,000.

The BGLC is the Government body that licenses, regulates and monitors the local gaming industry, facilitates its growth and development and protects the public from unfair, unscrupulous and illegal activities.

The Commission is a major revenue source for the Government, earning $6.5 billion in 2018.

Owners, operators and manufacturers of gaming machines in Jamaica, as well as operators of prescribed premises for gaming must renew their licenses by April 1, 2018.
The Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission, the statutory body responsible for licensing, monitoring and regulating Jamaica’s gaming industry, reminds gaming industry stakeholders that they should submit applications for license renewals on or before March 31.
To facilitate the renewals, the BGLC team will be stationed at TAJ Offices in parishes outside of Kingston & St. Andrew from February 26 to March 20th. This is to enable licensees to submit applications without having to travel to the Commission’s office in Kingston.
The team will be at the St. Ann’s Bay Revenue Service Centre on February 26 and
27, Mandeville Revenue Service Centre on March 5 and 6, Savanna-la-Mar Tax Office on March 12 and 13 and at the Montego Bay Revenue Service Centre on March 19 and 20.
“BGLC’s Remote Licensing exercise is an annual activity to facilitate the license renewal process for gaming operators,” explained Maurice Thompson, Director of Licensing and Registration at the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission. “We do this as a convenience for gaming licensees and encourage them to take advantage of this service to renew and pay the requisite levies on time to avoid penalties.”

Board of Commissioners – Clovis Metcalfe, O.D. (Chairman), Solomon Sharpe, Charles Heholt, Christopher Reckord, Paul East , Ian Scarlett

Under Section 44 of the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act, operators of locally manufactured gaming machines are required to pay a levy of $5,000 and license fee of $5,000 to TAJ and BGLC (respectively) for each machine operated. Operators of prescribed premises are required to pay $2,500 for each premises to the TAJ and $1,000 for each to the BGLC. Penalties of up to 60% will apply for payments made after April 1.
The BGLC reports that there are over 6,000 licenses gaming machines located in just over 700 premises across the island. More than 50% of these are locally manufactured machines. The BGLC is paying close attention to local manufacturers of gaming machines to ensure that these suppliers are duly licensed by the Commission, and reminds operators to ensure they purchase machines only from licensed manufacturers.
The Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission is an independent statutory body established in 1975 under the provisions of the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1965. The work of the commission includes granting permits, licenses and approvals to persons or entities considered fit and proper to conduct betting, gaming and lottery activities.