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Basic Law: Casino Control Act (Bahamas) - actually Gaming Act 2014
Introduction: Why not "Casino Control Act"
In Bahamian law, the term "Casino Control Act" is not the name of the current basic casino law. The key standard is the Gaming Act 2014, which modernized the entire mode and completely canceled the previous Lotteries and Gaming Act (Ch. 387) и Casino Taxation Act (Ch. 371). This is explicitly recorded in the 2014 Bill/Act Supplement (Schedule: "Lotteries and Gaming Act - The whole; Casino Taxation Act — The whole”).
1) What regulates Gaming Act 2014
The law created a modern system of regulation of casinos and related types of gaming, continuing the work of the Gaming Board for The Bahamas as a central regulator (legal personality, composition, authority). The goal is to license and oversee all forms of licensed gaming in the country.
Key blocks:- Licensing and suitability certificates for operators, share owners and key employees (including categories such as managers, pit bosses, surveillance personnel).
- Supervision and inspections: authorized persons and police can visit licensed premises without a warrant, check documents/data and seize evidence of violations with the issuance of receipts.
- Responsible play and social measures: the law explicitly provides for education, consulting and treatment of problem play, as well as research on the impact of legal gaming.
2) Activities and prohibitions
Without a license, it is prohibited: holding/advertising games (except for "social"), participation in operational activities, production/delivery/import of gaming devices, possession of gaming devices and participation in profits.
Casino access: Historically, Bahamas residents were prohibited from playing casinos; the non-resident admission regime remained as the basic model, although in 2023 the government publicly discussed the possibility of easing the rules.
3) Online, mobile and proxy gaming
Gaming Act 2014 expanded the concept of gaming and allowed new formats - mobile and proxy gaming in licensed casinos, while tightening control over interactive gaming. For the domestic market, a separate segment of Gaming House Operators ("web shops") has been created with remote transactions via the Internet (lotto, slots, sports book) - this is separate from resort casinos.
Plus, the law has an array of Gaming Rules 2015 with technical regulations for accounting, software/hard count, EMS/DB control, slot procedures and jackpots.
4) The role and powers of the Gaming Board
Regulator:- issues/denies licenses and certificates of suitability;
- establishes casino operating practices;
- may delegate powers, conduct inspections, initiate penalties and sanctions;
- monitors AML/CFT, KYC and compliance with international standards.
5) What exactly repealed the new law
The appendix to the 2014 act fixes the total cancellation:- Lotteries and Gaming Act (Ch. 387) - in its entirety;
- Casino Taxation Act (Ch. 371) - in its entirety;
- a number of by-laws (pari-mutuel, sportsbook) - with deferred termination at the time of publication of new rules. This meant restarting all key frameworks from scratch.
6) Compliance practices and judicial review
The courts confirmed the broad powers of the Regulator to assess the suitability of applicants for licenses (for example: the refusal of a web-shop license to an operator was recognized as justified by the Supreme Court).
7) Responsible play and compliance in practice
Resorts (such as Baha Mar) maintain self-exclusion and guest assistance programs in accordance with the requirements of the Gaming Act 2014 and the rules of the Regulator.
8) Conclusion for investors and content authors
If you see in the sources the mention of "Casino Control Act" in relation to the Bahamas, we are almost certainly talking about Gaming Act 2014 and the accompanying Regulations/Rules. It is they who today determine licensing, access to casinos, online/mobile formats, technical standards and AML/KYC. For correct links, use the official texts: Gaming Act 2014 on the law portal, Government pages and Gaming Board materials.
Quick links to primary sources
Official text of Gaming Act 2014 (with sections on the Council, powers, prohibitions, admission and Appendix on the abolition of previous acts).
Government page "Gaming and Casinos" (frame 2014 and reasons for modernization).
History/description of Domestic Gaming (web shops) from Gaming Board.
Detailed Gaming Rules 2015 (accounting, slots, jackpots, EMS, etc.).
Explanatory Legal Note/Overview: Objectives and Effective Date (24. 11. 2014).