Casino legality: allowed only for tourists (local citizens cannot play)

Shortly

The Bahamian model is a resort casino for guests of the country. Under the current regime, access to tables and slots is open to non-residents over 18 years old, but is closed to persons "usually living" in the Bahamas - this includes Bahamas citizens, permanent residents, work permit holders and their spouses. This policy is consistently confirmed by official and media sources, including the interpretation "resident vs. non-resident" (and not "foreigner vs. Bahamian").

1) What the law and regulations say

The basic framework is Gaming Act 2014 and Gaming Regulations 2014, which modernized the admission and delimited resort casinos (for guests) and the domestic segment (web-shops/" gaming houses ") for the local population. The law introduced the key concept of "domestic player" (includes citizens, permanent residence, work permit holders, etc.), through which the participation of residents in the home segment is regulated, and not in resort casinos.

Historically, direct prohibition was formulated in detail in the Lotteries and Gaming Act (section 50) - it applied to persons "usually living" in the country (including spouses), and to holders of work permit/permanent residence. Modern official clarifications and publications continue to refer to this construction when describing the ban on residents.

2) Who counts as "resident" (and why that's more important than "citizenship")

In Bahamian practice, the key criterion is "ordinarly resident" (usually resident). Therefore, the ban applies not only to citizens of the Bahamas, but also to resident foreigners (permanent residence, work permit) and their spouses.

Visiting Bahamas living outside the country, according to the interpretation of a number of publications, can play as non-residents, while any residents (including non-citizens) - no.

3) Age and access

The minimum age for tourists to play is 18 +. This is the industry standard and public position in official and business sources.

4) Exceptions often asked

Self-exclusion: Resorts (such as Baha Mar) maintain a voluntary self-exclusion program, copies of applications are submitted to the Gaming Board for The Bahamas according to the Gaming Act 2014. This applies specifically to guests eligible for admission.

Domestic segment (web-shops): residents have access to a separate segment of interactive betting/lotteries (gaming houses) under license and strict KYC/AML - these are not resort casinos.

5) Political discussions of changes - what happened in 2023-2024

The government and the regulator in 2023-2024. publicly discussed the possibility of easing the ban for residents (for example, admission under certain conditions), but to date (October 11, 2025), sustainable publications continue to record the current ban for persons "usually living" in the Bahamas.

6) Practice at the resort level

Flagship venues (Atlantis, Baha Mar) position themselves as casinos for guests; in parallel, responsible game policies and formal procedures for interacting with the Gaming Board for self-exclusion are developing.

7) Why the Bahamas is sticking to the "tourist" model

1. The image of the resort destination: the casino is part of a complex product, but not the core of domestic consumption.

2. Social political compromise: constitutionally permissible various regulations for residents and guests ("discrimination" in the field of gaming is allowed as an instrument of politics).

3. Risk control: delimitation of resort and "home" segments, in-depth AML/KYC and supervision of the Gaming Board.

8) Frequent Questions (FAQs)

As a citizen of the Bahamas, can I play casino games over the weekend?

If you usually live in the Bahamas (resident), no. The ban applies to residents regardless of citizenship.

I am a citizen of the Bahamas, but I constantly live abroad and came as a tourist. Can I play?

Publications emphasize the distinction of "resident vs. non-resident": visiting non-residents can play. Check your entry/residence documents and age (18 +).

I am a foreigner with permanent residence (or work permit) in the Bahamas. Will I be allowed?

No, it isn't. Residents (including foreigners with permanent residence/work permit) are not allowed in the casino.

Where can the locals play then?

In the segment of gaming houses (web-shops), regulated by Gaming Act 2014 and Regulations 2014 (strict KYC/AML). This is a different format, not equal to a casino resort.

In the Bahamas, casinos are for tourists, and residents cannot play. The "resident vs. non-resident" construct is central to casino access and is supported by legislative framework, clarification, and sustainable practice. Discussions of possible liberalization periodically surface, but today the model remains the same: admission is only for non-residents 18 +.

• Government section of Gaming & Casinos (frame 2014).
• Gaming Act 2014/Gaming Regulations 2014 (official PDF).
• Media explanations about the current ban for residents and the breakdown of "resident vs. non-resident."
• Materials on self-exclusion and interaction with the Gaming Board (Baha Mar).