Casino at tourist hotels (Grenada)

1) Legal foundation: "casino-in-hotel"

Grenada has legalized casinos as an element of tourist infrastructure: a license is only issued to the owner/operator of a hotel for at least 300 rooms accredited by the Grenada Tourism Authority, or a resort approved/appointed by the minister. That is, stand-alone casinos outside a large hotel are not allowed by law.

In parallel, there is a common framework for gaming: Gaming Act 2016 and Gaming Regulations SRO 48/2016 - through them application forms, supervision and licensing of "non-categorical" formats (clubs, machines, lotteries, etc.) are built, but the casino as a class regulates the act of 2014.

Since 2017, communications on filing applications and administration practice have been conducted by Gaming Secret at the Ministry of Legal Affairs (St. George's). This is a "front office" for the industry.

2) Who can objectively apply for a license

The key filter is the number of rooms 300 +. To understand the scale: the island's largest active resort, Royalton Grenada, has 269 rooms, that is, below the threshold; therefore, there are no operating casinos on the island in 2025.

A promising "candidate for removing the barrier" is Grenada National Resort (Levera), which is described in the developer's communications as a ≈500-room resort with a golf course and casino; the project regularly publishes updates on construction in 2024-2025 (actual opening and obtaining a license are separate stages).

3) Procedure: from concept to license

Step 1. Pre-screening. The project team confirms the hotel parameters (room ≥300, categories, public areas, security) and conducts preliminary consultations with Gaming Secret and relevant ministries.

Step 2. Document package. For casinos, the requirements of the 2014 act (including fit & proper criteria for beneficiaries/officers, access control schemes, hall plans, responsible gambling measures). For related segments (for example, machines outside the casino hall or lottery activities in the resort), SRO 48/2016 forms are applied.

Step 3. Filing and inspections. Submission via Secretariat, due diligence, inspections, regulator decision (Gaming Commission). In case of refusal, the appeal mechanism provided for by the 2016 law/regulations applies.

4) Operational requirements and red lines

Only part of 300 + hotel/resort. Independent city casinos are not provided for by the model.

Access control and 18 +. Mandatory age control, cash discipline, internal RG/AML policies (detailing - in application forms and regulator manuals).

Slots outside the casino. For "small" halls outside the resort, only stand-alone machines are allowed - connection to the central network is prohibited by the 2016 regulations.

5) Economics and effect for destination

Pros. The casino-in-hotel model increases the number of rooms and the average check, pulls the MICE segment, F&B and excursion, and also forms stable jobs (casino operating teams, security, IT, compliance). Studies on the Caribbean directly link the viability of a casino to the scale of a hotel (the threshold of 300 + rooms is found in several jurisdictions in the region).

Cons/risks. High CAPEX and long development cycle, urban planning restrictions (coastline, transport), sustainable construction requirements and RG/AML social agenda.

6) Why "on paper it is possible," but "in practice - not yet"

The main congestion is the infrastructure threshold: until a real-life resort with 300 + rooms appears, it is impossible to license a casino. Royalton (269) - below the limit; 500-room level projects are still in construction. Hence - the absence of "live" casinos in 2025 with a full legal framework.

7) Roadmap for the developer 300 + (summary)

1. Capacity & zoning: confirm the number of rooms and parameters of the site (coastal protection, transport, parking lots).

2. Regulatory track: early encounters with Gaming Secret; agree on a set of forms and a checklist for Casino Gaming Act 2014 + related regulations.

3. Compliance package: fit & proper, AML/KYC, RG policies, security/surveillance schemes, cash register and storage procedures.

4. Finmodel and taxes: (outside the framework of this article) - take into account the Gaming Tax for improper casino activities, VAT and CIT; agree on license fees under the terms of the permit.

5. Stage-by-stage entry: number pool and F&B launch to casino; RG/AML stress tests, staff training, pilot events.

8) FAQ (short)

Is it possible to open a casino without a hotel? No, it isn't. The license is issued only at the hotel/resort of 300 + rooms.

The closest hotel to the doorstep? Royalton Grenada - 269 rooms.

Is there a project that breaks through 300 +? Grenada National Resort (Levera) is billed as a ≈500 of casino rooms; project under construction/updates.

Where to go to start the process? В Gaming Secretariat (Ministry of Legal Affairs, St George’s).

The Grenada model purposefully binds casinos to large tourism: the legal "fence" of 300 + numbers protects against small points and at the same time increases the requirements for the quality of development and supervision. While there is no commissioned facility that meets the threshold, there is no casino on the island - but projects of the Grenada National Resort level have a chance to open the market and set the standards for its work.