Tourism and gambling Jamaica

Tourism Market Focus (Jamaica)

1) Tourism as a strategic priority

Jamaica is one of the Caribbean's most recognizable tourism brands. More than 4 million tourists visit the country annually, and the travel industry generates up to 35% of GDP, taking into account related sectors. State policy is aimed at turning the island into an integrated recreation center, where entertainment, including gambling, will become an important part of the tourist product.

💡 Jamaica's Ministry of Tourism is on record as saying: the gaming sector should develop as a tool to make resorts more attractive, not as a separate industry.

2) Casinos only as part of resort complexes (IRD model)

The Casino Gaming Act (2010) established that casinos in Jamaica can only exist inside large tourist resorts - Integrated Resort Developments (IRD). This model provides:

a combination of hotel, entertainment, shopping and sports;
control over operators by Casino Gaming Commission (CGC);
high investment threshold (minimum 1000 rooms, level 4-5 infrastructure).

Example: the first IRD project is Princess Grand Jamaica (Hanover), which is scheduled to launch at the end of 2025. Next is expected Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Montego Bay - another tourist cluster with a focus on premium players and foreign guests.

3) Hotel play areas and "tourist adaptation"

Prior to the launch of the IRD casino, tourists can play in licensed gaming lounges located near hotels and shopping areas. Examples:

Acropolis Gaming Lounge (Kingston) is a premium gaming club for guests of the capital.
Treasure Hunt Gaming (Montego Bay) - a famous slot hall in Whitter Village, popular with guests of coastal resorts.

This model creates a smooth transition to the future format, where the game is integrated into the hotel service, as in Las Vegas or Macau, but with an island flavor.

4) Economic incentives and country image

The Jamaican government sees the integration of gambling and tourism as:

attracting investments (in 2023-2025, more than $2 billion was announced for IRD projects);
job creation (construction, hospitality, security, IT, casino management);
tax revenue growth through licenses and Gaming Levy;
strengthening the international image as a "luxurious but safe" Caribbean destination.

BGLC and CGC are jointly developing measures to curb illegal gambling and support responsible gambling - an important element in maintaining a positive image of the travel brand.

5) Technology and digitalization

The development of GMIS (Gaming Management Information System) from BGLC is a step towards online supervision of licensed halls and IRD projects. The system will help:

collect statistics on travel players;
Monitor transactions and payments
optimize tax accounting.

In addition, the authorities encourage cashless payments and digital wallets in tourist areas, which simplifies the service of foreign guests and increases transparency.

6) Outlook 2025-2030

The opening of the first IRD casino (Princess Grand Jamaica) will set a precedent and start a "tourist revolution" in entertainment.

Montego Bay will become the "showcase" of the Caribbean gambling industry.

Kingston and Oches-Rios will strengthen the role of business and entertainment centers.

The formation of a new type of tourist flow is expected - middle and premium players who come for all-inclusive vacations with casino elements.

Jamaica is betting on integrating tourism and gambling. Instead of the chaotic growth of gambling houses, the island chose a model of regulated casinos as part of resorts aimed at international guests. This combination - security, prestige and economic growth - turns the country into the future of the "Monte Carlo of the Caribbean."