Online gambling and offshore (Jamaica)

Online gambling: lack of regulation, access to offshore (Jamaica)

1) Legal vacuum

Jamaica does not have a separate law governing online casinos, poker or interactive betting. The main document - Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act (1965) - was written long before the advent of the Internet and covers only offline betting, slot machines and lotteries.

Although BGLC has modernized procedures (including digitalization of reporting), remote gambling is not formally defined in the legislation. Therefore:

no "online operator" category;
there is no mechanism for certification of sites or RNG platforms;
offshore licenses (Curacao, Malta, Panama) are not legally recognized, but are not explicitly prohibited.

2) What it means in practice

Players can legally use foreign sites, since there is no direct ban or criminal liability for playing offshore. Banks and payment gateways usually do not block transactions unless they violate currency controls.

Thus, offshore casinos and bookmakers operate in a "gray zone": the state receives no taxes, players have no legal protection, and BGLC does not control the transparency of payments or RNG.

3) Why the state is dragging its feet on regulation

1. Offline sector priority. The resources of the regulator go to control retail outlets, lotteries and gaming halls.

2. Separate logic for casinos. Casino Gaming Act (2010) only covers large IRD resorts, not the online model.

3. Limited technical resources for online traffic monitoring and compliance.

4. Fiscal neutrality. The state is still receiving stable revenues from Supreme Ventures (lottery) and retail rates, without feeling an urgent need for revision.

4) Consequences and risks

Lack of protection for players: offshore sites are not required to comply with limits, KYC or refunds.

No taxation: The budget loses potential revenue from GGR.

AML/CFT risks: cross-border crypto transactions and deposits without reporting can become a channel for money laundering.

Image risk: Jamaica positions itself as a financially sustainable jurisdiction, but the "gray" online segment is contrary to FATF principles.

5) International analogues and possible model for Jamaica

The Bahamas and Barbados began working on separate Online Gaming Bills in the 2020s - limited licenses with a 15-20% GGR tax and mandatory AML monitoring.

Colombia and Malta show that a transparent online model boosts budget revenues without "cannibalizing" the offline market.

For Jamaica, it is realistic to implement online betting and casino pilot licensing overseen by the BGLC, with requirements:

Registration of the .jm domain
Server in local jurisdiction
reporting in GMIS (Gaming Management Information System).

6) Forecast: 2025-2030

BGLC and the Ministry of Finance are already implementing digital control systems (GMIS) and strengthening AML supervision - the logical next step is the introduction of online registration of operators and integration with POS and reporting systems.

Until that moment, access to offshore companies will remain open, and players will act at their own risk.

Online gambling in Jamaica is not formally prohibited, but is also not regulated: players freely use offshore sites without guarantees of payments or protection. For the state, this is a missed source of tax and control, and for BGLC, it is a challenge to the digital age. With the further development of digitalization and AML reforms, the emergence of a regulated online segment by analogy with regional models is likely.