Online gambling - "gray" market (Jamaica)

Online gambling: grey market (Jamaica)

1) Legal field: what is settled and what is not

Offline segment. Betting, gaming halls, lotteries - under the BGLA-1965 and supervision of Betting, Gaming & Lotteries Commission (BGLC). The commission maintains registers of licensed operators (bookmakers, halls, "hotel-based" rooms, etc.).

Casino. Allowed only as part of Integrated Resort Developments (IRD) under Casino Gaming Act 2010 and overseen by Casino Gaming Commission (CGC). This is an offline model for tourist resorts.

Online. The acts have definitions of "online/remote betting" (2010 amendments), but there is no single full-fledged mode for online casinos and wide interactive games. Hence the "gray" demand (citizens go to foreign sites) and the complexity of supervision.

2) What the gray market looks like in practice

Offshore sites (casinos/bookmakers) accept gamblers from Jamaica without a local license.

Local unlicensed betting tricks periodically pop up online and offline. BGLC regularly warns: bets on nelіtsenzirovannykh operators are illegal and unsafe.

A licensed alternative in sports is a JustBet product (SVL) and a network of POS outlets, but these are offline/mobile channels of a licensed operator, not a "free" online casino.

3) Why demand goes "into the shadows"

There is no local online casino license. Players go to sites with licenses from other jurisdictions.

Low entry price for offshore companies. Quick registration, bonuses, flexible deposits.

Technological gap. Regulators are accelerating digitalization (GMIS), but the legal regime for online is not enough.

4) Risks for players and the state

Lack of consumer protection. There is no guarantee of payments, tools of "responsible play," local complaints. The BGLC explicitly points out the insecurity of betting on unlicensed sites.

Taxes and transparency. The budget loses GGR taxes and fees; it is harder to track questionable transactions.

AML/CFT. Gray online activity makes it difficult to comply with anti-laundering requirements - a topic where BGLC and CGC strengthen the framework offline (including for future IRD casinos).

5) What the regulator is already doing

Public warnings and campaigns against unlicensed online bookmakers.

Registers of licenses and "transparent showcase": lists of gaming halls, halls at hotels, bookmakers, etc. To check the legality of sites.

GMIS digitalization: the transition of licensing/supervision to the online format, a "step towards" control over remote channels.

6) Roadmap for "getting out of the gray zone" (pragmatic plan)

Stage 1 - putting things in order (0-6 months).

Accept/clarify the rules on the illegality of remote acceptance of bets without a BGLC license, with real sanctions (fines, blocks). In parallel - a "black list" of domains and a payment ban.

Launch a public register of permitted online products (who can do what remotely).

Stage 2 - online licensing pilot (6-18 months).

Create an online pilot for: a) sports betting; b) a limited set of casino games from "fit-and-proper" operators.

Requirements: hosting/data replication, integration with GMIS, KYC/18 +, deposit limits, RNG/platform audits, complaints and payment on time.

Stage 3 - integration with travel product (18-36 months).

For IRD resorts - omnichannel accounts: the player sees a single profile (hotel/casino/online), with limits and Responsible Gaming according to the CGC standard.

7) What to do for the player "here and now"

Install from licensed operators (check the sections "Licensed...," "Gaming Lounges," "Bookmakers" on the BGLC website).

Avoiding sites without a Jamaican license - BGLC considers such bets illegal and unsafe.

Remember about 18 + and safe play tools; IRD casinos will have expanded standards for responsible gambling.

Online gambling in Jamaica is gray primarily due to the legal "failure" between strong offline supervision (BGLC/CGC) and the lack of a full online casino license. While the regulator warns about the dangers of offshore rates and puts things in order offline, the real way out is an online pilot mode with integration into GMIS, hard KYC/AML and a transparent showcase of licenses. This translates demand from the "shadow" into taxes and consumer protection - without compromising the tourist IRD model.

Where to check legality: the official BGLC website (litsenzy/zalіv/bukmekerov registers) and CGC materials on IRD casinos.