Turks and Caicos Islands to legalise casinos

A map of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The British Overseas Territory the Turks and Caicos Islands are in the process of legalising casinos.

The lottery and gambling legislation bill is to be tabled to the House of Assembly before the close of 2014.

Last week, the Island’s Cabinet instructed the Attorney General’s Chambers to move the recommendations of a consultant report on the TCI’s gaming industry forward.

The consultation was carried out by White Brocklebank Associates.

They suggest that the development of the new bill should replace the Gaming Ordinance and Lottery Ordinance which are currently in place.

Premier Rufus Ewing said that the recommendations of White Brocklebank Associates are designed to improve and strengthen the framework for regulating the industry.

He said: “It is envisioned that the industry will be managed through a Gaming Commission, which would be a statutory body as we seek to strengthen the industry and also its capacity to regulate as we expand the industry with new casinos coming on board with the various hotel developments such as the Third Turtle, JW Marriot brand and Utopia.”

Mr Ewing said that a development agreement has been signed with the Turtle Cove resort. There is also another one pending for September with the JW Marriot hotel and a memorandum of understanding will be signed at a later date with Utopia. All three of these hotels have casinos as part of their development agreements.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are frequent tourist attractions, as well as used as an offshore financial centre. It has a population of approximately 31,500. The Islands lie southeast of Mayaguana in the Bahamas island chain and north of the island of Hispaniola. In August 2009, Britain suspended their self-rule after there were allegations of ministerial corruption. However, home rule was restored after the November 2012 elections to the Islands.