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by pltm
(PLTM) - Premier and Finance Minister Hon. Andrew Fahie said he will not continue to allow monies derived from lottery, other gaming and betting activities to leave the Territory.
On Thursday afternoon, September 23, the House of Assembly passed the Virgin Islands Gaming and Betting Control (Amendment) Act, 2021. It is an amendment to the original controversial 2020 Act, which will now allow for online gaming and betting activities.
In response to concerns, the Premier said Members of the House are aware that gambling is taking place in the BVI, even before the Act came into force last year.
“Everyone of us sitting down in here know this, if we do not correct this, we are going to get blacklisted. You don’t have to ask nobody or get a GPS to buy a lotto ticket in this country, or a parlay in this country,” he said adding, “and what is government getting out of all of this, zero. And millions of dollars going through the door.”
Quoting Mark 12:17 of the Bible, the Premier said, “Caesar has to get what is Caesar’s. I don’t gamble at all. I grew up in a family who were gambling, but I don’t gamble. I personally do not believe in it, but I am not letting that money get away from here anymore.”
The Premier added, “give Caesar what’s his and let’s regulate it and we regulated so there is no money laundering…regulate it and get what is ours and what is done illegally shut it down. We cannot be living a lie; we know it's going on. And we know it was illegal.”
Concerns were raised by Second District Representative Hon. Melville Mitch Turnbull, who made it clear that he is against the move. But Premier Fahie said the government is doing the right thing.
“We have to do one or two things as a country, we either shut all of them down and lock all of them up, which is quite a bit. So we better have a big jail cell, or you go and do what we are doing, put the regulations in place how they are going to operate legally,” he said.
Premier Fahie added, “and get what is yours and make sure that it is properly regulated so it doesn’t encourage any negative behaviour and then you could shut down anybody who operate outside of those regulations.”
Drug $$ Don’t Burn
Quoting Isaiah 45:3 from the Bible, the Territory’s leader said police burn illicit drugs but not the money coming from drug operations.
“I asked again when there is a drug bust, do they burn the drugs after, the answer is yes, but law enforcement, the police especially here, do they burn the money? I have never seen them burn the money. I see them burn the drugs. So, the question is, is the money bad or is the methodology what [was used] to get the money is what’s in question.”
He said the same monies are used to build schools and other infrastructures.
“Here they supposed to deposit it in the bank through the financial secretary but is the money bad? And you telling me once we seize the money all of sudden the money becomes good and then we can use it to build schools, help homeless. So that is a clear way where I see in my mindset, where Isaiah 45:3 comes in,” he said.
Online Betting
The amendment is to allow for online gaming and betting. Premier Fahie said it is to make it clear that the kind of games envisaged would be permissible via electronic means and using the internet where necessary.
He said it makes clear what is and what is not permitted.
“So, when you look at what the legislation reflect after we make the amendments it will be more clear that any gaming that is done in this jurisdiction that matches the definition set out in the original Act, if it is done using electronic and internet means then it falls under the Act and must be regulated as such.”
He said: “If anyone engages in gaming in the territory including using electronic and internet means then they must either be in compliance with the law or they are breaking the law.”
Hon. Kye Rymer, Transportation, Works and Utilities said the online aspect is very important.
“A very important component was missing, and we are here today…as we speak of diversifying the economy, I think this online aspect of the bill is quite necessary as we continue to go through this COVID time. There is quite a lot of benefits in terms of the online gaming,” minister Rymer said.
Premier Fahie has repeatedly said that the gambling legislation will generate millions in revenues along with creating much needed job opportunities.
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