The Government of Jamaica has recently adopted a decision to authorize several international investors to open the country’s first land based casino, giving a chance for online gambling to become legal. This Tuesday Prime Minister Bruce Golding plans to make an official statement on the issue of gambling legalization during the Budget Debate. As has been reported the first casino is planned to be hosted by a new hotel that will be erected in Montego Bay, St James and will be larger that any existing casino in the island. Also, a great number of Jamaicans are expected to be employed at the casino. The hotel might haven as many as four thousand rooms but its construction will not be initiated in case the casino is not allowed, reported the source. The name of the probable developers was not yet disclosed; however it is apparent that the company will have to be able to invest several billion dollars and have a trustworthy experience of casino and hotel operation. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett stated that campaign against casinos proved to be feigned since the interest groups opposing casinos introduction do not in any ways mention other forms of betting, gaming and lotteries. The Jamaica Labour Party government is going to resume plans scheduled by previous People's National Party (PNP) administration, which were to issue the first casino license to a group of foreign companies, as reported Bartlett. Currently slot and other gaming machines are allowed throughout the country; there are even several lounges. In 2003 PNP initiated consideration of the casino matter, arguing that it will largely boost tourism revenues. In 2006 the PNP government committed to the concept of a casino resort, complete with sports book, table games and slot machines. Current government party is expected to follow the initiative.
