NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper has urged the country’s gaming sector to take a “pulse check” and commission formal, independent studies to assess the impact of domestic gaming over the past decade.
“Domestic gaming has been with us for several decades, but it was only in 2015 that licensing was formally granted,” Cooper said. “Ten years into a regulated domestic environment, it is important for us to look at and assess the impact of the proliferation of gaming houses. My recommendation is that the industry leads the way transparently to make those assessments as they engage in responsible gaming. This is important for them to lead discussions about the impact on our society, households, and families—whether those impacts have been positive or negative. I think that is a pulse check, and I recommend the industry lead, and I hope we will see that undertaking,” Cooper said on the sidelines of the industry briefing.
During his address, Cooper stressed that transparent, measurable evidence will strengthen the industry’s long-term legitimacy. “I therefore urge the industry…to engage formal studies…to assess the impact of the proliferation of gaming houses in our society, on households, on families, and on the overall country, and transparently publish the results,” he said. “I believe the engagement on this issue will lead to an industry that demonstrates its commitment to protecting its customers and will sustain itself for the long term.”
He noted that such research could highlight positive contributions, including hiring, community sponsorships, and social investments—but insisted the evidence must be public. “The bar for legitimacy rises every year. To play a transparent and measurable game plan is the surest way to clarity,” Cooper said.
Cooper further noted: “A decade inside a formal framework should mean that regulatory derivatives are no longer needed,” he said. “Compliance programs should be mature…suspicious transaction reporting, timing, and board oversight are purposeful…one cannot be newly regulated forever.”
He added that operators must demonstrate compliance not only because the law demands it, but to uphold the protection of the Bahamian financial system and the country’s international reputation. “As gaming is cash-intensive, the Bahamas has allowed its laws to reflect this reality,” he said.
Cooper praised the country’s approach of holding both casinos and domestic gaming houses to the same AML/CFT standards. “This protects our reputation. It protects our access to correspondent banking. It protects our operators who invest to do things the right way,” he said. The Bahamas has largely complied with all 40 recommendations of the FATF, a significant national achievement, he noted, with the next Mutual Evaluation scheduled for 2026.
Cooper confirmed that the government has received technical recommendations from the Gaming Board to strengthen supervisory practices, improve definitions, and enhance reporting. “We will consider these recommendations carefully…mitigate risk without imposing unnecessary burdens…consult stakeholders widely and bring them forward in the public interest,” he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized operators’ role in corporate social responsibility, urging them to fund evidence-based programs, commission independent evaluations, and publicize results. He also called for stronger public awareness campaigns on responsible gaming tools. The Gaming Board’s self-exclusion register currently records 243 individuals excluded for life, 17 excluded for five years, and 13 excluded for one year. “It is important for the public to know that we are doing all we can to recognize the signs of improper engagement, intervene early with care and compassion, and connect patrons with support,” Cooper said.
He cautioned against misuse of raffles and charitable promotions as fronts for unlicensed gaming, noting that approvals in 2025 are already at 85—close to the 97 approved in all of 2024. He also underscored the role of casinos in tourism and encouraged investment in technology, digitization, cybersecurity, and workforce development.
Cooper concluded by urging openness and adherence to standards, emphasizing that raising the bar benefits both operators and the country. “Operators investing in compliance and community should not be undercut by those who do not,” he said. “The aim is not to pinch. The aim is to raise the bar so that everyone competes on quality, service, and integrity.”
