Gov’t. still in talks with attorneys of gaming operators

Gov’t. still in talks with attorneys of gaming operators

The government is presently in meetings with the attorneys representing gaming house operators, as the government does not accept their (gaming operators) interpretation of the law, said Attorney General Carl Bethel on Tuesday.

“We are still seeking to agree on a framework on the last remaining issue, which is the stamp tax on deposits by gaming patrons,” he said.

When the new tax fee for gaming operators was first implemented back in July during debate on the Fiscal Responsibility Bill, gaming operators were expected to pay up to 50 per cent of their annual earnings from gaming houses and deposits were to be taxed.  But Bethel said he will meet again with the attorneys sometime this week to reach a final agreement.

“It’ll either be we will have an agreement or we will go to court and we will have to fight it out. If it comes to that, we will expect that the law that has been dually passed by Parliament will be fully enforced… the law is the law and must be obeyed.”

About Ginelle Longley

Ginelle Longley is a broadcast reporter and occasional TV news anchor with Eyewitness News, also serving as the station’s evening radio news anchor for 103.5 The Beat. She has reported on news beats including government, politics, crime, human interest, business and even sports. In 2018, she was nominated for the Bahamas Press Club’s “Student Media Journalism Award”.