Bahamas Gaming Council CEO Daniel Johnson announced that his institution will grant a casino hotel license by the end of 2022. Furthermore, he said they would be looking to grant another similar license to a Bahamian group next year, as well as more gaming licenses to Bahamian-owned boutique hotels throughout the islands.
During an event marking the 100th anniversary of the Bahamas Gaming Council, Johnson also urged Bahamians to take advantage of the three casino hotel licenses that currently exist on the island.
“You all have three hotel and casino gaming licenses in Grand Bahama. We have not received one cent from those hotel and casino licenses in almost 20 years. That’s why I am here,” the Bahamian regulator emphasized.
On that note, Johnson pointed out that, “in the last 55 years, Orlando (USA), Nevada (USA) and Nassau (Bahamas) were the gaming giants in the entertainment industry. Today, Nevada welcomes 50 million visitors a year, Orlando welcomes more than 40 million visitors a year and Nassau welcomes between five and seven million visitors.”
“The mandate of this new board is very clear. We are in a phase of rebirth, renewal, and rebuilding. Now is the time to do it. […] Today I am here to say that we want to reclaim this business and we are here to do it,” he said.
During the celebration -which used the slogan “Bet on the Bahamas!” and where the new office of the Gaming Council was inaugurated at Settler’s Way, in Freeport-, the Minister of Grand Bahama, Ginger Moxey, also participated, and said that gaming continues to contribute significantly to the country’s economy under the “watchful eye of the Gaming Council.”
Moxey called on the Gaming Council to “execute the social responsibility aspect as a priority agenda item” and urged them to become part of Collab: Partnerships for Development, a unit formed under her ministry for Grand Bahama.
“There are many things we can do together that will allow our people to live with dignity again if we join hands and work together,” the minister concluded.
