BGLC and Internet Gambling and How Mobile Money makes Illegal Online Gambling flourish in Jamaica

“Internet gambling and the fantasy/virtual sports betting phenomenon, which is quickly gaining interest in Jamaica, will be explored in detail during the BGLC's upcoming Gaming Industry Summit on Thursday, September 22, 2016 at the Jamaica Conference Centre, beginning at 8:30 a.m.”

BGLC (Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission) commenting on the state of Internet Gambling in Jamaica

Is Internet Gambling in Jamaica already?

That may be the case, as the BGLC (Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission) is looking to regulate Internet gambling in Jamaica as reported in “BGLC Tackles Latest  trend In Internet Gambling”, published Monday September 19, 2016, The Jamaica Gleaner.

The BGLC has begun looking into this possibility. They’re examining other countries where online and mobile gambling is popular such as:

1.      United States

2.      India

3.      China

Thought they're examination and analysis, they are formulating a position for review by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service in 2017- 2018 Financial Year. 

They'll also have more to say at their Gaming Industry Summit come Thursday, September 22^nd, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. at the Jamaica Conference Centre.

So back to the question; Is Internet Gambling in Jamaica already?

Internet Gambling in Jamaica - Internet Gambling via Apps will be very lucrative

First, a quick look at gambling in Jamaica.

Gambling overall is very lucrative as noted in the article “$119.67b Spent On Gambling By Jamaicans Last Financial Year”, published Tuesday May 24, 2016, The Jamaica Gleaner.

According to the 2015 annual report of Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission:

1.      JA$119.67 billion spent by Jamaicans on betting, gaming and lottery sectors in 2015

2.      JA$97.7 billion spent by Jamaicans on betting, gaming and lottery sectors in 2014

3.      JA$103.15 billion paid out to Jamaicans on betting, gaming and lottery games in 2015

This represents a 22% increase when year 2014 is compared to year 2015. When the calculations are done for sales, basically a subtraction of money spent vs money paid out to Jamaicans who won:

1.      JA$75.1 billion in sales made from Gambling in Jamaica in 2015

2.      JA$57.9 billion in sales made from Gambling in Jamaica in 2014

This is also an increase of approximately 30%, when year 2014 is compared to year 2015. If 2015 was broken down in terms of sectors:

1.      JA$36.1 billion in sales for Lottery Sector

2.      JA$4.3 billion in sales for Horse Racing

3.      JA$4 billion in sales for Betting by bookmakers

So clearly, putting betting online would make Gambling in Jamaica even more lucrative, provided safeguards against underage gambling are in place.

BGLC and Mobile Money - Legally making Illegal Online Gambling flourish in Jamaica

So short answer is yes, Internet Gambling is in Jamaica, once you have access to Internet.

Also you'll need a Scotia VISA Debit or CIBC VISA Debit Card to place bets as these cards can be used for online purchases as noted in my blog article entitled “How to purchase items and subscribe to Magazines online and ship them to Jamaica”.

Even a Paypal account will work, mainly to receive winnings from placing bets online as explained in my MICO Wars blog article entitled “How Jamaicans can make money online – Setting up a Paypal Account”.

It's also very easy to place bets via Mobile Money Platforms and accept Financial Transactions via NCB Quisk as noted in my blog article entitled “How Quisk and AIS Mobile Money 2.0 heralds Cashless Society in Jamaica in July 2016”.

Already Supreme Ventures has upgraded their Gaming Platform to process mobile money transactions, paving the way to use Mobile Money to place bets in the future as predicted in my blog article entitled “Supreme Ventures Limited IFLEX Betting Platform Upgrade - How Mobile Gambling via Smartphone is finally coming to Jamaica”.

However, they're late; Island Bet, operated by Sizzling Slots, a gaming company co-owned by Gassan Azan and business partner Adam Epstein has already launched since January 2016 as reported in the article “Sizzling Slots First To Market With Island Bet Mobile Betting Platform”, published Friday January 22, 2016 by Tameka Gordon, The Jamaica Gleaner.

They handle upwards of 1,000 users and do transactions for 50 international sports betting markets around the world. However, they still don't have an App, just a website and a WAP (Web Application Protocol).

A simple upgrade that includes having a phone number for quisk transactions on their website would make them able to do Quisk Transactions. It’s only a matter of time before Illegal versions of Online Gambling begin popping up in Jamaica by clever entrepreneurs using Mobile Money and cashing in on the smartphone and phablet craze!

So the BGLC has its work cut out for them, as Mobile Money will legally make Illegal and Legal Internet Gambling flourish in Jamaica!