Opposition Leader: Casino gambling coming?

Is government considering the introduction of casino gambling in Barbados?

Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley made this query in light of the announcement by Prime Minister Mia Mottley in the 2019 Budget that effective May 1, there will be a 20 per cent withholding tax on winnings from lotteries and betting, as well as a 17.5 per cent gambling tax on the net-drop of all gaming establishments.

In his reply, Atherley stated that government’s movement of taxes for betting and gaming from $3 million to $13 million in the Estimates was the first signal that “something significant was coming down relative to this activity”.

“It seems to me as if we are intending to introduce casino gambling in Barbados, from these figures and from what was said. If I am wrong, please correct me. I do not want to be misled or be misleading anybody. That is my understanding. We cannot sneak it in by not mentioning its name,” he said in the Lower House yesterday.

He pointed out that this move appeared to be intended for tourists and to target foreign exchange and therefore asked for clarity on the move.

“Government expects to benefit from this activity by means of a 20 per cent withholding tax on gambling winnings and a 17.5 per cent gambling tax on the net drop of all gaming establishments. I am not here suggesting anything one way or the other as to the advisability of that. I am simply saying it seems so to me. If we are going to do it, just say so very clearly because whatever we call it and however skilfully we introduce it, it still becomes a part of our reality, but the caution would be that the countervailing impact upon our social and institutional landscape could well be realised in corruption, money laundering, organised crime and other socially undesirable phenomenon,” he noted. (JMB)