By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Government was yesterday urged to deal rapidly with the “no brainer” casino gaming reforms, a former Chamber of Commerce president arguing it would be a “crime” if Bahamas-based facilities were unable to upgrade their offerings due to delayed legislation.

Superwash president Dionisio D’Aguilar told Tribune Business that the Government should simply “get on with it”, referring to the proposed casino gaming reforms, which he said were being lost in the political “firestorm” of web shop gaming.

“They’re trying to put it all in one, deal with gaming in the casinos and deal with web shops in the domestic market, and they’re tying it all together,” he said. “They really do need to address both. The hotels are chomping at the bit to do what they need to do to compete internationally, and they’re being tied into some political firestorm that’s happening in the domestic market as it relates to gaming.

“The Government needs to break off that section of the Bill and deal with it expeditiously. It’s stopping investment, decision-making and the ability of our number one industry to compete. Just get on with it. It just takes so long for them to get it right.”

The Gaming Modernisation Bill and associated regulations, will allow Bahamas-based casinos - Atlantis and Baha Mar as well as those at the Grand Lucayan and Bimini Bay resorts - to offer on-property sports betting, in-play wagering, proxy wagering and online gaming via cell phones and computers. There will also be incentives for ‘junket’ group visits.

The Bill is especially vital for Baha Mar given that its business model is centred on its 100,000 square foot casino, the largest in the Caribbean.

George Markantonis, Brookfield Hospitality’s president and managing director, said its planned multi-million dollar, “seven digit” investment in private gaming rooms at Atlantis was being delayed by the wait for casino gaming reforms to be passed, adding that they should not be confused or bound up with proposed web shop gaming regulations.

Mr D’Aguilar said: “This whole thing with web shops and money laundering concerns could takes months to resolve, and it would be a crime if that held up Atlantis’s desire to upgrade, change or in some way enhance their casino product. The Government, for political purposes, is trying to balance two things at once; how to deal with the casinos, which is a no brainer, but they’re being held hostage by how to deal with the local web shop gaming issue.

“They have made the right decision to legalise web shops, but now there are obviously some sort of legal impediments on how to deal with this whole web shop issue. We are getting to the point now where are deciding on whether to invest or when to invest.”

Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, who has responsibility for gaming, said earlier this week that the Government will likely table the amended Gaming Bill by the end of the month.