Business
Bahamas set to hold referendum on gaming
The Bahamas government says it will hold a referendum on gambling but it will not extend to casinos.
Prime Minister Perry Christie told legislators that his administration intends to hold a referendum on the issue of a national lottery and/or web cafes and is in keeping with the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government’s first 100 days commitments made in its Charter for Governance.
“I wish to confirm that it is my administration’s intention to proceed with a referendum on the issue of a national lottery and/or web cafes as soon as practicable following the anticipated by-election in North Abaco later this year,” the Prime Minister said.
The referendum will seek to ascertain whether a national lottery should be instituted and or whether the popular web cafes or web shops be legalized, regulated, licensed and taxed.
“The referendum will not extend to any other forms of gambling. In particular, it will not extend to any question as to whether the people of the Bahamas should be permitted to engage in casino gaming.
“This will not be an issue in the forthcoming referendum nor, incidentally, was it ever promised that it would be,” Prime Minister Christie said.
The Prime Minister said the government would maintain a position of complete neutrality on the referendum issues.
