The Senate of Jamaica has approved the Bill of the Casino (General) Gaming Regulations 2025, a mandate that allows the Caribbean nation to license and govern land-based casino resorts and investments.
Approved on Friday, 17 April, the Bill will allow the Casino Gaming Commission (CGC) to activate the ‘foundational laws’ of the Casino Gaming Act, the legislative mandate to develop a regulatory regime for casinos in Jamaica that was initiated in 2010.
The Gaming Regulations were needed to complete the Act, setting out detailed provisions on licensing requirements, management qualifications, record keeping, licensing fees and duties, as well as the Commission’s inspection and enforcement powers.
With the framework now in place, Jamaica will move to implement its Integrated Resort Development (IRD) model, under which casinos must operate as part of large-scale tourism projects rather than as standalone venues.
Each IRD will be required to include significant non-gaming amenities such as hotels, entertainment, cultural attractions and family-focused experiences.
The regulations also introduce strict responsible gambling measures, requiring operators to implement systems for age verification, advertising controls, protection of vulnerable individuals and monitoring of gaming activity across retail and digital channels.
A specific legal framework for land-based casinos and IRDs was required, as Jamaica’s primary gambling law, the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1965, contained no provisions for casino resorts—being limited to sports betting, gaming machine franchises and lotteries.
The 1965 Act, established the oversight powers of enforcement of gambling in Jamaica to the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC).
However, casino resorts will now come under the oversight of the Casino Gaming Commission (CGC), taking responsibility for the implementation of a specific framework for land-based casino venues.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has reiterated that the government does not intend to position Jamaica as a casino-driven destination, but instead to use the IRD model to diversify the country’s tourism offering while maintaining tight regulatory oversight.
The first project expected to proceed under the new framework is the $500m Princess Resort IRD, which will now be able to enter the formal licensing process.
The IRD project is designed to integrate a casino within a broader luxury hospitality offering, combining gaming resort with beachfront accommodation, entertainment venues and leisure amenities in line with Jamaica’s policy of avoiding standalone casinos.
The resort is backed by Spain’s Princessa Hotels & Resorts and forms part of a wider tourism investment reserved for the Parish of Hanover and the existing Princess Grand Jamaica and Princess Senses The Mangrove properties.
CGC Chairman Clovis Metcalfe will oversee the rollout of Jamaica’s Integrated Resort Development (IRD) model, guiding the launch of the country’s first casino resorts under the new regulatory framework.
Leadership of the CGC and the BGLC have also indicated openness to discussions on forming a unified regulator for Jamaica’s gambling sector, bringing oversight of racing, land-based gaming and sports betting franchises under a single authority.
The approval of the regulations marks a significant milestone for Jamaica’s gaming sector, transitioning the market from a long-standing legislative framework to a fully operational regime, and opening the door for international investment under clear and enforceable rules.
