Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, has indicated that the Government expects to award the first casino licence this year, and that construction on Jamaica’s first casino is expected to commence by year-end as well.

As he addressed a media breakfast yesterday for local and international journalists attending Caribbean Marketplace 2011 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James, Minister Bartlett said “this year, our casino dream will definitely begin to unfold in a more positive and practical way. We expect that licences will be issued this year and we hope that construction will begin at least on one property before the end of this year.”

He stated that the Commission, which was established to regulate the operations of casinos, is preparing to examine applications for licences. He said the government expects to grant at least three licences over the next three years for casino operations in three main resort areas.  The operations will take place in Montego Bay, Trelawny and at another location on the Western End of the island. Minister Bartlett has highlighted that casino gambling will be introduced and operated in a controlled manner, in order to ensure that it does not define the destination but simply becomes another offering that’s being provided for visitors to Jamaica.