Tough guardrails

WITH Jamaica’s first licensed casino operator set to commence operations by March next year, once all outstanding conditions are met, the Casino Gaming Commission (CGC) is assuring that stringent guardrails are in place to keep criminal elements out, with operators required to verify players, monitor suspicious transactions, and protect vulnerable gamblers.

Speaking during this week’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange, both CGC Chief Executive Officer Cleveland Allen and Senior Director of Enforcement and Investigation Damion McKenzie outlined a multi-layered system of checks that will follow casino operations from the moment a player registers to the regulator’s ongoing monitoring of the business.

The safeguards include know-your-customer (KYC) checks, scrutiny of suspicious transactions and sources of wealth, anti-money laundering controls, surveillance systems, responsible-gaming interventions, and direct regulatory access to the casino’s operations.