Jamaica’s gambling regulator, the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission, BGLC, is warning the public on the illegality of placing bets with bookmakers that are not licensed to operate in Jamaica, and the attendant risks with such wagers.
The regulator says only bookmakers and gaming operators that have been duly licensed and authorised by the BGLC are permitted to accept bets from people located within the country.
The BGLC says the global trend towards online gambling has posed significant challenges for gaming regulators, many of whom are still grappling with effective ways to oversee and control these activities. This advisory is about reminding the public that betting with unlicensed operators is illegal and unsafe.
“Engaging in betting activities with unlicensed operators – whether online or otherwise – violates the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act and can expose individuals to significant risks, including the loss of funds with no legal recourse, unfair or rigged games, exposure to fraudulent activity or identity theft, and a lack of responsible gaming safeguards,” the gambling regulator said.
BGLC Director of Enforcement Noel Bacquie says there is no estimate of the size of the illegal gaming market, but that it presents a big challenge, given the many unknown things about an underground market.
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20250824/bglc-wants-laws-teeth-unlicensed-and-online-bookmakers