In 2004 it was reported that Harrah’s had expressed interest in developing a US$1 billion casino resort at Trelawny in northern Jamaica. At that time a group of hoteliers and developers in Jamaica’s Montego Bay had already been waiting several years for the go-ahead for casinos in this tourist centre, and that same year the Jamaican government ordered the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) to compile a report on possible formats for casino gaming.

In 2005 the BGLC sent employees to New Jersey for technical training in gaming operations, to learn how to detect tampering with slot machine motherboards and how to calibrate machines. Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) was contracted to train staff and conduct a full software and hardware audit of the then current gaming inventory. Three years later there are still no casinos on Jamaica.

A writer for the Jamaica Gleaner reports that local developer Palmyra Resort and Spa is frustrated by the delays in receiving a casino licence for a US$1.8 billion Celebration Jamaica resort project for Montego Bay. The award of the licence was announced earlier this year by Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding along with another for Harmonisation Limited. According to the government the cabinet has approved the policy outline for the licence but the technocrats are still working to complete legislation for parliamentary approval.

Harrah’s is apparently still interested in a Jamaican venture and MGM Mirage is also considering the country for future expansion. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett commented that this was a powerful statement of confidence in Jamaica. The winter tourist season is starting and in a speech this week he cautioned that the downturn in the global economy could redefine the tourism industry in Jamaica and the Caribbean. "We must all commit to smarter, closer, dedicated partnerships, striving to mitigate the potential threats to our tourism industry and to even achieve a small level of growth.” (E-12.17.08)

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