Guyana Lottery Company backs legislation to streamline betting industry

…says ready for consultations on proposed laws

The Guyana Lottery Company (GLC) says it is ready to have consultations on the proposed Gaming Authority Bill that was tabled in the National Assembly last month, as the agency supports the Government’s efforts to better regulate the sector. General Manager (GM) and Director of GLC, Kalima Ali, made these remarks on Friday evening at the company’s 30th Anniversary Dinner and Awards Appreciation Ceremony held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown. According to Ali, the Lottery Company has been providing responsible and safe gaming services to the Guyanese population for the past three decades – something, she added, it is committed to continue doing. “As the industry continues to evolve, so too must the framework that supports it. We welcome the Government’s direction to better regulate the market through the introduction of the Guyana Gaming Authority Bill 2026. And we support efforts to establish a modern, transparent and well-regulated gaming environment. We would not have it any other way,” the GM asserted. The proposed legislation, tabled by Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall in July, seeks to tighten the regulation of gaming activities amid growing concerns over the social consequences of increased access to gambling through betting shops and mobile applications. Welcoming these proposed laws to streamline the betting industry, Ali indicated that the Lottery Company is ready to have engagements on the Gaming Authority Bill. “We believe that this legislation will strengthen oversight, enhance confidence and support the continued development of Guyana’s gaming sector. We look forward to consultation and further engagement on the bill,” she emphasised.

The GM noted that while their services provided fall within the gambling category, the GLC is more than just a gaming business. She said over the past 30 years, the Lotter Company has positively changed the lives of many Guyanese with billions of dollars in winnings as well as contribute meaningfully to the local economy through support to goodwill initiatives, sports, community development and small businesses through its 200-plus retail agent network. “We have also contributed largely and meaningfully to the national treasury of Guyana and those monies have been used over the years to fund some of the very programmes that the Government brings to you in your communities,” Ali emphasised.

Sweeping reforms
The tabling of the Guyana Gaming Authority Bill 2026 followed months of lobbying by religious organisations and other groups concerned about the impact of gambling on vulnerable individuals, families and rural communities. Those concerns have centred on issues such as gambling addiction, financial hardship and the broader social effects associated with the industry’s rapid growth. The bill also fulfils a commitment made by Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo in October last year, when he announced that the Government would introduce sweeping reforms to the sector. At the time, the VP warned that gambling had evolved from a tightly regulated activity associated primarily with the hotel sector into what he described as “gambling on demand”, driven by the proliferation of hundreds of betting outlets and smartphone applications. The proposed legislation is expected to be referred to a Special Select Committee in Parliament, which will allow for a detailed examination of its provisions and provide an opportunity for further consideration of measures aimed at strengthening the regulatory framework governing the gaming industry. The Government has said the reforms are intended to respond to growing concerns over the industry’s expansion while addressing its social and economic impact on communities across Guyana But even as the bill is expected to come up for debate in October when Parliament reconvenes, operators within the local gaming industry have sought a way to have their businesses still operate through regulated online platforms. A senior Government official recently told this newspaper that this proposal comes after some of the operators met with some members of the Opposition recently. “So, some Opposition members met with some of the operators and are saying that the Government is trying to take bread out of their mouths…but at the same time telling us to shut them down,” the official stated.

Proposal by operators
Nevertheless, he added that the proposal made by the operators has found much favour with the Government. Just over a week ago, several local operators submitted a petition, with some 500 signatures, to the Office of the President, calling on the Government to reconsider some of the provisions of the proposed laws. In addition to the shift to regulated online betting, the operators are also asking for a review of the proposed taxation to be imposed on businesses. While noting that they are not opposed to the measures aimed at addressing the social consequences of gambling, the industry operators argue that a high tax burden could push legitimate businesses out of operation thus creating opportunities for underground gambling activities – something which the proposed laws are intended to prevent. With more than 5,000 persons directly involved in the sector and stand to be affected, the operators urge that consultations be held with industry stakeholders before the bill is passed.