Andrew Green, Staff Reporter
FIFTY-SEVEN gambling outlets, specialising in horse race gaming in parishes islandwide, have been closed by the Betting, Gaming & Lotteries Commission (BGLC), The Gleaner has learnt.
The decision, according to the commission's Chairman Walter Scott, was a result of the owners of these facilities having what he referred to as 'matters outstanding' before a gaming tribunal. He said their licences came up for renewal at the end of March but that he had decided against renewing them.
Bookmakers, however, are accusing the commission of using heavy handed tactics, saying the decision to close the outlets was nothing short of draconian.
"We have had a fight with the BGLC for three years concerning our opening and closing hours, especially Wednesdays and Saturdays when races are being run," said Wilbert Witter, operations manager at Track Price Plus, one of the island's leading bookmaking outlets. He explained that the law now requires that when horse racing starts at Caymanas Park, independent bookmakers have to close their operations.
ENFORCING BAD LAW
"They are enforcing a bad law," Mr. Witter argued. He added, "The regulations were formulated when the industry was much less sophisticated and now serve to deprive bookmakers of income they could earn from bets on overseas races."
Mr. Witter told The Gleaner that there are more than 500 bookmaking stations across the island, with his company being responsible for over a third of the J$1.8 billion in total betting sales by bookmakers last year. Of the total sales, $760 million comes from overseas sales.
The BGLC asked the Fair Trading Commission for its opinion on the matter and the commission stated in January that the law should be amended, he said.
Several agents have ignored the opening hour regulations and the BGLC decided to act against them.
"The licences expired and we haven't granted new ones," Mr. Scott said. Under the law, he said, the BGLC has this power, "if satisfied that it is desirable so to do."
Olga Ho Sue, who operated a betting shop in Falmouth, Trelawny, is without an income as a result.
"All I got was a telephone call to say I could not sell bets," she told The Gleaner. Mrs. Ho Sue has been a bookmaker for more than 30 years and says she is nearing retirement.
Basil Fraser, operator of a betting shop at number 5 Half-Way Tree Road and another nearby at 1 McGregor Square, both in St. Andrew, agreed.
"This is total madness," he stated. He was told on Friday that he could no longer operate his business. Mr. Fraser said he had been in the business for more than 20 years and had been doing well, before literally being shut down overnight.
