Last Updated on Thursday, 16 October 2025, 20:29 by Writer
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said his government would be tightening regulations and imposing higher taxes on online gambling as a result of complaints that breadwinners are not taking home monies to their families.
“What we have is gambling on demand… so expect stronger regulation in this area and appropriate taxes,” he told a news conference on Thursday.
Noting that there are hundreds of betting shops in communities across Guyana with the gambling available on an app, he said that that has been creating a “major social problem.”
“We have already made it clear that this gambling that has blossomed and created a series of negative problems for our communities, breaking up families, creating hardship for a lot of single parents, mothers especially where people utilise the money that they have, the income, to all day be online gambling,” he said.
Mr Jagdeo also said sections of the religious community had raised concerns about the adverse impact of habitual gambling on the livelihoods of people.
He recalled that the casino legislation allows people to use licensed casinos at the two hotels if they are registered as guests there.
Mr Jagdeo said the taxes on online gambling would be increased as a means of discouraging persons from gambling.
