‘Expect changes’ – Gov’t to crack down on widespread community-level gambling, Jagdeo says

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Thursday that the government will implement stronger regulations to curb the negative effects of gambling at the community level.

Speaking at a press conference at Freedom House, Jagdeo highlighted the social and economic consequences of widespread gambling, particularly online platforms. “Gambling has blossomed and created a series of negative problems in our communities—breaking up families and creating hardship for many single parents,” he said.

He explained that the liberal policies and taxation framework that allowed gambling to expand, originally intended to support hotel revenue streams, have contributed to the current situation. “When we started this, it was at hotels to stimulate revenue for tourism. But now there are hundreds of gambling outlets in villages across the country, and it’s creating a major social problem,” he said.

Jagdeo said the government plans to aggressively regulate gambling activities, while ensuring that legal operations remain appropriately taxed. He stressed the need to address the financial impact on families. “If people are selling out or starving their children to gamble, how can we expect them to build homes or secure a future? We have to change this mindset,” he said.

The Vice President noted that President Mohamed Irfaan Ali has met personally with families affected by gambling-related hardships. Religious organisations have also raised concerns, prompting the government to commit to immediate reforms.

“Expect changes. We are not going to allow this to continue,” Jagdeo said, signalling that community-level gambling will face stricter oversight and enforcement in the coming months.