Jamaica has approved the Casino Gaming (General) Regulations, 2025, clearing a key legal step for the country to move ahead with casino resorts. The Senate passed the regulations on April 17 after the House had already approved them earlier, giving effect to parts of the Casino Gaming Act that had been on the books for years but were still not active.
The move does not mean casinos will open overnight. But it does give Jamaica the rules needed to license and regulate casino gaming inside approved integrated resort developments.
Regulations complete a framework that had been delayed for years
The Casino Gaming Act dates back to 2010, but Jamaica had still not fully launched casino gaming because the supporting regulations were not in place. The new regulations are the final piece needed to activate that legal framework and allow the Casino Gaming Commission to move forward with licensing and oversight.
That long delay had left casino gaming legal in principle, but not ready to operate in practice. With the regulations now approved, Jamaica is moving closer to turning that framework into a live resort casino market.
Casino gaming will be tied to large resort developments
Jamaica’s model is not built around stand-alone casinos. Under the Casino Gaming Act, casino licences are tied to approved integrated resort developments, which combine hotels, entertainment, retail and gaming facilities.
That approach has been part of the government’s tourism strategy for years. It means casino gaming is being positioned as part of larger resort investment rather than a separate gambling expansion.
First projects now come into sharper focus
The regulations are likely to put more attention on resort projects that have long been linked to Jamaica’s casino plans, including the Princess development in Hanover. In late 2025, local reporting said Jamaica’s first casino was expected to open in early 2026, pending final approvals.
The next phase now shifts from lawmaking to execution. The country has settled the rules. What comes next is licensing, compliance and the question of which resort project will become Jamaica’s first operating casino.
