Are Casinos Legal in the Cayman Islands?
The origin of the laws related to gambling lies in an act that came into force in 1963 that clearly states that betting is not legal. Two months of imprisonment was suggested for those in violation, or fines ranging from $10 to $2500 depending upon the severity of the crime.
The law extends to online gaming as well, although it is difficult to enforce. The reason is that online access is not restricted, and people in the area are able to sign up for old and new casinos online. Although the risk of prosecution is high, people manage to avoid any fines or get prosecuted.
Since the law is old and outdated, it creates legal hurdles for players who may be interested in gambling. Another primary reason is that tourists who flock to the island come to see the beauty and enjoy nature rather than for reasons of gambling.
A minor change was made to the law in 2015, which allowed gambling on cruise ships registered in the Cayman Islands, but only if they are in operation outside the territorial waters of the islands.
In 2018, the Gambling Amendment Bill was considered and debated but was not introduced due to opposition to it. According to the bill, fines would have increased to $10,000, a massive increase from the earlier $400. Moreover, the prosecution would be for three years instead of one year earlier.