No Slot Machines for SVG, says PM Gonsalves

The government is completely against foreign entities running lottery/gambling operations in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, spoke on the issue during a recent Cabinet Room press conference where he noted that some CARICOM countries had floated the idea of having a company owned primarily by an American run lotto games in the region, including video slot machines.

“I’ve told them that I’m not involved in this…,” Dr Gonsalves said, while noting that SVG has the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) that generates yearly, over 90 million dollars in revenues that is used among other things, to pay prize money and technical and administrative expenses.

“I’m particularly concerned about slot… I’m concerned about two things. First of all, they are an American company. They tell you they’ll give you revenues. You mean to say that we can’t organize a lotto for we self? Is that rocket science?” Dr Gonsalves questioned.

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