A NEW Special Responsible Gaming Fund is set to be established under Guyana’s proposed Gaming Authority Act, with taxes collected from gaming activities earmarked to finance initiatives aimed at reducing gambling-related harm.
The Gaming Authority Bill 2026 provides for the creation of the fund as a separate entity from the finances of the proposed Gaming Authority. The fund is expected to be financed through taxes paid into it under the Tax Act.
Under the proposed legislation, the money collected for the fund will be used exclusively for a range of responsible gaming initiatives, including public education and awareness programmes, research into gaming-related harm, prevention initiatives, treatment and counselling services, social programmes, and training programmes.
The legislation also allows the funds to be used for other purposes approved by the minister on the recommendation of the Gaming Authority.
The proposed framework places responsible gaming at the centre of the new regulatory regime, with licensed operators required to support measures designed to minimise the potential harms associated with gambling.
The bill further provides that the Governing Board of the Gaming Authority will be responsible for the administration and management of the Special Responsible Gaming Fund.
The proposed funding mechanism is tied directly to the taxation of gaming activities.
Under consequential amendments to the Tax Act, taxes collected from betting, gaming and related activities are to be paid into the Special Responsible Gaming Fund.
It proposes a tax of 14 per cent on the gross value of every bet placed by a customer and on every prize or net winnings paid by betting-shop operators, gaming-lounge operators, casino operators and simulcast, horse- and hound-racing licensees.
For remote gaming operators, the proposed rate is 30 per cent on the gross value of bets placed and prizes or net winnings paid.
The legislation therefore establishes a direct link between revenue generated from gambling and programmes intended to address its social consequences.
The proposed Gaming Authority Act is designed to create a comprehensive framework for the licensing, regulation, supervision, taxation and control of gaming, betting, and wagering activities in Guyana. The Bill also seeks to strengthen consumer protection, responsible gaming and measures against money laundering and other financial crimes.
If enacted, the Special Responsible Gaming Fund would provide a dedicated source of financing for education, prevention, research, and support services related to gambling, rather than leaving such programmes dependent solely on general government financing.
The bill was published in the Official Gazette on July 27, 2026, and is expected to be debated soon in the National Assembly.
The government had previously warned that the ease of access to gambling is contributing to financial hardship for some families, with reports of parents spending household income and money intended for their children on betting activities.
The government has maintained that while it does not intend to prohibit gambling, it wants the sector to operate under a much stricter regulatory and taxation framework that discourages excessive gambling while ensuring proper oversight.
A significant factor behind the move to strengthen the legal framework has been sustained advocacy from Guyana’s religious community, which has repeatedly urged the administration to address the growing social consequences of gambling.
Religious organisations have expressed concern over the impact of gambling on families, arguing that addiction has contributed to financial instability, strained relationships, and wider social challenges. Their lobbying, coupled with mounting public concerns, prompted the government to accelerate plans for comprehensive legislative reform.
The proposed Gaming Authority Bill is expected to modernise the country’s regulatory framework by introducing clear licensing standards, stronger oversight, responsible gaming measures, and enhanced safeguards against financial crimes, while ensuring that the industry operates in a more accountable and socially responsible manner.
