History of Gambling in Haiti
Gambling was once illegal in Haiti, but in 1960, then-President François Duvalier passed a law legalizing the activity. However, the only way for casinos to operate legally was to be located in hotels with at least 200 rooms. There were no such hotels in Haiti. And, according to that law, if hotels could not host 200 rooms, their gaming rooms could offer a maximum of only seven table games. Gambling facilities could also only provide games allowed by the law, and a casino owner had to pay 40% of their profits in taxes. Gambling remained heavily restricted until 1989, when the president was replaced and gambling laws were relaxed.
Today, land-based casinos are legal in Haiti. However, they are not closely regulated. Online gambling is not regulated at all, which means those looking to play online need to visit an offshore site to do so. Haiti was also devastated by a catastrophic earthquake back in 2010. This earthquake decimated the economy as well as much of the country’s infrastructure.
Despite the difficulties, the island is still attempting to improve the economy in several ways. The lack of regulation among casinos, coupled with the devastation from the 2010 earthquake, may begin to explain why there are so few casinos in Haiti today. But casinos may prove a vital asset in improving the economy.
Responsible Gaming at Goy Centre
At Goy Centre de Jeux et D’amusements, we want all our customers to have fun, but we also want them to be safe while doing so. We are thus committed to a policy of responsible gaming. We recognize there is a small minority of players who, unfortunately, do not gamble responsibly. Our policies and guidelines are modeled after the American Gaming Association’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming. These policies and guidelines are meant to protect those affected by irresponsible gambling.
This code establishes standards that address problem gambling, underage gambling, improper consumption of alcohol, responsible marketing, and more.
Goy Centre de Jeux et D’amusements is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all its staff and clients, of any and all ages. Patrons are not to leave minors unattended either inside or outside of the facility. Commitment to this policy ensures the safety of minors within the facility.
According to popular belief, 1 to 2 percent of all gamblers are compulsive; most experience varying degrees of underlying issues in their lives. Participating in games of chance becomes a self-medicating distraction for these issues.
Have you ever gambled for longer than anticipated? Have you ever gambled to get money to meet your financial obligations, broken or considered breaking the law to finance your gambling, or used your income to gamble without paying your bills? Have you ever felt depressed or remorseful after gambling, or are your attempts to stop gambling repeated and unsuccessful? A “yes” to any of these questions may be indicative of a gambling issue.
The first step to getting help is admitting you have an issue. These issues don’t vanish on their own, and you must be proactive in seeking help.