Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said yesterday that government is currently considering removing the discriminatory elements in the latest draft of the Gaming Bill that prevents Bahamians from gambling in casinos and foreigners from gambling in web shops.
Though Wilchcombe said he doubts the status quo will change.
He said Cabinet is expected to make a decision by today.
"We are giving consideration to it. There has been talk about it and we are considering the position we take," he said when contacted for comment.
"We have sent out some proposals and we are still making one or two last-minute adjustments. So between today (Sunday) and tomorrow (Monday) we will arrive at our final position that we will bring to the Parliament on Wednesday."
Wilchcombe said the government wants to ensure that the web shops and the hotel-based casinos do not "collide".
Though, as pointed out earlier, the West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP said he does not expect the status quo to change yet.
"I don't think that is going to happen," he said.
"I think we will maintain the status quo for now.
"But, of course, we are not closing our eyes. It is like the lottery. Lotteries will be a part of the bill as well. You have to look at everything."
Wilchcombe said the government met with industry stakeholders for four hours on Saturday "to make sure that we do it right the first time".
The issue of whether to remove the discriminatory elements has always been on the table, he noted.
"[There has] always been a strong group within our organization, and outside, who have voiced their views," he said.
"You have to consider the pros, the cons and the church. You have to find the middle ground.
"We will come to the House with a very strong position on where we want to be."
A Gaming Bill was tabled in the House of Assembly late last year, but was never debated.
Several Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) MPs have voiced concerns with some of the discriminatory elements in the bill.
The Guardian obtained a revised copy of the bill earlier this year that will seek to regulate and tax the web shop sector. That draft continues the discrimination against Bahamians not being allowed to gamble in casinos. It would also prevent foreigners from gambling in web shops.
Marco City MP Greg Moss called the move "economic apartheid".
Former Gaming Board Chairman Dr. Andre Rollins, Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells and Mount Moriah MP Arnold Forbes also said they have concerns about a bill that discriminates against Bahamians.
Taxation
Wilchcombe also said Cabinet is still determining at what rate to tax the sector.
On Friday, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the tax rate issue is a complex one, especially regarding web shops.
"Though we put accountants in there, we are not certain as to what money is made in these businesses, and it is going to take a full external audit. So, therefore, we have to create a regime that transitions into it," he said.
"Whatever we do now is subject to verification that this is the right thing to do.
"So if I came to say I was taxing five percent, it might turn out to be 20 percent, it might turn out to be 10 percent. But the point is it's a very complex process that we are superintending now."
The government had projected to make $12 million from taxing web shops.
Christie has said that web shops will be taxed and regulated as of July 1, 2014.
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