Twenty-five percent of Island Luck's workforce, particularly on the Family Islands, could be let go as early as next week, CEO of Island Luck Sebas Bastian revealed yesterday.
Island Luck employs more than 500 people, according to Bastian.
As reported by The Nassau Guardian yesterday, layoffs are looming at web shops as business has slowed to a trickle in the months since the failed January 28 gambling referendum.
Many patrons are reportedly staying away for fear they could be caught in a raid.
"You could land a 747 jet inside a web shop right now and no one would get killed. That's just how slow the web shop business is," said Bastian before joining radio talk show host Darold Miller on Guardian Radio 96.9 FM.
"Unfortunately, we may have to lay off [people] if it continues like this, and...we need the government to taken action on this issue.
"Address it and bring it to some closure because with all these high school graduates that are coming out of school come summer, [combined] with the unemployed and now a combination of web shop layoffs, it just seems that we are going nowhere fast.
"And that is just too many people without jobs."
Bastian said on Thursday that sales have been "at an all time low" in the last two months.
The fate of web shops and their staff remains uncertain as a legal challenge remains tied up in the Court of Appeal.
Bastian is just one of several web shop owners fighting to continue normal operations.
The developments came after a majority of people who voted in the referendum said no to the regularization and taxation of web shop gaming and the establishment of a national lottery.
Less than 50 percent of the electorate voted, however.
On Monday, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade warned people who are gambling in these establishments to stop as they could face prosecution.
Asked whether web shop owners were gearing up to take another public stance, Bastian said, "Yes. We have nothing else to lose."
"The gloves are off and we have to do what it takes to make it right on behalf of The Bahamas, not just us," he said.
"It's about time in 2013 that we are not discriminated on in our own country. I mean, what we want is ownership. We want participation and we deserve it.
"We are not asking for anything that is not awarded to every other native in other countries."
Web shops owners pointed out the significant contributions to culture, sports and education during their Vote Yes campaign.
Bastian said yesterday Island Luck continues to donate and provide scholarships on a discretionary basis, but its contributions have slowed down because the company is not in the same financial position.
As fears grow over possible layoffs, web shop operators are outraged that the government has drafted a bill that would allow holders of casino licenses to establish mobile gaming operations.
As revealed by Guardian Business yesterday, mobile gaming is poised to enter the Bahamian market sooner than expected.
According to a release from Cantor Gaming, Atlantis' new casino partner, the technology will be unleashed on Monday.
Bastian said the mega resort is vying to become the new web shop in town.
"If the government is going to do it for Atlantis, do it for Bahamians," he said.
"If they're not going to do it for Atlantis then we can see why they won't do it for Bahamians. All we want is to be treated fairly in our own country. We're not looking for any handouts or favors; we just want what they get."
The substantive case involving Percy Web Cafe, Island Luck, FML Group of Companies, Asue Draw, Whatfall, Chances and Paradise Games is expected to be heard on May 24.
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