Trinidad and Tobago has established its Gambling Control Commission (GCC) that will monitor and govern gambling activities across the dual-island Caribbean nation. 

On Monday, Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced the appointment of the GCC’s first board of directors that will be led by Stephan Tang Nian as Chairman.

A sweeping reform of Trinidad and Tobago is expected to take place, in which the government has formed the GCC “to address the social concerns arising out of the proliferation of private member clubs providing casino-style games to the club members.”

Confirmed as the GGC’s first chairman, Tang Nian is a former senior government advisor on banking, auditing and AML.  

Tang Nian will be supported by tech and cyber-securities expert Steven Thomas as Deputy Chairman. Thomas is the Managing Director and Senior Software Developer of Trinidad-based tech solutions supplier Prodigy Software.

The GCC’s remaining board members are composed of experts in the fields of gambling, business, IT AML and law. Meanwhile, Tang Nian and Thomas will serve a maximum term of four years. 

Last summer Trinidad and Tobago’s Upper House approved the passage of the Gambling Control Bill that ordered the government to establish a commission/board.

The Control Bill states that a commission/board must establish a framework to improve protect minors from gambling, launch a fund for rehabilitation and safeguard Trinidad and Tobago business community from gambling-related money laundering and economic crimes.  

The Bill reads: “It is expected that the Commission will establish a licensing framework which will aid in minimising the potential for money laundering and terrorist financing due to the stringent criteria that will have to be met in order to obtain a licence to work in the gaming and betting sectors.

“It is recognised that these sectors have the potential to contribute meaningfully and positively to the national economy, if regulated effectively, by creating employment, not only in the sector but in other downstream sectors, thereby creating greater tax revenues.”