The Tribune

The only web shop operator to be denied a licence has obtained a stay of the Supreme Court decision that effectively paved the way for its closure two weeks ago.

Bet Vegas, which is seeking a Judicial Review of the Gaming Board/Government decision not to grant it a licence, obtained a December 18 court Order that stayed an earlier decision overturning the block on its closure.

Bet Vegas, the only one out of nine web shop applicants to be rejected for a licence, had obtained an ex-parte Supreme Court Order on October 26 to prevent its shut down.

The Government, though, successfully applied to set aside the October 26 Order on December 1. It subsequently told Bet Vegas to cease its operations by December 7, a move the operator complied with.

Bet Vegas closed 10 of its 11 locations and laid-off 86 staff, with its Mackey Street location remaining open “to pay out outstanding winning tickets”.

Now the latest Supreme Court Order, seen by Tribune Business, stays the December 1 decision and subsequent December 7 closure demand until the Judicial Review application can be heard.

Anthony Brown, Bet Vegas's president, told Tribune Business earlier this month that the closure order was ridiculous and a “slap in the face” for his business, which he asserted was the only web shop chain established after the sector was legalised. The company is understood to have paid close to $1 million in taxes.

The eight companies which have received a conditional web shop gaming license are the FML Group of Companies trading as (t/a) FNM Webshop; GLK Ltd t/a A Sure Win; Jarol Investments Ltd t/a Chances Games; Paradise Games Bahamas Ltd t/a Paradise Games; Playtech Systems Ltd t/a Island Luck; T.I.G Investments Ltd t/a Percy’s at The Island Game; The Four Point Group Trading t/a Asue Draw + Spin; and Bahama Dream Web Café Ltd t/a Bahama Dreams.