Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Minister of Finance Dr Nigel Clarke are among those copied on a letter written by secretary of the Jamaica Gaming Association Sudu Ramani to executive director of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) Vitus Evans seeking to have a study commissioned to determine the impact on the Jamaica economy if additional lottery licences are granted.

The action by the Jamaica Gaming Association, which, among other things, represents gambling activities in lounges, follows a court action initiated by Ian Levy, deputy chairman of Supreme Ventures Limited and its subsidiary, Prime Sports, which is asking the court to push the BGLC to do a study to determine whether or not the marketplace can accommodate more lottery companies offering similar games to the public.

The BGLC is considering the granting of a licence to Mahoe Gaming Limited, which has an interest in entering the lucrative lottery market.

The Jamaica Gaming Association has serious concerns and is calling on your organisation, to immediately commission an independent and transparent study of Jamaica's gaming and lottery industry with a view to determine the worldwide best practices that are applicable to the local industry and the regulation thereof.

“The members of the Jamaica Gaming Association are of the view that before any material changes take place within the industry, a study needs to be undertaken to determine the effect of additional licences on the sector.