In a strategic clampdown on illicit money flows tied to gaming operations, Jamaica has advanced its financial crime-fighting apparatus with a formal agreement between two of its top enforcement entities: the Financial Investigations Division (FID) and the Casino Gaming Commission (CGC).
This agreement, a newly inked Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), solidifies a coordinated front to preempt, detect, and prosecute financial misconduct connected to the country’s casino sector. It reflects a broader push to bolster regulatory intelligence sharing and legal coordination amid mounting concerns about money laundering through gaming enterprises.
A Unified Response Framework
The MOU introduces a two-way protocol for swift, actionable intelligence exchange between the FID and the CGC. It commits both agencies to structured timelines—acknowledging case requests within a week and issuing substantive responses within two—to accelerate enforcement actions where suspicion arises.
Crucially, it enables joint operations. The CGC will now make formal criminal referrals while the FID provides forensic, legal, and evidentiary support in parallel to the Commission’s regulatory investigations. For added enforcement muscle, CGC may authorize FID officers as official inspectors under gaming laws, allowing for snap inspections when necessary.
Fortifying Legal Readiness
The collaboration is built with prosecutorial precision in mind. By aligning their frameworks, both agencies aim to produce airtight, court-ready case files that stand up under Jamaica’s Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and other statutory instruments. The agreement balances robust enforcement with the legal obligations of confidentiality and due process—ensuring effectiveness without overreach.
A Signal to the Sector
Dennis Chung, Chief Technical Director of the FID, noted that this is more than a handshake agreement—it’s a tactical pivot. “We’re not just reacting to threats anymore. With this MOU, we’ve put in place a real-time, sector-specific response mechanism that enables earlier disruption of criminal activity. Casino gaming will no longer be a blind spot in our financial system.”
As Jamaica tightens its net, this MOU sends a message to the gaming sector: compliance is no longer optional, and regulatory evasion will meet a coordinated, multi-agency response.
