Trinidad and Tobago Casinos & Gambling
Legalized casino gaming currently exists in Trinidad & Tobago only in Private Members Clubs licensed by local government Magistrates under the GAMBLING AND BETTING ACT regulations. Being an ex-British colony the laws of Trinidad and Tobago that permit Private Members Clubs to operate is essentially in keeping with the same British laws that allowed the fledgling gaming industry of Great Britain to emerge and flourish in swinging London of the mid nineteen sixties.
Approximately seventeen Members Clubs are currently operating on this beautiful twin island country located just seven miles off the coast of Venezuela. Entry is limited to club members and their guests. Visitors, business travelers and tourists are welcome and usually provided with temporary membership being issued at the reception desk.
The usual mix of table games and slot machines prevails with a couple distinctly Trinidadian variations thrown into the mix for excitement. The favorite game on the island, "Rhum 32", was originally introduced in Aruba casinos some years ago. It has now been enthusiastically adopted by the local Trini players as distinctly theirs. The other major game variation is on the Mini-Baccarat tables where the patron is only permitted to wager on the Player Hand. The house wins on all Banker decisions.
The Trinidadian Member's Club operators are to be congratulated on having done extraordinarily well at self-educating themselves and establishing a thriving gaming industry in the relatively short time span of six or seven years. The clubs range in size from five or six table games and a handful of slots to as many as twenty tables and one-hundred and fifty slot machines.
Several new operations will open over the coming months with the extremely elegant "Casino Royale" leading the way. With a projected July 1st opening, "Casino Royale" definitely ups the ante on high class gaming venues. Occupying the same magnificently restored turn-of-the-century mansion and gardens along with Trinidad's finest Thai and Indian restaurants; Tamnak Thai and Apsara, "Casino Royale" is able to offer members and guests a full service entertainment experience directly facing Port-of-Spain?s beautiful Queen?s Park Savannah; historic location of Trinidad?s original horse racing track.
Private Members Club gaming in Trinidad & Tobago, as it generates additional employment opportunities and tax revenues, will surely evolve into an industry the country can be proud of.
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