The  Watchman Church Leaders Alliance (WCLA)  has been carefully following the recent parliamentary discussions surrounding the Casino Gaming General Regulations 2025.

We recognise that Integrated Resort Developments are being presented as opportunities for economic growth and investment. 

At the same time, we believe it is important to reflect thoughtfully on the broader social implications.

As the parliamentary debate is unfolding,  several practical and social questions arise. What protective measures will be in place to address problem – gambling? How prepared are our public health systems, counselling services, and regulatory bodies to respond if addiction rates increase, as they most surely will? What safeguards will ensure that vulnerable communities are not disproportionately affected?

Nowhere is there more aggregate awareness of the destructive effects of gambling on families than in the Church. 

Economic development is important.  However, for all the moral reasons that the Church has often stated, gambling as an industry can never receive Pastoral endorsement.

Taking its existence as a given, however, how do we balance the desire for some interests for financial opportunity with the moral and social well-being of our citizens? What assurances can be provided that adequate preventative and support systems will be established before full-scale casino operations begin?

We are seeking clarity on responsible planning. Would it be prudent to ensure that addiction treatment frameworks, public education campaigns, and regulatory enforcement mechanisms are firmly in place before licenses are issued?

We believe Jamaica’s progress must be holistic — economically sound, socially responsible, and morally grounded, because ” unless the Lord builds the house, its builders do so in vain ( Psalm 127). As a nation, we always have an opportunity to proceed carefully and wisely.

The question before us is not simply whether casinos can generate revenue, but whether we are fully prepared to manage their long-term risk.

Watchman Church Leaders Alliance (WCLA) is a coalition of church leaders committed to prophetic witness, moral advocacy, pastoral capacity building, and accountability in national life.