Jamaica’s First Casino Targets February 2027 Opening
Jamaica’s first full-service casino is now scheduled to open in February 2027 at the Princess Grand Jamaica Resort in Green Island, Hanover, following the issuance of the country’s inaugural casino gaming operator’s licence. The Casino Gaming Commission (CGC) granted the licence to Adamas Grand Casino Limited, the gaming operator affiliated with the Princess Hotels & Resorts development on the island’s northwestern coast. The February target represents a modest shift from the previously communicated December 2026 timeline, with regulatory conditions to be satisfied by March 2027.
A Decade in the Making
The licence marks the culmination of a regulatory framework that has been in development for more than a decade. The Casino Gaming Act was passed in both Houses of Parliament in 2010, establishing casino gaming as a permitted activity only within approved integrated resort developments rather than as a standalone offering. Under the legislation, casino operations must function as a complementary feature of a larger tourism development that includes substantial hotel accommodation.
The enabling regulations advanced significantly in 2025, when the Senate approved the Casino Gaming General Regulations, providing the operational parameters necessary for licensing to proceed. The framework caps the number of casino licences at three, positioning gaming as a controlled instrument of tourism investment rather than a broadly liberalised gambling market.
The Princess Grand Jamaica Development
The Princess Grand Jamaica Resort sits on a peninsula in Green Island, Hanover, located between the established tourism hubs of Montego Bay and Negril. The broader Princess Resorts development in Hanover represents an investment initially valued at approximately US$400 million, with figures cited at up to US$800 million when accounting for the full scope of the company’s plans in the parish. The resort comprises more than 1,000 rooms, including premium suites and overwater accommodations.
The casino component, operated by Adamas Grand Casino Limited, is planned across a gaming floor exceeding 1,000 square metres, offering a selection of slot machines and table games consistent with the integrated resort model. The CGC, as the competent authority for the sector, will oversee compliance obligations covering anti-money laundering controls and broader regulatory standards prior to and following the opening.
Government officials have characterised the licence as a milestone for Jamaica’s tourism investment strategy, indicating that additional integrated resort developments are expected to follow. Interest in the Jamaican market has long included large-scale proposals in Montego Bay and elsewhere, and the successful activation of the first licence is widely viewed within the industry as a signal for further capital deployment into the island’s hospitality and gaming sectors.
