CASINO GAMBLING IN THE CARIBBEAN
2020; Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.; Volume: 24; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1089/glr2.2020.0005
ISSN2572-5327
AutoresRobert M. Jarvis, Jane Ellen Cross,
Tópico(s)Cocoa and Sweet Potato Agronomy
ResumoGaming Law ReviewVol. 24, No. 5 ArticlesFree AccessCASINO GAMBLING IN THE CARIBBEANRobert M. Jarvis and Jane E. CrossRobert M. JarvisRobert M. Jarvis is a professor of law at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, and a member of the Editorial Board of the Gaming Law Review.Search for more papers by this author and Jane E. CrossJane E. Cross is an associate professor of law and director of the Caribbean Law Program at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:16 Jun 2020https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2020.0005AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail I. IntroductionFor a variety of reasons—centering on cultural, geographical, historical, linguistical, and political differences—a universally accepted definition of the term “Caribbean” does not exist.1 Nevertheless, there is general agreement that what popularly is thought of as the Caribbean—that is, the tourist islands sometimes incorrectly called the West Indies2—consists of 13 sovereign nations as well as 17 territories3 that continue to owe their allegiance to one of four colonial powers: France, Great Britain, The Netherlands, and the United States.4As one would expect, these 30 jurisdictions differ greatly when it comes to regulating casino gambling.5 But as is so often true when a question of Caribbean law arises,6 there is no single, current, and readily available source to which a reader can turn.7 Accordingly, this article provides a concise legal overview of casino gambling in the Caribbean,8 a region that despite having just 0.6% of the world's population,9 is home to 3.6% of its casinos.10 This level of development is particularly impressive given the numerous challenges faced by local operators.11II. Country ProfilesA. Antigua and BarbudaHistory: British possession until 1981Location: Leeward Islands (1,324 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 170 square milesPopulation: 98,000Capital: Saint John's (on the island of Antigua)Principal Language: EnglishCurrency: Eastern Caribbean DollarCasinos have been legal in Antigua and Barbuda since 1963,12 and the country's first casino—the Marmora Beach Hotel & Casino in Marmora Bay (15 miles from Saint John's)—opened in 1964.13 Currently, there is one casino in the country.14 Known as King's Casino,15 and located in downtown Saint John's (near where the cruise ships dock), it has 350 slot machines and seven table games.16 The minimum age to bet in Antigua and Barbuda is 18.B. The BahamasHistory: British possession until 1973Location: Lucayan Archipelago (181 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 5,358 square milesPopulation: 393,000Capital: Nassau (on the island of New Providence)Principal Language: EnglishCurrency: Bahamian DollarCasinos have been legal in The Bahamas since 1969.17 At present, there are three casinos in the country, each on a different island.18 The Atlantis Resort Casino19 is on Paradise Island; the Baha Mar Casino at the Grand Hyatt20 is on New Providence Island; and the Resorts World Bimini Casino21 is on North Bimini Island. All are as expansive as they are lavish.22 At 100,000 square feet, the Baha Mar Casino (1,140 slot machines and 119 table games) is the largest casino in the Caribbean.23 The minimum age to gamble in The Bahamas is 18.24C. BarbadosHistory: British possession until 1966Location: Windward Islands (1,596 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 169 square milesPopulation: 287,000Capital: BridgetownPrincipal Language: EnglishCurrency: Barbadian DollarCasino gambling is illegal in Barbados,25 although other forms of wagering (e.g., horseracing, lotteries, and slot machines) are permitted.26 Since 2012, cruise ships that dock overnight in Barbados have been permitted to keep their casinos open for their passengers.27Whether Barbados should legalize casino gambling has been debated for decades.28 In the meantime, the closest casinos are 45 minutes away (by plane) in Martinique.29D. CubaHistory: Spanish possession until 1898; U.S. possession from 1898 to 1902Location: Greater Antilles (330 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 42,426 square milesPopulation: 11.3 millionCapital: HavanaPrincipal Language: SpanishCurrency: Cuban PesoUntil 1958, casinos (run by the U.S. mob) flourished in Cuba.30 In 1959, they were forced to shut down after Fidel Castro came to power.31 With the end of Castro's rule (in 2011), many U.S. observers believe it is only a matter of time until Cuba again legalizes casinos.32E. DominicaHistory: British possession until 1978Location: Windward Islands (1,408 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 290 square milesPopulation: 72,000Capital: RoseauPrincipal Language: EnglishCurrency: Eastern Caribbean DollarCasino gambling is illegal in Dominica,33 part of the country's rejection of mass tourism.34 However, the casinos on Guadeloupe and Martinique can be reached quickly by plane (two hours) or slowly by ferry (eight hours).35F. Dominican RepublicHistory: Spanish possession until 1821Location: Greater Antilles (803 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 18,792 square milesPopulation: 10.8 millionCapital: Santo DomingoPrincipal Language: SpanishCurrency: Dominican PesoCasinos have been legal in the Dominican Republic (the eastern side of the island of Hispaniola) since 1964.36 At present, the country has 30 casinos, with the majority located either in Punta Cana (eight), a beach area in La Altagracia (the country's easternmost province), or Santo Domingo (12).37 The two largest casinos are the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana,38 which has 386 slot machines and 41 table games, and the Ramada Santo Domingo Princess Hotel,39 which has 400 slot machines and 22 table games. The minimum age to gamble in the Dominican Republic is 18.G. GrenadaHistory: British possession until 1974Location: Windward Islands (1,529 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 135 square milesPopulation: 113,000Capital: Saint George'sPrincipal Language: EnglishCurrency: Eastern Caribbean DollarCasino gambling in Grenada was legalized in 2014 to boost the economy.40 Currently, however, the country has no casinos. This is because casinos are only permitted in hotels that have at least 300 rooms41 and Grenada's largest hotel—the Royalton Grenada, which opened in 2020—has 269 rooms.42 The minimum age to gamble in Grenada is 18.43H. HaitiHistory: French possession until 1825Location: Greater Antilles (689 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 10,710 square milesPopulation: 11.4 millionCapital: Port-au-PrincePrincipal Languages: French and Haitian CreoleCurrency: Haitian GourdeFollowing Cuba's decision to close its casinos in 1959,44 Haiti (the western side of the island of Hispaniola) in 1960 legalized casino gambling to attract Cuba's displaced operators.45 The new Haitian law required each casino to be approved by the president46 and located in a hotel having at least 200 rooms.47 As Haiti had no large hotels, the hoped-for influx from Cuba failed to materialize.Haiti continues to require casinos to obtain presidential approval.48 Currently, the country has two casinos, both in Port-au-Prince: The Four Aces Casino49 and the NH Haiti El Rancho Hotel and Casino.50 The Casino El Rancho, with 100 slot machines and 15 table games, is the larger of the pair. The minimum age to gamble in Haiti is 18.I. JamaicaHistory: British possession until 1962Location: Greater Antilles (560 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 4,244 square milesPopulation: 3.0 millionCapital: KingstonPrincipal Language: EnglishCurrency: Jamaican DollarFor many years, Jamaica rejected attempts to legalize casinos because of church opposition.51 In 2010, however, the government finally pushed through a casino gambling bill in a bid to expand the country's economy.52 Under the law, up to three casino licenses can be granted, but only to resort complexes offering “a mix of tourism amenities and facilities.”53In 2015, the government approved two large-scale projects featuring casinos: Celebration Jamaica,54 a $500 million resort at Montego Bay (in northwest Jamaica), and Harmony Cove,55 a $970 million resort in Trelawny (also in northwest Jamaica).56 Both ventures, however, have run into problems, and their futures are uncertain.57 The minimum age to gamble in Jamaica is 18.J. Saint Kitts and NevisHistory: British possession until 1983Location: Leeward Islands (1,258 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 101 square milesPopulation: 53,000Capital: Basseterre (on Saint Kitts)Principal Language: EnglishCurrency: Eastern Caribbean DollarCasinos are legal in Saint Kitts (more formally known as Saint Christopher) and Nevis, and the islands' first casino opened in 1976 at the Royal Saint Kitts hotel in Frigate Bay (three miles south of Basseterre).58 Currently, the country has two casinos.59 The Mapau Casino60 in downtown Basseterre has 145 slot machines and seven table games, while the Royal Beach Casino at the Saint Kitts Marriott Resort Frigate Bay61 has 300 slot machines and 19 table games. The minimum age to gamble in Saint Kitts and Nevis is 18.62K. Saint LuciaHistory: British possession until 1979Location: Windward Islands (1,489 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 238 square milesPopulation: 183,000Capital: CastriesPrincipal Language: EnglishCurrency: Eastern Caribbean DollarHistorically, casinos were banned in Saint Lucia due to church opposition.63 In 2001, however, the country legalized casino gambling to increase tourism.64 In 2010, after a contentious application process, Treasure Bay,65 the country's sole casino, opened in the Bay Walk Mall in Castries with 350 slot machines and 11 table games.66 The minimum age to gamble in Saint Lucia is 18.L. Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesHistory: British possession until 1979Location: Windward Islands (1,512 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 150 square milesPopulation: 111,000Capital: Kingstown (on the island of Saint Vincent)Principal Language: EnglishCurrency: Eastern Caribbean DollarCasino gambling has been legal in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines since 1968,67 and its first casino, in Kingstown, opened in 1977.68 Currently, however, the country has no casinos.69 The last one—Donald J. Trump's Club Privée on the island of Canouan in the Grenadines—closed in 2010 (it now serves as a hurricane shelter).70 The minimum age to gamble in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is 18.M. Trinidad and TobagoHistory: British possession until 1962Location: Windward Islands (1,618 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 1,981 square milesPopulation: 1.4 millionCapital: Port of Spain (on the island of Trinidad)Principal Language: EnglishCurrency: Trinidad and Tobago DollarCasinos are illegal in Trinidad and Tobago.71 However, because of a legal loophole, casinos can operate if they are run as “private member clubs.”72 Currently, there are 90 such clubs in the country, although only a dozen operate as full-scale casinos.73 The largest, in Port of Spain, is the Royal Princess Members Club.74 It has 180 slot machines and 12 table games. The minimum age to gamble in Trinidad and Tobago is 18.III. Territory ProfilesA. France1. GuadeloupeHistory: French territory since 1674Location: Leeward Islands (1,366 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 629 square milesPopulation: 400,000Capital: Basse-Terre (on the island of Basse-Terre)Principal Language: FrenchCurrency: EuroCasino gambling is legal in Guadeloupe,75 and the territory's first casino, at the La Caravelle Hotel in Sainte-Anne, opened in 1970.76 Currently, the island has two casinos.77 The Casino du Gosier78 on Basse-Terre Island has 180 slot machines and seven table games, while the Casino du Saint-François79 on Grande-Terre Island has 91 slot machines and four table games. The minimum age to gamble in Guadeloupe is 21.2. MartiniqueHistory: French territory since 1635Location: Windward Islands (1,457 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 424 square milesPopulation: 375,000Capital: Fort-de-FrancePrincipal Language: FrenchCurrency: EuroCasino gambling is legal in Martinique,80 and the territory's first casino, at the Martinique Hilton in Fort-de-France, opened in 1971.81 At present, the island has two casinos.82 One is the Casino Batelière Plazza83 in Fort-de-France, which has 144 slot machines and 10 table games. The other is the Casino Trois-Ilets84 in Anse Mitan (a seaside resort area 25 minutes by ferry from Fort-de-France), which has 70 slot machines and four table games. The minimum age to gamble in Martinique is 18.3. Saint BarthélemyHistory: French territory since 1878Location: Leeward Islands (1,236 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 9.7 square milesPopulation: 9,900Capital: GustaviaPrincipal Language: FrenchCurrency: EuroAt present, there are no casinos on Saint Barthélemy.85 However, the casinos on Sint Maarten (20 miles to the north), as well as the ones on Saint Kitts (40 miles to the south), are close by for those who want to gamble.86As one source has explained, local opposition accounts for the lack of casino gambling in Saint Barthélemy: “St. Barthelemy … is a popular holiday destination amongst the rich and famous, so there is no doubt any gambling business would prove to be quite lucrative. However, locals (both residents and the authorities) seem to be against the idea. They want to keep the tranquil atmosphere and somewhat old-world charm of St. Barts.”874. Saint-MartinHistory: French territory since 1648Location: Leeward Islands (1,218 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 20 square milesPopulation: 39,000Capital: MarigotPrincipal Language: FrenchCurrency: EuroAt present, there are no casinos in French Saint-Martin (the island of Saint Martin's northern side).88 However, there are numerous casinos in Dutch Sint Maarten (the island's southern side).89B. Great Britain1. AnguillaHistory: British territory since 1650Location: Leeward Islands (1,212 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 35 square milesPopulation: 15,000Capital: The ValleyPrincipal Language: EnglishCurrency: Eastern Caribbean DollarLargely because of church opposition, casinos are illegal in Anguilla.90 As a result, residents and tourists who want to gamble typically take a 30-minute ferry ride to the casinos in Sint Maarten.912. British Virgin IslandsHistory: British territory since 1648Location: Leeward Islands (1,115 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 59 square milesPopulation: 30,000Capital: Road Town (on the island of Tortola)Principal Language: EnglishCurrency: United States DollarCasinos are illegal in the British Virgin Islands.92 One local hotel's website trumpets this fact by saying: “1,000-bedroom Hotel and Casino complex—not coming soon. The 60 beautiful islands of the British Virgin Islands are missing a few other things too. We have no high-rise hotels, no McDonalds, no Starbucks, no Kentucky Fried Chicken, no roller coasters, no sales tax and no VAT [value added tax].”93 The closest casino is in Saint Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands (50 miles to the south).943. Cayman IslandsHistory: British territory since 1670Location: Greater Antilles (450 miles south of Miami)Area: 102 square milesPopulation: 66,000Capital: George Town (on the island of Grand Cayman)Principal Language: EnglishCurrency: Cayman Islands DollarCasino gambling is illegal in the Cayman Islands.95 Recently, however, it has been reported that there is some support to change the law.96 In the meantime, the nearest casinos are 725 miles away in the Dominican Republic.974. MontserratHistory: British territory since 1632Location: Leeward Islands (1,313 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 39 square milesPopulation: 5,000Capital: Plymouth (de jure), Brades (de facto), Little Bay (planned)Principal Language: EnglishCurrency: Eastern Caribbean DollarDue largely to church opposition, casinos are illegal in Montserrat.98 The nearest casino is 25 miles away on Antigua (20 minutes by air or 90 minutes by ferry).99As has been written elsewhere: [Prior to 1989], Montserrat was in demand among tourists, which favourably affected the country's economy. … In the heyday of tourism, the Montserrat government tried to legalize gambling in the country, but unfortunately, the attempt was unsuccessful. … [H]urricane [Hugo in 1989] dealt a significant blow to the island, and the number of tourists decreased several times. A little later in 1995, there was a strong eruption of volcanoes, as a result of which the capital of the island state was destroyed. In this regard, more than 30 percent of the local population left the island, and tourists completely stopped visiting the country. [As a result,] attempts to make gambling legal have been completely stopped.100The pre-Hugo effort to legalize casino gambling was led by Chief Minister John A. Osborne of the People's Liberation Movement.101 Obsorne was forced to abandon his plans after a scandal broke out over a land deal, known as “Little Bay,” that would have included Montserrat's first casino.1025. Turks and Caicos IslandsHistory: British territory since 1783Location: Lucayan Archipelago (600 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 238 square milesPopulation: 39,000Capital: Cockburn Town (on the island of Grand Turk)Principal Language: EnglishCurrency: United States DollarCasino gambling has been legal in the Turks and Caicos Islands since 1980,103 and the first casino—the Ramada Turquoise Reef Beach Club and Casino on Providenciales Island—opened in 1990.104 Currently, the territory has one casino. Located at Grace Bay on Providenciales Island, the Casablanca Casino105 has 85 slot machines and 17 table games.106For a short time in 2014, a casino on Grand Turk Island, just north of the island's cruise ship passenger welcome center, operated “in an eye-catching faux pirate ship building.”107 Since 2015, a Ritz-Carlton resort and casino at Grace Bay has been on the drawing board.108The minimum age for visitors to gamble in the Turks and Caicos is 18. Residents, however, must be at least 21 and earn at least $75,000 a year.109C. The Netherlands1. ArubaHistory: Dutch territory since 1636Location: Leeward Antilles (1,130 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 69 square milesPopulation: 107,000Capital: OranjestadPrincipal Languages: Dutch and PapiamentuCurrency: Aruban FlorinCasinos are legal in Aruba (so long as they are in hotels),110 and currently there are 13 on the island. Six are in Oranjestad, while the other seven are four miles away in Palm Beach.111 Among the best known are the Alhambra Casino112 in Oranjestad, with 450 slot machines and 16 table games, and the Stellaris Casino113 in Palm Beach, with 500 slot machines and 27 table games. The minimum age to gamble in Aruba is 18.114Casino gambling has a long history in Aruba. The Aruba Caribbean Casino, the island's first casino, opened in 1959 in a building designed by the famed New York architect Morris Lapidus.115 Aruba also is known for being the spot where, in 1988, Caribbean stud poker was invented, although the exact details of the game's creation remain disputed.1162. BonaireHistory: Dutch territory since 1636Location: Leeward Antilles (1,219 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 114 square milesPopulation: 20,000Capital: KralendijkPrincipal Languages: Dutch and PapiamentuCurrency: United States DollarBonaire is the “B” of the “BES Islands”—the two other BES Islands are Saba and Sint Eustatius. As has been explained elsewhere, the legal status of casino gambling in the BES Islands is unusual: In [2010], the Netherlands Antilles were dissolved as a unified political entity [and] Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius became part of the Netherlands … receiving the status of special municipalities. Thus, the islands must comply with Dutch law.The operation of a land-based casino must be connected to a hotel venture [because] separate casinos or remote gambling operations are not allowed. License applications need to be filed with the Executive Council of the desired island. Licenses have been granted to two boutique hotels on Bonaire. Sint Eustatius and Saba do not host land-based casinos.117Bonaire's first casino, at the Bonaire Hotel, opened in 1964.118 Currently, both of Bonaire's casinos are in Kralendijk.119 The Coral Casino Bonaire at the Plaza Resort120 has 80 slot machines and seven table games, while the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort and Casino121 has 60 slot machines and five table games. Since its debut in 1984, the Divi casino has been known as “The World's First Barefoot Casino” because it does not require patrons to wear shoes (to facilitate easy movement between the casino and the beach).122 The minimum age to gamble in Bonaire is 21.3. CuraçaoHistory: Dutch territory since 1634Location: Leeward Antilles (1,188 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 171 square milesPopulation: 164,000Capital: WillemstadPrincipal Languages: Dutch, English, and PapiamentuCurrency: Netherlands Antillean GuilderCasino gambling is legal in Curaçao,123 although all casinos must be in hotels having at least 150 rooms. At present, the island has 11 casinos (all in Willemstad).124 The two largest are the Carnaval Casino at the Renaissance Resort Curaçao,125 with 335 slot machines and 19 tables games, and the Casino Veneto at the Holiday Beach Resort and Casino,126 with 450 slot machines and 14 table games. The minimum age to gamble in Curaçao is 18.The island's first casino was the Curaçao Intercontinental Hotel, which opened in 1957.127 Casino gambling did not really take off, however, until seven large hotels, each with its own casino, opened in the span of three years (1967–69).128 By 1980, casinos were responsible for nearly one-third of the island's tourism earnings.1294. SabaHistory: Dutch territory since 1816Location: Leeward Islands (1,223 miles southeast of Miami)Area: Five square milesPopulation: 1,900Capital: The BottomPrincipal Languages: Dutch and EnglishCurrency: United States DollarAs previously explained, Saba is one of the three “BES Islands.”130 Because of its small size and relative lack of tourism, there currently are no casinos in Saba.131 As a result, those on the island who want to play must take a two-hour ferry, or a 15-minute flight, to neighboring Sint Maarten.1325. Sint EustatiusHistory: Dutch territory since 1636Location: Leeward Islands (1,242 miles southeast of Miami)Area: Eight square milesPopulation: 3,100Capital: OranjestadPrincipal Languages: Dutch and EnglishCurrency: United States DollarAs previously noted, Sint Eustatius (known locally as Statia) is one of the three “BES Islands.”133 Because of its small size and relative lack of tourism, casinos do not presently exist in Sint Eustatius.134 As a result, those on the island who want to play must take a two-hour ferry, or a 20-minute flight, to neighboring Sint Maarten.1356. Sint MaartenHistory: Dutch territory since 1648Location: Leeward Islands (1,218 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 13 square milesPopulation: 43,000Capital: PhilipsburgPrincipal Language: EnglishCurrency: Netherlands Antillean GuilderLegal casino gambling has been taking place in Sint Maarten, the Dutch southern side of the island of Saint Martin, since 1961, when the Windward Beach Club casino opened.136 The territory currently has 13 casinos located in three cities.137 Although Philipsburg has the most casinos (seven), the largest casino on the island is the Princess Port de Plaisance Resort138 at Cole Bay. It has 500 slot machines and 23 table games. The minimum age to gamble in Sint Maarten is 18.D. United States1391. Puerto RicoHistory: Spanish territory to 1898; U.S. territory since 1898Location: Greater Antilles (1,014 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 3,515 square milesPopulation: 2.9 millionCapital: San JuanPrincipal Languages: English and SpanishCurrency: United States DollarCasino gambling became legal in Puerto Rico in 1948, when the Games of Chance (Juegos de Azar) Act, also known as Ley Número (Law Number) 221, was adopted.140 At the time, the island had numerous illegal casinos, and it was hoped the law would protect players from unscrupulous operators while providing the government with a new source of revenue.141Ley 221 makes Puerto Rico the birthplace of legalized Caribbean casino gambling. Today, the island has 16 casinos (which must be in hotels) spread across 10 cities.142 Although Ponce (3) and San Juan (3) have the most casinos, the largest casino is the Caguas Real Hotel and Casino143 in Caguas (20 miles south of San Juan). It has 570 slot machines and 10 table games. The minimum age to gamble in Puerto Rico is 18.2. U.S. Virgin Islands (U.S.V.I.)History: Danish territory to 1917; U.S. territory since 1917Location: Leeward Islands (1,104 miles southeast of Miami)Area: 134 square milesPopulation: 104,000Capital: Charlotte Amalie (on the island of Saint Thomas)Principal Language: EnglishCurrency: United States DollarIn 1994, a non-binding referendum to legalize casino gambling was held on each of the territory's three main islands. While the voters on Saint John and Saint Thomas rejected the idea, those on Saint Croix approved it by a margin of 58%–42%.144 Six months later, the U.S.V.I. legislature passed a new law that permits Saint Croix to have up to six casinos.145 All casinos must be in “major” hotels.Currently, Saint Croix's only casino is the Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino146 in Christiansted (the island's largest city).147 Opened in 1999, it has 250 slot machines and 17 table games. However, two large-scale hotel projects, each with a casino, have been proposed.148 The minimum age to gamble in the U.S. Virgin Islands is 21.IV. ConclusionAs the foregoing discussion indicates, 18 of the Caribbean's 30 jurisdictions permit casino gambling,149 15 currently have casino gambling,150 and the total number of legal land-based casinos is 102.151 Clearly, however, there is a great deal of concentration, for the top five jurisdictions are home to 83 (81%) of the region's casinos: Dominican Republic (30), Puerto Rico (16), Aruba (13), Sint Maarten (13), and Curaçao (11).152Compared to 1985, when 13 Caribbean jurisdictions permitted casino gambling,153 there has been a 38% increase during the past 35 years. In the future, it would not be surprising to see as many as four more jurisdictions added to the list.154Authors' Note: The research for this article closed on April 1, 2020. By this date, many Caribbean casinos had shut down because of COVID-19. See, e.g., Aruba Launches Aggressive Measures Against Coronavirus, Caribbean J. (Mar. 19, 2020), https://www.caribjournal.com/2020/03/19/aruba-coronavirus-fight-aggressive/ (“On March 19, all of Aruba's casinos, movie theaters and gyms … closed, while all group sporting events [were] canceled.”). The pandemic's long-term effects on the Caribbean's casino industry are uncertain. See generally Jacqueline Charles, COVID-19 Is Hitting Caribbean and Latin American Economies Hard. Can They Survive?, Miami Herald (Mar. 27, 2020), https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article241525961.html. See also Coronavirus (COVID-19), Caribbean Tourism Organization, https://www.onecaribbean.org/resources/coronavirus/.1 Accordingly, as used in this article, the term “Caribbean” means: (a) The Greater Antilles;(b) The Lesser Antilles, which consists of the Leeward Antilles (west), Leeward Islands (north), and Windward Islands (south); and,(c) The Lucayan Archipelago, which is comprised of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.Among the countries included on some Caribbean lists, but omitted from others, are: Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, and Venezuela. Bermuda, in the North Atlantic, and French Guiana, on the coast of South America, present similar classification challenges. For a further discussion, see, e.g., Bridget Brereton, Regional Histories, in VI General History of the Caribbean: Methodology and Historiography of the Caribbean 308 (B.W. Higman ed. 1999) (discussing the reasons for, and consequences of, the different definitions). See alsoFranklin W. Knight, The Caribbean: The Genesis of a Fragmented Nationalism (3d ed. 2011).2 As an imperialist invention, the term “West Indies” largely has disappeared from modern language: With the original intent of Columbus's voyage being to find a westbound route to Asia, the phrase “West Indies” distinguished the territories encountered by Columbus and claimed by Spain from discovery claims by other European powers in the so-called “East indies”—that is to say, in Asia. The term “West Indies” was eventually used by all European nations to describe their own acquired territories in the Americas, but, by the twentieth century, the term had largely fallen into disuse except in the British case. Some British people continue to use the term to refer to the Caribbean in general instead of the former British colonies. This usage is widely considered incorrect.Rosanne Adderley, West Indies, in 3 Encyclopedia of Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean Cultures 1584, 1584 (Daniel Balderston et al. eds. 2000). For further examinations of the region's past, see, e.g., Gad Heuman, The Caribbean: A Brief History (3d ed. 2019); Carrie Gibson, Empire's Crossroads: A History of the Caribbean from Columbus to the Present Day (2014); B.W. Higman, A Concise History of the Caribbean (2011).3 These entitles go by a variety of designations, including: commonwealth, department, dependency, kingdom, municipality, state, and territory. The term “territory” is used in this article as a catch-all descriptor.4 This jumble has caused one commentator to remark: “Our geopolitical definition of Caribbean suggests a unity. In a historico-sociological sense, however, there is not one Caribbean but several Caribbeans, namely British/Commonwealth; Spanish/Hispanic; French; Dutch; and ex-Danish/now United States.” Fitzroy A. Baptiste, United States-Caribbean Relations from World War II to the Present: The Social Nexus, inU.S.-Caribbean Relations: Their Impact on People
Referência(s)