Pastor Daniel Collins of Helping Others Ministry is backing stronger regulation of Guyana’s gambling industry, warning that easier access to betting, particularly through mobile phones, can expose young people and vulnerable individuals to serious social and financial risks.
Speaking on the impact of gambling on families and communities, Pastor Collins said he has seen little positive impact from the activity, with some individuals increasingly viewing betting as a means of earning income rather than entertainment.
He said this mindset can encourage people to abandon traditional employment and responsible income-generating activities in pursuit of quick winnings, ultimately leaving families financially strained.
“The young one should know that betting is not a way of life. It’s just entertainment, but they don’t have that knowledge. So, they choose that this is my way of life,” the pastor said.
Pastor Collins welcomed the recently strengthened legislative framework, particularly measures aimed at increasing oversight of betting shops and online gambling platforms, verifying customers’ identities and ages, and tackling illegal and unlicensed operators.
He is also calling for stronger identity verification systems for online betting, including the use of government-issued identification, arguing that age declarations alone are insufficient to prevent children from accessing gambling platforms.
According to Pastor Collins, greater scrutiny should extend beyond operators to gambling customers, specifically where large sums of money are being wagered regularly.
The pastor believes that such measures could help address wider concerns including fraud, theft and the use of illegally obtained funds.
He further supports taxation of gambling operators. He noted that businesses’ income from betting should contribute to national development with the payment of taxes.
Pastor Collins also stressed the importance of public education, particularly through social media, to ensure young people understand the risks associated with gambling and do not mistake betting for a sustainable source of income.
He said Guyana’s stronger regulatory approach is an important step toward preventing gambling-related problems from becoming more deeply entrenched in society, while protecting children and vulnerable groups from an activity that can quickly escalate from entertainment into financial and social hardship.