Cleveland Allen (2nd left), CEO of the Casino Gaming Commission (CGC) and Dennis Chung, Chief Technical Director of the Financial Investigations Division (FID) both hold the Memorandum of Understanding between both entities. They are flanked by Caleigh Reid (left), Legal Officer and Recording Secretary of the CGC and Candace Williams, General Legal Advisor at the FID.
The Financial Investigations Division (FID) and the Casino Gaming Commission (CGC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deepen cooperation in the prevention, detection, investigation, and enforcement of financial crimes connected to casino operations.
The agreement establishes clear protocols for information sharing, casework assistance, formal referrals, joint training, and periodic sector reviews, all of which are grounded in the Financial Investigations Division Act (FIDA) and the Casino Gaming Act (CGA). The MOU outlines clear legal and procedural guardrails for collaboration – respecting confidentiality and data protection while enabling evidence-based, court-ready casework. That balance is critical for successful prosecutions under POCA and for complementary regulatory outcomes that deter wrongdoing.
Under this MOU both entities have certain commitments; among the foremost of these the FID will:
- Provide timely investigative support, including intelligence, forensic and legal assistance, and court-ready statements/evidence where appropriate.
- Appoint a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to ensure requests are acknowledged within seven (7) days and substantively addressed within fourteen (14) days using the standard referral form.
Meanwhile the CGC will:
- Share supervisory intelligence and make formal referrals to FID for suspected criminal conduct, while pursuing parallel regulatory/disciplinary actions as needed;
- Facilitate operational cooperation—including ad-hoc inspections on reasonable grounds—and may designate FID officers as authorised persons/inspectors under the Casino Gaming Act.
Dennis Chung, Chief Technical Director, FID, noted: “This MOU strengthens how we identify and disrupt illicit financial flows that threaten Jamaica’s economy. By formalising faster information exchange, structured referrals, and sector-focused dialogues, we can move earlier and more decisively against money laundering risks in casino gaming – protecting the integrity of our financial system.
MOUs create shared expectations, documented processes, and measurable timelines which reduces friction between investigative and regulatory functions and improves enforcement outcomes. This approach has already strengthened the efficacy of FID’s partnerships with the JCF, MOCA, the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), the Integrity Commission, and the Auditor General’s Department, yielding stronger coordination on POCA enforcement and sector compliance.”
Cleveland Allen, Chief Executive Officer, Casino Gaming Commission, added: “Our mandate is to ensure casino gaming in Jamaica is fair, well-regulated, and not a vector for crime. Formalising this partnership with the FID elevates our collective capacity to enforce compliance, protect vulnerable persons, and uphold public confidence in the industry.”
The agreement operationalises practical tools – SPOCs, standardised forms, AML/CFT reviews, joint training, and, where necessary, coordinated inspections. These mechanisms will help both agencies act quickly on emerging risks and sustain a high bar for integrity across the sector.”