Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo. AFP PHOTO

However, the legislation will be highly restrictive, allowing only four-star rated hotels with 250 rooms and above to be granted licenses. At present there are two hotels under construction that may meet the requirements, which will be completed to cater for the influx of over 30,000 visitors to Guyana for CWC.

President Jagdeo said that the passing of the proposed legislation will in no way open the floodgates for widespread gambling, since only visitors to Guyana will be allowed to use the casinos.

Guyana is hoping to use next year’s CWC to catapult its tourism industry and, with the installation of casinos, hopefully the industry could become more attractive.

The Christian community has opposed the idea of casinos, citing reports which showed that every area where gambling was prevalent recorded an increase in crime.

Some social groups have argued that the monies spent by the average person on gambling detract from what could have been spent on household items aimed at enhancing family life.

"I think that if the guests are going to go to Barbados or the Bahamas because they have casinos and we could attract them in this country by having casinos at the hotels where they are staying, then we should do so," President Jagdeo stated.

At present Guyana’s legislation does not prevent Internet gambling.