Founder of BET Expanding Gaming Business To Antigua- Reports

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BET founder Bob Johnson recently announced the expansion of his video gaming operations throughout the Caribbean, gaining a greater foothold in that lucrative market.

The RLJ Cos., his sprawling business empire with interests in the entertainment, hotel franchises, automotive and private equity industries, is the majority owner of Caribbean CAGE, which has entered into exclusive agreements to serve as the leading video lottery and video gaming terminal operator in seven Caribbean countries.

As a result of these transactions, Caribbean CAGE will be licensed to operate more than 5,000 such gaming machines in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts, Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Maarten.

In a release, company officials further stated that CAGE will deploy and operate virtual sports betting systems and games through terminals and mobile apps on the island nations as early as 2020.

“I’m pleased to announce that Caribbean CAGE has, over the years, established a positive and lasting relationship with Caribbean governments to provide a legal gaming system that has generated significant economic benefit to the government and created an engaging gaming experience for our customers throughout the Caribbean,” Johnson said in a released statement of the deal. “Our company has made a strong commitment to be a partner in the future economic development of the Caribbean community and as a U.S. based company, to send a signal to other U.S. companies that the Caribbean is open for business based on rule of law and attractive opportunities for global investment.”

Robert B. Washington, CAGE’s chairman, CEO and co-founder added: “The CAGE Companies have entered into new 20-year exclusive contracts in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Saint Lucia during the Third Quarter 2019. We are very pleased to have Antigua and Barbuda join with our other countries in the Caribbean community. We believe our system, games, and terminals are world-class and provide exciting games, legal compliance, and attractive returns to our loyal players.”

Johnson, who is also chairman of  RLJ McLarty Landers Automotive Holdings L.L.C (No. 1 on the BE AUTO 40 with $1.8 billion in revenues), also stated: “Caribbean CAGE, under the leadership of Washington, has proven that CAGE has become both a good business investment and a good corporate citizen in the Caribbean community.”

Washington, a prominent attorney in Washington, D.C., has been engaged in international business for years, which led to his 25-year involvement in the Caribbean gaming industry. In 1994, he gained an exclusive gaming license by the government of Antigua and Barbuda to manage and operate the government-owned electronic lottery and used this opportunity to expand into six other Caribbean countries during the next five years, according to the Caribbean Cage website. His first company, Leeward Islands Lottery Holding Co. (LILHCo) grew into the largest lottery operator in the Caribbean before being sold to GTECH for reportedly $40 million in 2004. After that transaction, Washington launched Caribbean CAGE, a gaming and entertainment company focused on video lotteries and other types of gaming in the Caribbean and Latin America.

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8 COMMENTS

  1. As Dr Henrik Clarke would say is this the best this African can use his wealth to uplift his people?

    Dr Henrik Clarke spoke extensively about his lack of positive contribution to the upliftment of Africans in poor neighbor hoods. Gaming????

    Nothing in the development of music, sports, arts, or education?

    • Have you seen Las Vegas?
      Do you know that Lottery/Gaming is the fasted way to distribute wealth. Are you aware how many millionaires the lotto have made. People that normally would not have wealth. You buy a ticket of $6.00 and have a change to become a millionaire. Yes it is the luck of the draw but eventually someone will win. And it is not the case like in the casino that the house takes it all. The holding company can only take a percentage of the top for operational expenses and profits. The pool remains for the people to win. And that is how it grows from strength to strength. And the government has made sure that the taxes that are paid by the group are designated to Sport and Education. And these monies are paid promptly every month to the ministry.

  2. By the what you have written about Mr. Johnson is very little of his business empire.
    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Robert L. Johnson
    Born Robert Louis Johnson
    April 8, 1946 (age 73)
    Hickory, Mississippi, U.S.
    Alma mater University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (BA)
    Princeton University (MPA)
    Known for Co-founder of BET
    Net worth US$ 600 million
    Robert Louis Johnson (born April 8, 1946) is an American entrepreneur, media magnate, executive, philanthropist, and investor.[1][3][4][5][6][7] He is the co-founder of BET, which was acquired by Viacom in 2001.[3][4] He also founded RLJ Companies, a holding company that invests in various business sectors.[4][8] Johnson is the former majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.[9] He became the first black American billionaire.[1][10] Johnson’s companies have counted among the most prominent African-American businesses in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
    https://www.rljcompanies.com/

    • Sideline there is no argument about his wealth and empire.

      Don’t you think coming into this region with a vast empire as his, his legacy could be better advanced.

      Outside of Stanford can you name any other investor that came to the region and create a development program in the field of sports, music, art, or education that would harmonize and develop the people in the region.

      That’s the point sideline please keep it there.

      • https://www.antiguaobserver.com/callaloo-cay-investors-bring-promises-back-to-old-road/
        Listen you can try to keep me busy by constantly changing your tune. But many investors in this country make a significant contribution to various aspects of our society. Be it Education, Sport or Social advancement. And I can just name a few for you that do not give rumor to the charity they do in this country. The three largest are Mill Reef Club, Jumby Bay Resort, and Curtain Bluff Hotel. Sandals is also doing its part with its charity arm. Most USA companies have tax write offs for charity and will therefore gladly do so as long as their is no politician involved. The Lotto’s Contract in all the Caribbean Island is structured in such a way that a percentage of the sales, not the profits, is set aside for a specific purpose. That my friend is a nice piggy bank for the governments. That is why people should be encourage to play the games. Because in the end they are contributing to their own development and they stand a chance to win. As the say “You’ve got to be in it to Win It”

  3. Gaming Machines, just what we need in Antigua and Barbuda.Robert Johnson,how about giving poor Antiguans and Barbudans scholarships.To attend Colleges and Universities in the West Indies and the USA.How about uplifting the poor young people at your home and abroad.Who the heck needs more gaming machines.The next thing you would be opening up whore houses in Antigua.I would not put that beyond you.Because you have been always known to be selfish in nature.We as black people need to look back at your records.When you were the owner of BET.You did not a darn thing to help the poor and downtrodden.Most of you BLACK RICH PEOPLE ARE TOO DAMN SELFISH.I AM NOT !!

    • I would wish the editor to do his job and remove attacks such as this on men of good repute. It is sad what sometimes happens on this website. I hope you get sued.

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