- The government has announced stricter penalties for illegal lottery operators, raising fines to TTD3 million and prison terms to seven years.
- The illicit lottery market is estimated to generate TTD9 billion annually, three times the size of the legal sector’s TTD3 billion gross gaming revenue.
- The government will enforce quarterly transfers of lottery revenue and introduce spending caps for the National Lotteries Control Board.
Key Moments
Regulatory Push to Curb Illegal Gambling
Trinidad and Tobago is taking decisive steps to rein in illegal lottery activity that has overshadowed the country’s regulated gaming industry for years. Finance minister Davendranath Tancoo, in his 2025 budget statement, emphasized heightened regulatory scrutiny and increased penalties targeting the TTD9 billion shadow lottery market.
Tougher Penalties and Legislative Amendments
Officials have outlined plans to amend the Gambling and Betting Act, boosting the maximum fine for illegal lottery activities to TTD3 million and increasing possible prison sentences to seven years. These sweeping changes apply to Sections 19, 20, and 21 of the Act, reinforcing the ongoing implementation of the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Act 2021.
The country’s National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) produced nearly TTD3 billion ($441.9 million) in annual gross gaming revenue, but officials highlight that the illicit market still significantly outweighs the regulated sector. The legislative overhaul reflects a targeted strategy to counter illegal gambling’s persistent growth.
| Market Segment | Annual Gross Revenue |
|---|---|
| Legal Lottery (NLCB) | TTD3 billion ($441.9 million) |
| Illegal Lottery | TTD9 billion |
Adapting to New Tactics in Underground Gambling
Criminal syndicates have started issuing counterfeit tickets that mimic grocery receipts and use actual NLCB draw results, making the distinction between legitimate and illegal play increasingly difficult. In response, the new regulations define a wider scope of “ticket,” now including these grocery-style slips.
The government will establish a new criminal offense for anyone accepting bets, printing tickets, or issuing payouts derived from NLCB results without the proper authorization. Law enforcement agencies will also have the authority to act on evidence provided by the NLCB to enforce these updated rules.
Financial Reforms to Boost Accountability
Concerns over inconsistent lottery revenue audits have prompted changes in the management of gambling proceeds. Authorities discovered that the NLCB had withheld “tens of millions of dollars” that were supposed to flow into the Consolidated Fund.
To address this, quarterly transfers will replace annual payments, providing more frequent revenue delivery. The Ministry of Finance will set spending caps for the NLCB to institute what Tancoo described as a “hard and fast budget,” aiming to increase oversight and reduce fiscal risk.
Looking Ahead: Can Regulation Keep Pace?
With illegal lotteries maintaining dominance over the regulated market, Trinidad and Tobago faces a crucial challenge: implementing reforms quickly enough to counteract well-entrenched underground networks. The success of these new measures depends on prompt enforcement of the Gambling Control Act 2021 and the government’s ability to adapt to evolving black-market tactics.
Whether these penalty increases and enhanced audit practices can outpace the innovation of illicit operators remains an open question.
- Author
Daniel Williams
