Trinidad and Tobago Approves Remote Gambling but Cannot License Yet
Trinidad and Tobago.- 8 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Trinidad and Tobago has taken a major step towards regulating remote gambling after Parliament approved the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) (Remote Gambling) Order 2026.
The measure creates a legal route for licensed remote gambling, although the market cannot yet begin operating because the licensing provisions of the 2021 gambling law are still not in force.
Parliamentary Approval
The House of Representatives approved the measure on 30 September 2026 by 33 votes to none.
The Senate followed on 2 October.
The Order had originally been made by the Finance Minister on 15 September and required an affirmative resolution of Parliament.
Section 76 Amended
The measure changes Section 76 of the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Act 2021.
The original provision prohibited activities carried out from Trinidad and Tobago for the purpose of enabling people located abroad to participate in remote gambling.
The new Order removes that restriction for operators holding a valid licence issued by the Gambling Control Commission.
No Licences Yet
Approval does not mean operators can immediately begin applying.
The sections of the 2021 Act establishing the licensing regime have not yet been formally proclaimed.
Until that happens, the Gambling Control Commission cannot accept applications or issue remote gambling licences.
January 2027 Target
During the parliamentary debate, Attorney General John Jeremie said the Government intends to proclaim the required provisions by 1 January 2027 or earlier.
That is currently the political target for making the regime operational.
Regulation Instead of Prohibition
The Government argued that gambling activity will continue to exist regardless of prohibition.
Its preferred approach is therefore to bring remote activity into a framework where the State can identify operators, impose standards and collect tax.
Revenue Potential
The Finance Minister also highlighted the sector’s potential contribution to public revenue.
Gambling-related taxes reached approximately TT$72.66 million in 2025, while 2026 collections had already reached around TT$71.3 million at the time of the debate.
Officials believe a regulated remote sector could expand that tax base while also generating foreign-exchange income.
Illegal Market Context
The reform comes amid broader concerns over unregulated gambling activity.
The 2026 Budget estimated that illegal lotteries could generate more than TT$9 billion annually, compared with around TT$3 billion in gross receipts for the National Lotteries Control Board.
Those figures relate to illegal lotteries and should not be treated as an estimate of the remote gambling market itself.
Regional Competition
Trinidad and Tobago will enter a regional market where several jurisdictions already operate established remote gaming regimes.
These include Curaçao, Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The competitiveness of the new framework will depend on licence costs, taxation, technical requirements and application timelines.
Key Conditions Still Pending
A complete remote gambling licence fee schedule has not yet been published.
Operators will also need clarity on final requirements covering:
- Compliance.
- AML and KYC.
- Player protection.
- Responsible gambling.
- Reporting.
- Auditing.
- Technology standards.
These conditions will determine how attractive the jurisdiction is to international operators.
Next Steps or Impact
The next major step will be proclamation of the licensing provisions contained in the Gambling Control Act 2021.
If the Government meets its stated target, initial applications could begin around the start of 2027.
For now, Trinidad and Tobago has legally opened the door to remote gambling, but no operational licence or functioning regulated market yet exists.
Editó: @fonta
