Trinidad and Tobago Clears Way for Regulated Remote Gambling

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago – The Senate has approved a remote gambling order that clears the way for licensed online gambling. Operators will still need licenses and the remaining framework must be activated before the market can operate.

The Gambling (Gaming and Betting) (Remote Gambling) Order, 2026 received Senate approval on Oct. 2 after passing the House of Representatives 33-0 on Sept. 30. Government, Opposition and Independent senators supported the measure.

The order permits holders of a valid remote gambling license issued by the Gambling Control Commission to conduct remote gambling in Trinidad and Tobago, subject to applicable regulations and license conditions.

Related: Trinidad and Tobago Launches New Gambling Commission

Licensing Framework Expected by January 2027

The parliamentary approval does not mean licensed online casinos and betting sites can begin operating immediately. Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi noted during debate that Part Three of the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Act 2021, which establishes the licensing regime, had not yet been proclaimed.

Attorney General John Jeremie subsequently gave an undertaking that the provisions needed to fully operationalize remote gambling would be proclaimed on or before Jan. 1, 2027. Authorities must still establish the practical licensing, compliance and payment processes required for operators to enter the regulated market.

Planning Minister Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh argued that prohibition had failed to prevent online gambling and that regulation would allow the government to identify operators, establish standards and collect revenue from activity already taking place.

“This is an industry that will thrive with or without us. It’s an industry that will take a life of its own.”

Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh
Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development

Consumer Protection Features Remain to Be Developed

Consumer protection was a major focus of the Senate debate. Independent Senator Dr. Desiree Murray called for stronger age and identity verification, deposit and spending limits, self-exclusion options, cooling-off periods and systems capable of identifying potentially harmful gambling behavior.

Murray also raised questions about how remote gambling could affect Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign exchange system, including whether gambling payments should be made in foreign currency. Swaratsingh said the Gambling Control Commission would address several of the player-protection mechanisms discussed but did not commit to the foreign currency proposal.

The final requirements for responsible gambling, payments and operator compliance will therefore depend on the regulations and licensing conditions introduced as the market is implemented.

Attention Turns to Market Implementation

Trinidad and Tobago already regulates land-based gambling, with the Gambling Control Commission established to oversee the sector. The remote gambling order extends that framework by creating a legal route for licensed online activity rather than leaving the market outside direct regulatory oversight.

The government has also presented remote gambling as a potential source of tax revenue, employment and wider economic activity. Those benefits will depend on how the licensing regime, tax structure and operational requirements are ultimately designed.

With approval now secured in both chambers of Parliament, attention shifts to proclamation of the outstanding provisions and the launch of the licensing process. The government’s stated timetable points to the framework becoming operational by the beginning of 2027.

RELATED TOPICS: Regulation