Barbados Tourism × Gambling

Impact of tourism on gambling (Barbados)

1) Starting point: tourist flow = basic demand driver

Barbados is steadily restoring inbound tourism: according to the official BTMI dashboard, steyover arrivals in 2023 reached ~ 636.6 thousand (after 539.7 thousand in 2022), and the key markets are the UK and the USA. The growth of the flow is directly converted into the turnover of retail points of the lottery, igrozone attendance at hotels and daytime spending at events (hippodrome, events).

WTTC in the latest EIR emphasizes the high macro-importance of tourism for the economy of Barbados, which makes the "tourist multiplier" important for related entertainment industries.

2) Through which channels tourism "feeds" games

Lottery and scratchcards (retail sales): Tourists and seasonal workers increase the turnover of ticket outlets and instant scratchcards. The Barbados Lottery brand is operated by IGT Global Services (Barbados Branch), with funds going to four institutions: Barbados Cricket Association, Barbados Olympic Association, Barbados Turf Club, National Sports Council - i.e. part of the tourist spend is "going back" to sports and society.

Gambling halls at hotels and entertainment centers: an evening stream of resort guests and "bad weather days" give a noticeable load of slot zones, bars and F&B around them. The legal framework of such sites is based on Betting and Gaming, Cap. 134A.

Horse racing and betting (Turf Club): racing days are event tourism, with bets, meals and merch; Turf Club itself is included in the list of lottery recipients, closing the "circle" of travel expenses and sports financing.

Cruises: Casinos on liners operate only in neutral waters, but passengers leave money on the shore - port fees, excursions, purchases and restaurants before/after the flight, which indirectly supports local entertainment. The Bridgetown ship call calendar confirms high cruise activity.

3) What the law says (and why it matters for fiscal flows)

Sector revenues go through taxes/duties and licenses under the Betting and Gaming Duties Act, Cap. 60, including modes for pool betting and license fees; operating formats (slot machines, "approved premises," charity lotteries, off/on courts betting) are regulated by Cap. 134A, and basic prohibitions and procedural norms - Gambling, Cap. 134. Tourist demand increases the bases for these fees and fiscal revenues.

4) Seasonality and guest behavioral patterns

Peak season = peak turnover: winter-spring peak arrivals correlate with growth in lottery retail revenue, halls and Turf Club "event" days.

Short evening sessions: tourists play "easy" - slots at low/medium denominations, instant scratches "on the way," bets "for the sake of emotion" at the races.

Day-to-port cruise pattern: Demand for land-based entertainment concentrates before sailing, airport/port are convenient points for impulse lotto buying.

5) Social return: why the lottery is a socially significant bundle

Thanks to the structure of the lottery beneficiaries, part of the tourist spending (through ticket/scratch purchases) develops into financing for cricket, Olympic programs, the racetrack ecosystem and youth sports - which further increases the attractiveness of the island as a sports and tourist destination.

6) Risks and limitations

Leakage of cruise gambling: the main game turnover is formed on board at sea, and not on the shore - the ground sector receives mainly indirect effects.

Legal "inertia" online: the absence of a separate local regime for online casinos reduces the localization of the tax base (demand goes to foreign sites). The fiscal and regulatory basis for betting/gaming is (Cap. 60/134A), but the online specifics have not yet been codified.

RG/AML load: Increasing tourist demand requires resources for monitoring and responsible play, especially during peak periods.

7) What can increase the effect until 2030

1. Event calendar 'sport + tourism': Link key racing days and cricket events to hotel and F&B offering ('race day' packages), strengthening tourist's cheque.

2. Retail lottery in tourist nodes: convenient navigation "Where to Play," promotional activation in the high season, digital services for checking the results - this increases the conversion of "random purchase."

3. Fine-tuning the fiscal model: using Cap practices. 60 and a move to GGR metrics for new formats to better "take rents" off seasonal spikes.

4. Partnerships with cruise lines ashore: joint "responsible fun" actions and ground activities on parking days - cross-promo without violating the rules of the maritime casino.

8) Short checklist for stakeholders

Hotels/TR & leisure: keep compact slot zones, strengthen evening offers, integrate information about racing days.

Turf Club/event managers: publish calendar and "ticket + transfer + F&B" packages in advance.

Lottery and retail: point promos at the airport/port/tour streets, quick guide according to the rules and presentation of prizes for guests.

Public policy: transparently show how tourist spending through the lottery is transformed into support for sports - this increases the social legitimacy of the sector.

Tourism in Barbados is the main "engine" of local gambling demand: it fuels lottery retail, hotel halls and event betting, and through the lottery beneficiary system returns part of the funds to sports and society. The largest non-market losses are in cruise gambling (turnover "goes to sea") and unregulated online; the greatest opportunities are in the event calendar, smart retail and adjusting the fiscal for seasonality. While maintaining the growth trajectory of the inbound flow, the tourism multiplier will continue to strengthen both the "visible" and socially useful returns of the island's gambling sector.