Barbados Lottery and Betting Laws

Legislation: Lotteries Act, Betting and Gaming Act (Barbados)

💡 Important: the text is informational and is not legal advice. For decisions and interpretations - to local lawyers/regulator.

1) Regulatory framework: what every law is about

Lotteries Act - "about lotteries"

Subject: holding lotteries, draws, charity and promotions with an element of chance and prizes.

Key logic: it is impossible by default, it is possible - subject to the conditions (permissions, format, reporting, targeted use of funds for certain types of lotteries).

Typical provisions are: who can organize; how to obtain permission; Ticket/terminal requirements accounting of revenue and prize fund; publishing results; organizer's report; supervision and sanctions.

Betting and Gaming Act - "about betting and gaming"

Subject: bookmaking activities, betting at races/competitions, slot machine halls and other "luck games" offline.

Key logic: licensing of subjects and sites; admission only if the requirements for owners, location, equipment, financial stability and access control are met.

Typical provisions: types of licenses; procedure for consideration of applications; inspections; rules for cash registers and accounting; liability for violations; grounds for license suspension/revocation.

2) Licensing and admission

Who is subject to resolution

Lotteries Act.

Betting points/sweepstakes, gaming halls and other operators (Betting and Gaming Act).

What is usually checked

Reputation and "fit & proper" of beneficiaries and management.

Financial solvency, sources of funds, plans for AML/CFT.

Compliance with location (zoning, security, availability for control).

Technical specifications of the equipment (certification of devices/PNG, counters, seals, logging).

Timing and extension

Licenses are usually urgent. The extension is linked to compliance with the conditions, the absence of serious violations and timely reporting.

3) Advertising, sales and consumer protection

Age restrictions: sell/admit to games - only adults.

Advertising: banning misleading promises of "easy money," mandatory disclaimers and compliance with posting channels.

Transparency of the rules: clear conditions for draws, issuing tickets/receipts, visible limitation periods for prizes/payments.

Responsible play (RGO): risk materials, access to self-restraint/self-exclusion (if provided by operator/regulator programs), training front office staff to recognize vulnerable behavior.

4) AML/CFT and financial control

KYC: identification of customers for payments and above threshold amounts.

Accounting and reporting: separate accounting of revenue/prize fund, storage of transaction records, timely reports to the regulator/financial intelligence.

Suspicious operations: internal policies, employee training, reporting order (SAR).

Cash control: limits of cash transactions, procedures for large winnings.

5) Online dimension: what about internet services

Legislation has historically been written offline (lotteries, betting points, hippodrome). Therefore:

Online products can be viewed through the prism of general prohibitions/permits: without explicit admission - outside the "white" zone; special permission/license is allowed, if provided by the bylaw/decisions of the regulator.
International sites and geoblocks/T & C - a separate plane: the player carries the risks of payment/account locks when bypassing conditions.
For operators planning online: prepare additional policies on KYC, geolocation, data protection (2FA, encryption), event logging and Safe-Server (if required).

💡 Conclusion: the online question in Barbados is an area where an up-to-date legal check is required before starting/using services.

6) Inspections, sanctions, liability

Checks: planned and sudden - revenue, equipment, age control, advertising, cash discipline.

Violations: fines, prescriptions, suspension/revocation of license, seizure of unlicensed devices/revenue.

Repetition and aggravating: increased sanctions for systematic violations, concealment of information, obstruction of inspection.

7) Stakeholder roles

Regulator/police: licences, controls, investigations, enforcement.

Financial sector: banks/payment providers - KYC/AML, monetary thresholds, compliance.

Operators: RGO programs, personnel training, reporting, technical discipline.

Civil society/NGOs: prevention of addiction, educational campaigns, help lines.

8) Practice for operators: short checklist

The license and permit correspond to the actual activities and locations.

RGO policies: age filters, self-exclusion/restrictions, trained employees.

AML/KYC: written procedures, threshold amounts, logging, SAR process.

Technique: certified devices/RNG, seals, log files, backups.

Advertising: creatives with disclaimers, posting channels, lack of aggressive promises.

Data and information security: 2FA, encryption, access control, logging, DPIA risk assessments.

Reporting and taxes: calendar, format, deadlines; internal compliance audit at least once a year.

9) Mini-guide for players

Buy tickets/place bets only from authorized organizers.

Check the draw/payout rules and the timing of the winnings.

Take care of the budget: lottery/bets - entertainment, not a way to earn money.

Use it carefully online: age, KYC, 2FA, do not bypass geoblocks - the risk of blocking a win.

Know where to get help: RGO materials and hotlines.

10) Possible directions of reforms/updates (box)

Online circuit: separate licenses/rules for remote services, Safe-Server, geocontrol, legal accountability of affiliates.

RGO 2. 0: "default" limits, national self-exclusion (offline + online), advertising and influencer marketing standards.

Technical stack and data: 2FA by default, reporting requirements in near-real-time, cybersecurity (penetration tests, bug bounty).

AML/CFT: threshold refinement, chain analytics for allowed crypto payments, unification of SAR formats.

Public reporting: regular ESG/RGO reports of operators and aggregated reports of the regulator.

11) Frequent Questions (FAQs)

Is it possible to conduct a promotional lottery brand?

Most often - yes, subject to Lotteries Act: notification/permission, transparent rules, reporting and public results.

Do I need a separate license for a betting point?

Yes, in the logic of the Betting and Gaming Act - for activities and for location/equipment.

What's with online betting/casino?

This is a "gray" question without a universal answer: much depends on by-laws/decisions. Need up-to-date legal advice before launch/use.

What to do with winning if deadlines are missed?

Usually, the rules provide for strict deadlines for presentation. Examine the conditions on the ticket/receipt and in the regulations.

Two pillars - Lotteries Act and Betting and Gaming Act - set a clear but historically offline framework for the Barbadian gambling industry: permissions, licensing, advertising control, AML/KYC and liability. The key challenges of the coming years are to carefully tighten the online circuit, update the standards of responsible play and digital security, while maintaining what makes the Barbadian model sustainable: transparency, moderation and the priority of public well-being.