Lotteries and bingo - Haiti

Introduction: why not a casino, but a lottery

Haiti's game card is designed in such a way that mass demand is concentrated in lotteries, primarily in the popular form of borlette - available "at home," with low rates and an instant draw. Studies note that borlette is not only a game, but also a cultural and economic "tool of hope" for households, historically rooted in everyday life.

Who regulates and what changes

The formal supervision of gambling is carried out by the Haiti Lottery (LEH), operating under the umbrella of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF). On the MEF website, LEH appears among subordinate/related institutions, which confirms the institutional link.

In 2025, LEH announced a digital platform and a hard cash register for lotteries: from October 1, 2025, only LEH POS terminals are allowed for operations in the lottery system, with a grace period until January 1, 2026 to complete the "regularization" of points. This should supplant gray retail and strengthen reporting.

Lottery retail: how it works "on the ground"

Sales formats. Official kiosks/points of sale and semi-legal "windows" in shops; borlette is popular for its low entry threshold and instant play. (The historical and sociological section is like a "financial service" of everyday life.)

Payments. Everyday transactions rely on MonCash (Digicel) cash and mobile wallets: P2P transfers, replenishment through a network of agents, payment for services and acceptance of international transfers (MonCash Plus). This is a convenient "local rail" for small amounts.

What changes POS LEH. With the transition to authorized POS, end-to-end accounting of rates/payments and synchronization with the digital platform of the regulator are expected, which increases the collection of payments and reduces the space for "gray" schemes.

Bingo: The social format next to the lottery

Bingo in Haiti - a more chamber, event form (clubs, hotel halls/community events). Unlike daily borlette, bingo is often time/site bound and does not form a comparable daily turnover; however, for communities and philanthropic initiatives, it is a recognizable evening leisure activity. (Regulated by the general rules of gambling under LEH; is inferior in coverage to the lottery.)

Economics and social role

Coverage. Lotteries - ubiquitous; it is they who create the main "gaming" traffic outside the capital's hotel-casinos. Hence - the regulator's priority on cash discipline in retail.

Fiscal effect. The normalization of retail through the POS platform should increase transparent receipts and reduce the conflict around "who and under what conditions can trade the lottery."

Consumption culture. Researchers emphasize that borlette performs a "quasi-savings" role - a chance for a large sum for the sake of "getting out" of current circumstances; responsible play and financial literacy programs are appropriate.

Risks and compliance

Semi-legal points. Historically, the market has known many unregistered sellers; strengthening LEH control - an attempt to bring them "into the white zone."

Payment practices. Monetization via MonCash is convenient, but does not replace KYC/AML requirements and wallet limits; it is important for operators to build identification and logging procedures.

Online segment. There is no separate law on iGaming; LEH publishes AVIS against unlicensed online services - do not confuse "digitalization of lotteries" with legalization of online.

Practical conclusions for operators

1. Focus on POS LEH compliance. No authorized terminal lottery operations after 01. 10. 2025 are considered unresolved; "regularization" needs to be completed by 01. 01. 2026.

2. Keep a "local stack" of payments. MonCash + cash remains the base of everyday settlements; integrate them taking into account the cash register.

3. Responsible play and communication. Simple point-of-sale cards (odds/limits/support contacts) and transparent payment rules build trust. (Consistent with research findings on the social role of borlette.)

4. Bingo as "social evening." Use the bingo format for events/charity and loyalty, but plan your turnover as a niche one - the lottery gives the main P&L.

In Haiti, lotteries are the most common form of gambling, and bingo complements it as a socio-communal format. Strengthening the role of LEH through a digital platform and POS reform (from 01. 10. 2025; grace-period to 01. 01. 2026) should increase retail transparency and budget effect, and local payment habits - MonCash + cash - will remain key in the transaction circuit. For sustainable work, the market needs: technical compliance with POS LEH, neat KYC/AML practice and responsible play programs that take into account the cultural specifics of borlette.