Legal status of casinos (Haiti)

Legal status of casinos (officially permitted)

In Haiti, casinos are officially allowed: legalization took place by decree of 1960 (to attract investment after the closure of casinos in Cuba). A key regulator is the Haitian State Lottery (LEH), which oversees lotteries, number games and gambling control. In practice, the market combines "white" projects (primarily at hotels) and a tangible "gray" layer, and online remains in the legal "penumbra."

1) Legal framework: what exactly is allowed

1960 legalization: casinos are allowed, but historically tied to large hotels and individual approval of the authorities (the requirement of a hotel format/quota in rooms and presidential approval is described in sources on Caribbean regulation).

LEH's competencies include overseeing lotteries/games, issuing permits/registrations, collecting payments and controlling points of sale.

The actual picture: in different years, a significant number of unlicensed sites were recorded; estimates vary (US and FATF reports indicated the scale and heterogeneity of the sector).

2) Who regulates: LEH and current initiatives

LEH publicly campaigns to "whitewash" points and modernize accounting. For example, in 2025, the directorate announced the transition of lottery operators to unified LEH POS systems with a grace period until January 1, 2026 - a step towards unified turnover control.

Previously, the authorities confirmed the LEH mandate in the courts and restarted the lottery as a regulator (cases 2013 and 2018).

3) Ground casino requirements: "framework" of admission

• Location/format: at high-class hotels (historically - large complexes).
• Permission/registration in LEH indicating the legal entity, address, types of games and work schedule.
• Fiscal payments: Fees/royalties to LEH and local budgets (LEH declares responsibility for collecting taxes and royalties).
• Control and reporting: cash discipline, revenue accounting (including through centralized POS for lotteries/numerical games, which illustrates the trend in supervision).

4) Online games and bets: "gray zone"

Most industry reviews agree that online casino/online betting is not described by a separate modern law: players gain access to offshore sites, and local KYC/AML rules and mechanisms for online remain fragmented.

Old US certificates wrote about the ban on online games, but subsequent practice in the market is de facto closer to legal uncertainty (there is no direct license for online in the public domain).

5) Social context: "borlette" and control

Haiti is a country of mass number games (borlette) with tens of thousands of points; it is a cultural and economic phenomenon that LEH is trying to streamline (POS, fees, raids).

For casinos, this means: there is an officially permitted segment, but the market background is many folk formats and "gray" practices, which is why the regulator concentrates on fiscalization and basic control.

6) Practice for investor/operator (checklist)

1. Hotel format: design a casino as part of a high-class hotel (historical admission rate).

2. LEH first: early communication with the regulator, registration of a legal entity, confirmation of the right to games/equipment.

3. Fiscal processes: build reporting for LEH fees; be ready to unify the cash desk (POS/reports).

4. Compliance: internal KYC/AML procedures, log storage, transparent payment rules. (Recommendations are strengthened by FATF assessments of sector vulnerabilities.)

5. RG/18 +: Even in the absence of a detailed "online framework," implement limits, self-exclusion, 18 + labeling. (Industry best practices.)

6. Communication: bilingual support (French/Creole), visible details, "ombudsman-route" for complaints.

7) FAQ (short)

Are casinos legal in Haiti?

Yes I did. Legalization - 1960; historically - binding to large hotel facilities and approvals of the authorities.

Who is the regulator?

LEH - Haitian State Lottery (supervision, fees, controls).

Is there a transparent register of casino licenses?

The public, constantly updated "catalog" in the public domain has not been established; LEH publishes spot notifications/campaigns.

Is online legal?

There is no separate modern law/license for online casinos; practice - "gray zone," the ban was mentioned in old certificates. Offshore play is at the player's risk.

The legal status of land-based casinos in Haiti is "permitted," but with historical conditions (hotels/approvals) and a strong role for LEH in collection and point control. The market is heterogeneous: gray practices and an array of people's lotteries live next to "white" projects, and online is still out of clear license. For a sustainable project, you need: hotel format, early work with LEH, transparent finances and voluntary RG/KYC standards - this way you minimize risks and fit into the legal reality of Haiti 2025 +.