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TT taxes and income (casinos and lotteries)
State revenue from casino and lottery taxes (Trinidad and Tobago)
Key picture
Gambling revenues of the state are formed by three blocks:1. NLCB lotteries - tax deduction from winnings and transfers from operator's activities;
2. Ground games (clubs, halls, bingo) - specialized taxes/fees on equipment and activities;
3. Future payments under the 2021 Act (after full proclamation) - license fees and regulatory payments overseen by the Gambling Control Commission (GCC).
Lottery segment: what is paid now
Lottery winnings tax: From August 13, 2018, a 10% tax on winnings in excess of TT $1,000 is applied to cash prizes. This is confirmed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRD) in the official FAQ, which explicitly states a 10% tariff.
Retention practices: Retention is done during ticket validation, which NLCB clarifies in rules and product FAQs (e.g. Fast Cash, Win for Life).
NLCB regulatory framework: lotteries are regulated by relevant acts; official rules emphasize that the ticket and transaction are subject to NLCB regulations (age 18 +, tickets are the only evidence of participation).
What this gives the budget: the tax on winnings is a stable flow into the revenue side, as it concerns mass daily games (Play Whe, Pick 2/4, Cash Pot, etc.) and draw lotteries (Lotto Plus). In addition, the NLCB historically declares the mission to generate revenue for the state as a statutory body.
Ground Games: Taxes and Fees
Gaming Amusement Tax (IRD): for establishments, in addition to private members" clubs, there is a tax on entertainment slot machines (administered by IRD, payment - quarterly; detailed on IRD page).
Private members" clubs: historically worked in a different mode than public casinos; when the regulatory regime of the Act of 2021 comes into force, financial flows (licenses/fees) will have to be redistributed through the Commission. Legal reviews noted that under the new model, payments are sent to the Commission, and the total tax burden for the industry is expected to be higher than the previous one.
Regulatory framework and future revenues
The Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Act, No. 8 of 2021. The act creates the Gambling Control Commission (GCC) and introduces a licensing and supervisory circuit for the gambling industry (including online). As of today, the GCC explicitly states: only parts I, II and X are fully proclaimed, and a complete proclamation is required to trigger licensing.
Budget Agenda: Budget Statement 2025 emphasizes that the Commission's operationalization will provide a more structured and regulated market - a prerequisite for collecting royalties, fines, and other revenues.
Estimates of potential revenues: in 2021, the authorities publicly announced a benchmark of up to TT $2 billion (cumulatively) from taxes related to "casino-style gambling" when introducing a new regime. This is an expectation, not a fact of current revenues, but it illustrates the scale of fiscal ambitions in conjunction with Act 2021.
What a "revenue basket" looks like after a full proclamation (expected structure)
1. License fees and duties (B2C operators, B2B providers, equipment suppliers).
2. Regulatory fees/penalties for violation of the rules.
3. Ground segment taxes/fees (including repackaging of existing Gaming Amusement Tax).
4. Continued tax on lottery winnings (10% over TT $1,000) as a massive, steady stream.
Why it is now difficult to name the "total amount" for the year
There are no consolidated public statistics for all channels (online is not yet a local license).
Some of the payments/fines are not yet applicable until a complete proclamation is completed and a secondary document is issued (regulations, rates, procedures).
The gray segment (unlicensed venues/street games) reduces collection and distorts the turnover estimate.
Route to revenue growth 2025-2030
Full proclamation of Act-2021 + secondary rules (licensing, audits, payment standards) - launch of the fiscal base for online and unification of ground payments.
Digitization of NLCB retail and cashless model (checks, online verification, analytics) - reducing "leaks" and increasing the transparency of the tax base.
Strengthening IRD/TTRA administration for the industry + GCC ↔ bank/PSP interaction - increasing compliance and collection.
Law enforcement against illegal immigrants (through the police, communication providers, financial monitoring) - the return of turnover to the "white" funnel.
Indicative Receipt Scenarios
Basic:- A stable flow from the lottery tax (10%) is maintained, the first GCC licenses/fees are launched, and the ground segment fee is modernized. The budget sees a gradual increase in revenues for 2-3 years after the full proclamation.
- Fast secondary, GCC application portal, MOUs with banks/PSP, "hard" control of illegal immigrants. The potential to approach the previously announced multi-billion TT $ targets for total taxes/fees in the average market. (This is a benchmark from 2021 public statements, not a guarantee.)
- Delays in proclamations/regulations → revenue growth are limited only to the lottery tax and current ground charges.
What matters to business and players
Operators:- Readiness for fit-and-proper, AML/CFT and audit, cash flow planning taking into account future license and regulatory payments.
- Understand that 10% is deducted automatically with cash winnings over TT $1,000; save tickets/receipts and check results through official channels.
Today, the guaranteed, budget-transparent revenue component is a 10% tax on lottery winnings over TT $1,000 with automatic withholding on the NLCB/agent side. The ground segment adds revenue through profile taxes/fees. A major revenue plus is expected after the full proclamation of the 2021 Act, when licenses, fees and sanctions through the GCC will earn, and statistics on the market will be consolidated. It is this move that will shift the sector from a "mosaic" of payments to a systemic source of revenue for Trinidad and Tobago's budget.