Scale of the TT industry

Scale of the country's gambling industry (Trinidad and Tobago)

Brief Market Photo

Trinidad and Tobago's gambling market is primarily public NLCB lotteries, offline gaming formats (private clubs/halls, bingo), and a gradually forming regulatory framework for unified oversight. Before the pandemic, the total gross revenues of the lottery segment were estimated at about $440 million per year (before prizes), which, with a population of ~ 1.4 million, makes the lottery one of the largest retail entertainment in the country.

Structure and participants

1) National Lotteries (NLCB)

Portfolio includes Play Whe, Pick 2/4, Cash Pot, Lotto Plus, Win for Life, Fast Cash and Instant Tickets; results are published daily, Lotto Plus circulations are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays ~ 20:30. Lottery winnings are subject to 10% tax (on amounts over TT $1,000) withheld and transferred by the NLCB.

Historically, the NLCB has made meaningful contributions to the budget; in the pre-pandemic years, hundreds of millions of TT $ of total transfers were recorded in the media.

2) Offline games: clubs, machines, bingo

The country has historically operated Private Members" Clubs, operating "like casinos" (without open public casinos); bingo, pocket/card games, entertainment machines are also common. This layer makes up the "life on earth" of the industry - from urban high-street halls to resort sites.

3) Online channel

There is no full-fledged local licensing for online games yet: the law has been passed, but a complete proclamation and secondary regulation are required. Therefore, payments, consumer protection and online turnover statistics remain outside the consolidated reporting of the state.

Legal and fiscal framework

The Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Act, No. 8 of 2021: he creates the Gambling Control Commission (GCC), introduces a licensing regime, and enhances AML/CFT. In 2024-2025 the government announced steps towards the complete operationalization of the Commission and the proclamation of the law.

Taxes and fees. For lotteries there is a 10% deduction with winnings; for terrestrial establishments, specific fees/taxes (Gaming Amusement Tax, etc.) administered by tax authorities are provided.

International institutions (IMF) pointed out: accelerating the launch of taxes in the gambling sector is part of a strategy to increase budget revenues.

Assessment of scale: what can be argued confidently

Lottery "anchor." Prior to COVID-19, the gross revenue of the lottery ecosystem (NLCB) was estimated ~ $440 million/year (USD) - excluding the "gray" market. This sets the lower bar for the size of mass consumption in the industry.

Aggregate industry. The total offline segment (clubs, machines, bingo) + lotteries are significant for the "evening economy" and employment, but due to the incompletely proclaimed regulation and the lack of consolidated statistics on online, public estimates are of a range nature. (Some industry reviews describe dock-like volumes of the land and lottery market in hundreds of millions of USD and expect recovery and growth with a complete proclamation of the law.)

Economic footprint: where are the money and jobs

Budget: Direct tax revenue (lottery tax on winnings, hall/equipment fees) and potential royalties after GCC launch.

Employment: retail network of lottery points and agents, cashiers/dealers, IT and security, F&B at sites, local suppliers. (The workplace registry will grow after the introduction of full licensing and online reporting.)

Side effects: demand for marketing/merchandising, logistics, events; at the same time - the need to finance Responsible Gaming programs.

Scale risks today

1. Incomplete online data: no local license → turnovers and user trajectories "sprayed."

2. The grey sector (including unlicensed operators and street games) distorts the official picture and competes with the NLCB.

3. Regulatory transition point: Until the GCC finalizes the proclamation and registries, there is no public "panorama" of the market.

Growth Drivers 2025-2030

Full proclamation of Act 2021 and the launch of licensing (B2C/B2B): uniform reporting, taxation and RG standards → increased transparency and fiscal base.

Cashless and digital sales in retail lotteries and on sites: faster checks, less cash risk, better demand analytics.

Weekend Tourism and MICE: Casino-together-with-events/show synergy raises the "average check" of a visit.

Responsible play and social funds (including through GCC): sector sustainability and public support.

Indicative "range of the future"

Industry reviews predict: when full-fledged regulation is launched, a country can systematically collect tens of millions of USD of budget revenues annually (licenses, taxes, fees) with a gross industry turnover of hundreds of millions of USD, where the lottery segment will retain the role of "anchor," and ground formats and licensed online will provide growth. (This is a benchmark depending on the pace of proclamation and enforcement.)

What should appear in public statistics after the proclamation

Unified register of licenses and GCC reporting for GGR/NGR by channels (lotteries, terrestrial, online).

Section on RG and social contributions: self-exclusion, financing assistance programs, harm metrics.

Publications of the Ministry of Finance on tax revenues by industry code and the effectiveness of administration measures.

Today, the scale of the gambling industry in Trinidad and Tobago can be described as a large lottery market by the standards of the country + a significant offline segment, with an unaccounted for online component and a regulatory system "on the way." A tough proclamation of Act 2021, the launch of GCC and cashless transformation can turn "range estimates" into transparent statistics, raise fiscal fees and ensure a sustainable growth model by 2030 - while strengthening consumer protection.