Trinidad and Tobago Approves the Remote Gambling Order Legalizing Online Gambling from January 2027

The Remote Gambling Order 2026 received the final approval from the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, October 2, 2026, paving the way for regulated remote gambling to come into force on January 1, 2027. The order eliminates the provisions of Section 76 of the Gambling, Gaming and Betting Control Act of 2021 that criminalized operators offering international remote gambling services from the national territory.

What does the Remote Gambling Order 2026 change for the Trinidad and Tobago market?

The order approved by the Senate removes the prohibition preventing operators based in Trinidad and Tobago from offering remote gambling services to players in other countries. The removal of this ban may allow the two-island nation to attract iGaming operators as a base for both international and domestic operations.

The amended legal framework is part of the Gambling, Gaming and Betting Control Act of 2021; the specific amendment targets the obligations and penalties set out in Section 76, which previously included fines and penalties of up to ten years of imprisonment for operators offering remote services internationally.

Timeline: When will online gambling licenses be available?

Attorney General John Jeremie stated that the remaining administrative elements, including the issuance of remote gambling licenses for local and foreign operators, will be implemented on or before January 1, 2027. Between legislative approval and formal launch, the Gambling Control Commission of Trinidad and Tobago will coordinate with the Central Bank to finalize the necessary operational frameworks.

The practical steps that authorities have outlined include establishing integration of digital payments and regulating and licensing electronic money issuers to incorporate the remote market into the formal economy.

Government Arguments and Cited Macroeconomic Figures

Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo presented the reform as an opportunity to generate new sources of state revenue. Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh highlighted that unregulated remote gambling practices already exist and that legalizing them could create jobs and foreign exchange.

Swaratsingh cited a global sector projection, noting that the global gaming industry could reach US$700bn in revenue by 2028. The Government argued that by bringing remote activity into the regulated system, Trinidad and Tobago could access that market and capture tax revenue.

Current Status of the Regulated Gambling Sector in Trinidad and Tobago

The Executive already has data on the regulated in-person market. According to Tancoo, there are 1,150 registered gaming-related accounts with the Board of Inland Revenue: 926 Gaming Amusement Tax accounts and 224 Club Gaming Tax accounts. Revenue from the sector in 2025 reached approximately TTD 72.66m (US$10.74m), broken down into TTD 15.06m from Gaming Amusement Tax and TTD 57.60m from Club Gaming Tax.

Additionally, a coordinated compliance operation between October 2025 and February 2026 generated 247 payments distributed among 240 accounts for Gaming Amusement Tax totaling approximately TTD 15.58m.

The Government uses these figures to argue that regulated gambling already contributes a measurable fiscal flow and that the entry of the remote segment could expand the tax base.

Opposition Objections and Regulatory Requirements

Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi questioned the speed with which the order was approved and requested specifics on how the licensing process will be regulated. Al-Rawi reminded that the Gambling Control Commission of Trinidad and Tobago was established in 2022 and inquired about operational timelines and how the Government will manage foreign exchange outflows that may arise from international operators.

Jeremie responded that these issues will be addressed before or on January 1, 2027, and that the pending administrative frameworks will be resolved in coordination with the relevant entities.

Practical Implications for Operators and Payment Providers

The planned timeline requires that the regulator and the Central Bank finalize the technical requirements for digital payment integration and the licensing of electronic money issuers. This involves:

• defining compliance and anti-money laundering rules applicable to remote operators;

• enabling payment routes that allow operation within the formal economy; and

• establishing monitoring and sanction procedures for licensees.

For platform providers, gateways, and electronic money issuers, the window until January 2027 will be critical to present solutions that meet the regulator's conditions.

“The remaining administrative provisions, including the licensing protocol, will be implemented on or before January 1, 2027,” Attorney General John Jeremie said.

What's Left to See and Upcoming Regulatory Steps

To date, the legislative text and ministerial statements set the political framework and timeline: the Remote Gambling Order 2026 is approved, and the application date is January 1, 2027. In the meantime, the Gambling Control Commission of Trinidad and Tobago and the Central Bank must publish the operational rules and licensing requirements that will transform legal authorization into a functional market.

The transformation calls for concrete actions regarding payments, licenses for electronic money issuers, and channels for fiscal supervision to incorporate remote activity into the formal system.