Online casinos operate in a legal gray area in Trinidad and Tobago, as current legislation does not specifically address online gambling activities. While land-based gambling has been legal since 1955 under the Gambling and Betting Act, the country has not yet implemented comprehensive regulations for online casino operations. The existing legal framework focuses primarily on traditional forms of gambling such as private members' clubs, pool betting, and the national lottery (1).
The government passed the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Act in 2021 to modernize the gambling sector, but only certain provisions have been proclaimed by the President. The new legislation established the Gambling Control Commission of Trinidad and Tobago as an independent regulatory authority to oversee commercial gambling activities, excluding the National Lottery. However, the full regulatory framework including licensing, inspections, and enforcement for online gambling remains inactive pending final proclamation (1).
"Presently, Parts I, II and X of the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Act No 8 of 2021 have been proclaimed by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago."
The Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago recognizes various gambling entities as "Listed Businesses" subject to anti-money laundering regulations, including gaming houses, businesses conducting betting transactions, online gambling and betting operations, and private members' clubs. While online gambling is mentioned in government guidance documents, there are currently no specific licensing procedures or regulatory frameworks in place for online casino operators. Players can access offshore gambling sites without legal prohibition, but these activities remain unregulated and lack consumer protections under current Trinidad and Tobago law (2).
Source:
https://gcctt.org/
https://fiu.gov.tt/wp-content/uploads/Guidance-note-for-the-Gambling-Sector-August-2017.pdf
Last updated: 20-07-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
