Skip to content
iGaming Times

Independent industry intelligence in your inbox. We will email you a link to confirm your subscription, and every newsletter carries a one-click unsubscribe link.

Dependency
Latin America
ISO TC

Turks and Caicos: gambling regulation and licensing

Part of United Kingdom

  • Online casinoProhibited
  • Online sports bettingProhibited
  • Online pokerProhibited
  • iLotteryNot yet verified
  • Land-based (reference)Regulated
Regulator
Turks and Caicos Islands Gaming Control Commission
Headline tax
Not yet verified
Licence required
Yes
Last verified
23 Sept 2026

Summary

Turks and Caicos has no lawful online gambling. Gaming law in the British Overseas Territory still rests on the Casinos Ordinance of 1978, which makes all gaming, including betting, illegal unless it takes place on premises licensed under that Ordinance or the Gaming Machines Ordinance, and bars anyone not physically present in a casino from taking part in its games. Taking part in unlawful gaming carries a fine of $500 or six months in prison. What the law licenses is land based: casinos licensed by the Governor after a public inquiry, gaming machines in bars, clubs and approved premises, a single National Lottery licence and occasional charity gaming. Most residents may not play in casinos: Belongers must be over 21 and earn at least $75,000 a year, and work permit holders must meet the same income test. Casinos pay an annual floor space tax of $50,000 to $200,000 and a banded tax of 5% to 20% on gross gaming yield, and gaming machines have paid 30% of adjusted gross receipts since October 2025. The Gaming Control Ordinance 2018 set up the Turks and Caicos Islands Gaming Control Commission in May 2019. It supervises the sector for anti-money laundering purposes and since 2022 has administered the older laws. The Ordinance's licensing chapter, which would create internet gaming and sports betting licences, has never been brought into force, and nor has a 2024 amendment setting a 10% tax on internet gaming. Cabinet appointed Commission members for two years from 1 June 2026.

Common pitfalls

Treating the Gaming Control Ordinance 2018 as the operative licensing law: its licensing, tax, minors and advertising provisions are not in force, so the 1978 Casinos Ordinance still governs, and no internet gaming licence can be issued. Quoting the 2024 Schedule 3 tax rates, including 10% for internet gaming, as current: they await commencement. Assuming residents can gamble in casinos: most cannot, under ss.17 and 18 of the Casinos Ordinance. Confusing Turks and Caicos with the Bahamas, a separate jurisdiction with its own online regime.

Key facts

Regulator
Turks and Caicos Islands Gaming Control Commission (GCC)
Regulator type
Dedicated regulator
Headline tax
Not yet verified
Licence required
Yes
Minimum age
18+
Tax base
Land based only, as no online licence exists. Casinos: gross gaming yield, meaning stakes received less winnings paid to players (Casinos Ordinance s.2), computed monthly and taxed at 5% on the first $500,000, 10% on the next $500,000, 15% on the next $500,000 and 20% above $1.5 million (s.35 and Schedule 1), plus an annual basic tax by floor space of $50,000 (6,000 sq ft or less), $75,000, $100,000, $150,000 or $200,000 (over 20,000 sq ft) (s.34). Gaming machines: 30% of adjusted gross receipts from all machines at each location, paid monthly (Gaming Machines Ordinance s.8 and Schedule, from 1 October 2025).

Licensing

Licence required
Yes
Application window
Closed
Local establishment required
Not yet verified
Local server required
Not yet verified
Bank guarantee or bond
A National Lottery licence may require a bank guarantee securing payment of prizes, valid until a year after the licence expires (National Lottery Ordinance s.13(5) and (6)).
Certification requirements
Casino staff in listed capacities, from managers to dealers and cashiers, need certificates of approval or permits and must provide fingerprints (Casinos Ordinance ss.27 to 29 and Schedules 2 to 4).
Barriers to entry
No online licence exists: the internet gaming licence in the Gaming Control Ordinance 2018 (s.52) is not in force. For a casino, the Governor may grant a licence only if a commission of inquiry is satisfied that substantial demand exists and that the grant is in the public interest (Casinos Ordinance s.9), the applicant is fit and proper and of appropriate financial standing, and any manager undertakes to be ordinarily resident in the Islands (s.10). There is no appeal from a refusal (s.13(2)).

Licence types

  • Casino licence (Casinos Ordinance)

    Scope
    Operating a casino on the licensed premises; granted by the Governor after gazette advertisement, objections and a public commission of inquiry (ss.4 to 13)
    Term
    The period stated in the licence (s.14(1)(a))
    Application fee
    $50,000 as of 31 Dec 2014
    Fee basis
    Non-refundable $50,000 deposit towards the cost of enquiries, with further sums payable if it runs out (s.4(1) and (2)); $2,500 on issue of the licence (Schedule 1); annual basic tax by floor space (s.34)
  • Gaming machine licence (Gaming Machines Ordinance)

    Scope
    Use of premises licensed for the sale of liquor (other than off licences), or of a members' club, for gaming by gaming machines (s.3)
    Term
    To 31 December of the year of grant, renewable yearly (s.6)
    Annual fee
    $2,000 as of 31 Dec 2014
    Fee basis
    $2,000 on issue or renewal, halved if granted after 30 June (s.7 and Schedule)
    Renewal terms
    Renewal fee due the day after New Year's Day (s.7(2))
  • Special gaming licence (Gaming Machines Ordinance)

    Scope
    Operating one or more gaming machines on premises approved for the purpose, subject to conditions on period and events and a maximum number of machines (s.4)
    Fee basis
    Special fee set on grant (s.4(2))
  • National Lottery licence

    Scope
    Establishing and operating the National Lottery in or from the Islands; only one licensee at a time, with all playing terminals in the Islands (ss.10 and 12)
    Term
    Set in the licence (s.11)
    Fee basis
    Prescribed fee on grant (s.14(4)); share of gross receipts set in the licence (s.13(3))
    Renewal terms
    Renewable for a period the Board sets after consulting the Minister (s.11(2))
  • Occasional permission

    Scope
    Gaming at a function of a non-profit organisation; no more than six in twelve months per organisation (s.3)
    Term
    The date and hours stated in the permission (s.3(3))
    Application fee
    $100 as of 31 Dec 2014
    Fee basis
    Fixed fee on issue (s.6)

Taxation

Headline GGR tax
Not yet verified
Effective date
1 Oct 2025
Tax base
Land based only, as no online licence exists. Casinos: gross gaming yield, meaning stakes received less winnings paid to players (Casinos Ordinance s.2), computed monthly and taxed at 5% on the first $500,000, 10% on the next $500,000, 15% on the next $500,000 and 20% above $1.5 million (s.35 and Schedule 1), plus an annual basic tax by floor space of $50,000 (6,000 sq ft or less), $75,000, $100,000, $150,000 or $200,000 (over 20,000 sq ft) (s.34). Gaming machines: 30% of adjusted gross receipts from all machines at each location, paid monthly (Gaming Machines Ordinance s.8 and Schedule, from 1 October 2025).

Scheduled changes

  • 10% of adjusted gross receipts for internet gaming; 15% for sports betting; 10% for casinos from From a date the Governor appoints by notice in the Gazette; none published as at 23 September 2026, and the licences it taxes depend on Part III of the Gaming Control Ordinance 2018 also commencing.
    Enacted

    Gaming Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2024, Schedule 3: gaming tax on adjusted gross receipts of 10% for class A and class B casinos (and 10% of poker pot rake), 28% for slot parlours and electronic bingo, 30% for gaming routes and route operators, 15% for sports betting, 10% for internet gaming, 25% for lotteries, 15% for proxy lotteries and 0% to 5% for charity gaming.

Earmarked levies

  • Lottery Fund: Sums out of the National Lottery licensee's gross receipts set in the licence (Initiatives in art, culture, education, youth and sport (National Lottery Ordinance ss.13(3), 20 and 21))

Compliance

Minimum age
18+
National self-exclusion
Voluntary exclusion programme and exclusion list, Gaming Control Commission (Gaming Control Ordinance ss.115 and 132)
KYC timing
On account opening and on transactions of $3,000 or more
AML regime
Part VI of the Gaming Control Ordinance 2018 (internal controls, separate bank accounts, customer due diligence, records and audits) has applied since 15 August 2018, alongside the Proceeds of Crime Ordinance and the Anti-Money Laundering and Prevention of Terrorist Financing Regulations. The Commission issued AML/CFT guidance to the gaming industry in May 2022, and the CFATF rated the Territory compliant on supervision of casinos and other DNFBPs (Recommendation 28) in October 2023.
AML supervisor
Turks and Caicos Islands Gaming Control Commission (DNFBP Supervisor for casinos under the Proceeds of Crime Ordinance, Gaming Control Ordinance s.5(1)(e))
KYC requirements
Gaming operators must carry out customer due diligence when opening a patron account, on cash transactions of $3,000 or more, on deposits of $3,000 or more to a patron account, including structured transactions, and on suspicion of money laundering or terrorist financing, and may not proceed if due diligence cannot be completed (Gaming Control Ordinance s.101, as amended in 2020). Records must be kept (s.101(3)).
Stake limits
Not yet verified
Reporting obligations
Casino licensees must file a monthly statement of gross gaming yield by the last day of each month (Casinos Ordinance s.35(4)) and notify the Minister within 30 days of changes in ownership or control of the premises or of 5% or more of the shares (s.14(1)(b)).

Advertising

Advertising permitted
Not yet verified

Restrictions

  • No gambling advertising code is in force: sections 161 and 162 of the Gaming Control Ordinance 2018, which would ban advertising unlawful gambling or targeting minors, ban advertising near schools, hospitals, sports grounds and similar places, and require a problem gambling warning, have not been brought into force
  • The National Lottery must be advertised fairly and responsibly, and regulations may prescribe what a lottery advertisement contains (National Lottery Ordinance ss.6(1)(d) and 22(2)(b)); the 2014 revised edition records that none had been made
  • Gaming operators must make all reasonable attempts to stop direct marketing to people in the voluntary exclusion programme (Gaming Control Ordinance s.115(5), in force since 1 April 2022)

Enforcement

ISP blocking
Not yet verified
DNS blocking
Not yet verified
Payment blocking
Not yet verified
App store takedowns
Not yet verified
Administrative penalties
Casino licences may be amended, cancelled or suspended (Casinos Ordinance ss.15 and 16), and gaming machine licences revoked or not renewed (Gaming Machines Ordinance s.10). Part X of the Gaming Control Ordinance 2018, in force since 1 April 2022, allows the Board to suspend or revoke a licence and to impose financial penalties of up to $1,000,000, or up to three times the highest daily gross receipts of the previous year for a serious breach (s.143).
Criminal penalties
Taking part in unlawful gaming: fine of $500 or six months (Casinos Ordinance s.46). Possessing an instrument for gaming without lawful excuse: $3,000 or two years, with a minimum of six months for a repeat offence (s.47). Permitting premises to be used for machine gaming without a licence: $1,000 or six months (Gaming Machines Ordinance s.12). Cheating and other offences relating to gaming: $100,000 or four years (Gaming Control Ordinance s.155).
Operator liability
Any person who takes part in unlawful gaming in any capacity, including by conducting it, commits an offence (Casinos Ordinance ss.3 and 46), and a person operating a gaming operation in which wagering is conducted otherwise than as the Gaming Control Ordinance requires commits an offence (s.155(1)(m)). The higher penalty for gaming without a licence in s.27 of the Gaming Control Ordinance is not in force.
Player liability
Taking part in unlawful gaming is an offence (Casinos Ordinance s.46), as is gaming in a casino by a resident outside the permitted categories ($500, s.17) or participating in casino gaming without being on the premises ($500, s.20). Playing an unlicensed gaming machine carries a fine of $100 or one month (Gaming Machines Ordinance s.12(1)(b)).

Timeline

  1. 24 Sept 1980

    Casinos Ordinance comes into force

  2. 7 Mar 2005

    Turks and Caicos Islands National Lottery Ordinance comes into force

  3. 3 Aug 2018

    Gaming Control Ordinance 2018 published in the Gazette after assent on 2 August 2018

  4. 15 Aug 2018

    Part VI of the Gaming Control Ordinance, on internal controls and money laundering, comes into force

  5. 6 Dec 2018

    Government announces an information-sharing MOU between the Gaming Inspectorate and the Financial Intelligence Agency

  6. 1 May 2019

    Part II comes into force, establishing the Gaming Control Commission

  7. 20 Jan 2020

    CFATF publishes its mutual evaluation, finding casinos and gaming facilities not yet supervised for AML/CFT

  8. 1 Apr 2022

    Parts VIII (exclusion) and X (compliance and enforcement) come into force; a notice that would also have commenced the Part IX gaming tax is revoked

  9. 1 Aug 2022

    Gaming machine drop box tax cut from 35% to 30%

  10. 24 Aug 2023

    Cabinet approves extending a casino licence to ten years on the sale of majority shares to a new owner

  11. 5 Sept 2023

    Cabinet appoints an attorney from the Attorney General's Chambers to the Commission Board, as the 2022 amendment requires

  12. 2 Nov 2023

    CFATF re-rates the Territory compliant on DNFBP supervision, noting risk-based supervision of the gaming industry by the Commission

  13. 20 Dec 2024

    Gaming Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 and Gaming Machines (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 published in the Gazette

  14. 1 Oct 2025

    Gaming machine tax moves to 30% of adjusted gross receipts per location

  15. 1 Jun 2026

    Commission members appointed by Cabinet begin a two-year term

Outlook

Online gambling cannot open until the Governor gazettes a commencement notice for Part III of the Gaming Control Ordinance 2018, which holds the internet gaming and sports betting licences, and for the Gaming Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2024, which sets their tax rates. Neither notice had been published by 23 September 2026. Until they are, the Casinos, Gaming Machines and National Lottery Ordinances remain the operative law, administered by the Commission whose members Cabinet appointed from 1 June 2026 for two years.

Frequently asked questions

Is online gambling legal in Turks and Caicos?
No. The Casinos Ordinance makes all gaming, including betting, illegal unless conducted on licensed premises and bars remote participation in casino gaming. The internet gaming licence in the Gaming Control Ordinance 2018 has not been brought into force.
Who regulates gambling in Turks and Caicos?
The Turks and Caicos Islands Gaming Control Commission, established in May 2019, administers the gaming laws and supervises the sector for anti-money laundering purposes. Casino licences are still granted by the Governor under the Casinos Ordinance.
Can an operator apply for an online gaming licence?
Not yet. When Part III of the Gaming Control Ordinance 2018 commences, internet gaming licences will be awarded by the Commission's Board through competitive bidding. No commencement notice had been published by 23 September 2026.
What tax do gaming operators pay?
Casinos pay an annual floor space tax of $50,000 to $200,000 plus 5% to 20% of gross gaming yield in bands. Gaming machine licensees pay 30% of adjusted gross receipts per location. Rates enacted in 2024 for internet gaming (10%) and sports betting (15%) are not in force.
Can residents gamble in the casinos?
Mostly not. Belongers, residents, work permit holders and public servants are barred unless they fall within exceptions: Belongers over 21 earning at least $75,000 a year, work permit holders on the same income, and certain residence permit and certificate holders. No one under 18 may play in a casino.

Sources

  1. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  2. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  3. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  4. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  5. Gaming Control Ordinance 2018 (Ordinance 19 of 2018)

    Attorney General's Chambers, Turks and Caicos Islands

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 3 Aug 2018
  6. Gaming Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 (Ordinance 38 of 2020)

    Attorney General's Chambers, Turks and Caicos Islands

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 24 Dec 2020
  7. Gaming Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (Ordinance 15 of 2022)

    Attorney General's Chambers, Turks and Caicos Islands

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 29 Jul 2022
  8. Gaming Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (Ordinance 1 of 2024)

    Attorney General's Chambers, Turks and Caicos Islands

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 20 Dec 2024
  9. Gaming Machines (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (Ordinance 2 of 2024)

    Attorney General's Chambers, Turks and Caicos Islands

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 20 Dec 2024
  10. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 8 Aug 2018
  11. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 24 Apr 2019
  12. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 22 Dec 2020
  13. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 25 Mar 2022
  14. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 25 Mar 2022
  15. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 11 May 2022
  16. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 22 Aug 2022
  17. Gaming Machines Order 2022 (Legal Notice 50 of 2022)

    Attorney General's Chambers, Turks and Caicos Islands

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 25 Jul 2022
  18. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 11 Sept 2025
  19. Post Cabinet meeting statement, 18th meeting of Cabinet, 23 July 2019

    Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Press Office

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 25 Jul 2019
  20. Turks and Caicos Islands Post Cabinet Meeting Statement, 24 August 2023

    Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Press Office

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 24 Aug 2023
  21. Turks and Caicos Islands Post Cabinet Meeting Statement, 5 September 2023

    Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Press Office

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 5 Sept 2023
  22. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 12 Jun 2026
  23. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 6 Dec 2018
  24. Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 20 Dec 2022
  25. Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 2 Nov 2023

Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.

This page is industry reference information and not legal advice.

Cookie Preferences

Choose which cookies you want to accept. Essential cookies are required for the website to function properly.

Required

Necessary for the website to function. Cannot be disabled.

Help us understand how visitors interact with our website.

Used to deliver relevant advertisements and track ad performance.

Remember your preferences and settings for a better experience.