Puerto Rico advances mandatory slot connection for tax control
The Government of Puerto Rico will implement a new control scheme over slot machines on the road, with the start of the mandatory interconnection process scheduled for January 14, 2026. The measure aims to strengthen oversight, improve the traceability of revenues, and ensure a more transparent distribution of the resources allocated to police retirement, municipalities, and the General Fund.
The Gaming Commission confirmed that its Board of Commissioners approved the administrative order activating this stage, in compliance with the provisions established by current regulations. From the indicated date, operators and wholesale owners will have a period of 90 days to contract or accredit the technology provider that will allow interconnecting their machines to the centralized system.
According to the director of the Gaming Commission, Juan Carlos Santaella Marchán, the interconnection will allow the State to access precise and updated information about the volume of plays and the revenues generated by certified machines. This data flow will facilitate greater fiscal control, reduce informal activity, and provide greater clarity about the destination of the collected funds.
The implementation of the system was preceded by a technical evaluation process conducted by authorized independent laboratories, which have already certified several interconnection solution providers. Other companies continue advancing in their homologation processes. During the adaptation period, operators will be able to work with companies that have functionality certificates issued by these laboratories.
The Commission emphasized that interconnection is not optional. Failure to comply with this obligation may result in significant administrative sanctions, including fines that can reach US$10,000, in addition to other penalties provided within the regulatory framework.
The resource distribution scheme obtained from the operation of slot machines on the road was also recalled by the regulatory authority. Legislation establishes that the first US$12 million collected are allocated to the Government’s General Fund. Once this threshold is surpassed, revenues are distributed with 55 percent allocated to the Police Retirement Trust, 40 percent to municipalities, and 5 percent to cover the operating costs of the Gaming Commission itself.
With this initiative, Puerto Rico seeks to take a decisive step toward a model of greater transparency and control in one of the most widespread segments of in-person gaming on the island.
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