Slot machines generate over $45 million for government in 14 months
Puerto Rico's Gaming Commission reported the revenue on Thursday, attributing gains to increased enforcement that included more than 60 raids since February.
The short version
- El Nuevo Día reports the Commission of Games collected over $45 million from slot machine wagers since the start of fiscal year 2025-2026
- Metro Puerto Rico states $17.6 million went to the police retirement trust, $12 million to municipalities and $12 million to the General Fund
- Of the municipal allocation, $9.5 million has already been distributed via a joint resolution of the Legislative Assembly
- Officials said more than 60 enforcement operations since February resulted in the seizure of hundreds of illegal machines and fines
Revenue distribution and enforcement
The Commission of Games has collected more than $45 million from slot machine play in the past 14 months, according to statements made on Thursday by its executive director, Juan Carlos Santaella. El Nuevo Día reported. Of that total, $17.6 million has gone to the police retirement trust fund, $12 million to municipalities and another $12 million to the General Fund, Santaella said during the “En Récord” press conference organized by La Fortaleza.
Of the $12 million allocated to municipalities, $9.5 million has already been distributed through a joint resolution of the Legislative Assembly, Metro Puerto Rico reported. The official linked the revenue increase to stricter oversight policies that included more than 60 operations carried out since February by the Office of Investigation and Regulation, in coordination with police. Those actions resulted in the seizure of hundreds of machines and the imposition of fines, though specific numbers of machines or fine amounts were not disclosed.
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Casinos, sports betting and horse racing
There are currently 21 casinos operating in Puerto Rico, with three more under construction in Mayagüez, Ponce and San Juan, according to the Negociado de Juegos de Azar, directed by Loraine Irizarry Torres. The casino sector contributes about $200 million annually to the central government, a portion of which goes to the University of Puerto Rico, the commission said.
In sports betting, the previous fiscal year saw $354.7 million in wagers that generated a little more than $4.5 million in government revenue, officials reported. Separately, the commission is preparing the Clásico del Caribe 2026 horse race, scheduled for the first week of December at Hipódromo Camarero with participants from Puerto Rico, Panama, Venezuela, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. The event is projected to have an economic impact exceeding $4.6 million in tourism, hotel and commercial activity.
Where the sources differ
All three reporting sources—El Nuevo Día, Metro Puerto Rico and Periódico La Perla—agree on the core figures of more than $45 million collected, the $17.6 million for the police retirement trust, $12 million for municipalities (with $9.5 million already distributed), $12 million to the General Fund, the 60-plus operations since February, the seizure of hundreds of machines, the 21 operating casinos plus three under construction, the $200 million annual casino contribution, and the $354.7 million in sports betting wagers that produced about $4.5 million in revenue. El Nuevo Día attributes the statements to Juan Carlos Santaella and Jean Peña Payano at the La Fortaleza press conference and notes the Negociado de Juegos de Azar communiqué. Metro and La Perla add that interconnection of machines began in January with over 90 percent operator compliance and include details on the horse-racing Classic and related loans and incentives, which El Nuevo Día omitted. NotiUno provided no substantive details beyond a byline.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not specify the exact total number of slot machines seized, the precise amount collected in fines, the remaining undistributed municipal funds beyond the $9.5 million already sent, or the exact portion of the $45 million not assigned to the three named destinations. They also do not indicate when the remaining municipal funds will be transferred, whether additional enforcement actions are planned, or provide updated figures for the current fiscal year beyond the 14-month period.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Máquinas tragamonedas generan sobre $45 millones al gobierno en los últimos 14 meses
- Reporting Máquinas tragamonedas generan sobre $45 millones al gobierno en los últimos 14 meses
- Reporting Fiscalización de tragamonedas genera más de $45 millones en 14 meses
- Reporting Fiscalización de tragamonedas genera más de $45 millones en 14 meses
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día, Metro Puerto Rico and Periódico La Perla all drew from the same Thursday press conference led by Juan Carlos Santaella and Jean Peña Payano. The casino, sports-betting and horse-racing details rest primarily on the commission’s own statements as presented in the Metro and La Perla accounts, while the core revenue breakdown appears consistently across the three outlets.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.