Belize prepares ground for new Gaming and Lotteries Commission

Charlotte Capewell

13 November 2025 at 5:09am UTC-5

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Belize is planning to modernize its gambling laws through the Gaming, Lotteries, and Control Bill 2025, which will establish a single Gaming and Lotteries Commission to regulate all gambling activities under one unified law.

According to Love News, the bill, which was debated in the Senate this week, will also introduce responsible gambling measures, as well as address social harms like addiction.

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Senator for Government Business Anthony Sylvestre said the principles in the bill date back to a 2010 assessment of Belize’s gaming industry, followed by a 2012 evaluation that recommended stronger oversight.

The cabinet approved the establishment of a regulatory commission in 2021, setting the foundation for the current proposal.

Sylvestre added that the new law would amalgamate all existing gaming and lottery acts into the Gaming and Lotteries Commission Act, improving transparency and efficiency across the sector.

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Patrick Faber, the lead opposition senator, supported the consolidation but raised concerns over “unchecked ministerial power” and potential monopolies under the modernization effort.

Faber said, “We say from the onset, Madam President, that we recognize good intention in the bill. But of course, as is the case with much of the legislation that comes to the Senate, the devil is in the details.”

“Belize didn’t have any kind of online betting, no virtual gaming, no major casino operators back then and they are now bringing all of these laws into one consolidated coherent framework and so this makes sense to us and it is overdue in all regard but again we cannot support unchecked accountability.”

Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.

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The Backstory

How Belize arrived at a single-commission model

Belize’s push to consolidate gambling oversight under a new Gaming and Lotteries Commission follows more than a decade of recommendations to tighten controls, expand responsible gaming rules and bring online play into the fold. The government says the structure would merge fragmented statutes, centralize licensing and compliance, and address social harms like addiction through clearer standards and enforcement. That redesign mirrors a broader shift in gambling markets where digital wagering, new lottery products and cross-border operators have outpaced older regulatory frameworks.

The stakes are high. Lawmakers backing consolidation say a unified commission can set transparent rules and move faster when risks emerge. Opposition voices warn about the concentration of authority and the potential for market monopolies without strong checks. The balance Belize strikes now will shape how the country handles online betting, advertising, player protections and the interface with international firms seeking entry.

Recent developments across North America underscore the practical challenges Belize is trying to preempt: how to monitor marketing in real time, curb scams that proliferate on social media and regulate new hybrid products that blur lines between gambling and finance. The region’s experience offers both cautionary tales and templates as Belize writes the next chapter of its gambling law.

Advertising oversight gaps as a cautionary tale

Massachusetts’ first year of legal online sports betting showed what can go wrong when regulators are not reviewing ads before they hit the market. A state audit found the Massachusetts Gaming Commission did not preclear campaigns, leading to instances where minors or people with gambling addictions received marketing and some ads lacked the problem-gambling helpline. The audit recommended a more proactive stance, and the commission said it is implementing fixes, including hiring an independent auditor. Read more in the coverage of the audit criticizing the Massachusetts Gaming Commission over betting ads.

For Belize, that episode illustrates why consolidation alone is not a cure. The value comes with clear rules for digital marketing, standardized approvals and ongoing monitoring that reflect how promotions now spread via affiliates, influencers and social platforms. A single commission could streamline approvals and create consistent penalties. It will still need the tools and staffing to enforce guardrails at scale from day one.

Consumer scams push regulators to police the gray zones

Social media has become fertile ground for copycat casino pitches and spoofed brands. Saskatchewan’s gambling regulator recently warned residents about fake online casino ads that co-opt logos of land-based venues and drive users to scam sites. The province reiterated that PlayNow remains the only legal online platform in Saskatchewan and urged users to report fraudulent promotions. The advisory followed a cyberattack this summer that prompted password changes and account locks for targeted users. The details are in the alert from Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan urging caution on fake online casino ads.

Belize’s plan to fold online betting and virtual gaming into one statute signals it intends to define the legal perimeter and pursue illegal operators more effectively. That will require coordination with platforms, payment providers and law enforcement to deter offshore sites and misinformation. A modernized law can mandate Know Your Customer standards and advertising disclosures, but rapid takedowns and cross-border cooperation will be the real tests.

Lotteries go digital, raising new compliance demands

The lottery sector’s migration to instant online games is accelerating, adding complexity to oversight. Instant Win Gaming secured extensions with the Virginia and New Hampshire lotteries to supply e-instant content through mid-2027, including multi-state jackpots and frequent “blitz” payouts. That product mix pushes operators deeper into dynamic, app-based engagement that looks more like iGaming than traditional draw tickets. See details in Instant Win Gaming’s two-year extensions with Virginia and New Hampshire.

For Belize, combining lotteries and gaming under one regulator could reduce friction as lottery products evolve. The commission can set unified standards for payout structures, jackpot disclosures and responsible play tools across retail and digital channels. It can also harmonize data reporting and third-party content approvals to avoid gaps that emerge when lotteries and casinos are policed separately.

Cross-border operators eye growth markets

As countries formalize rules, international brands move fast. Philippine operator DigiPlus Interactive plans to enter Brazil with a local-facing platform, add culturally specific content and expand to additional brands over time. The company framed its rollout around responsible gaming and talent development, signaling it wants a compliant, long-term posture. Read the details on DigiPlus preparing to enter Brazil.

Belize will face similar interest if it creates a clear licensing pathway and stable tax regime. The experience in Brazil shows the draw of large, newly regulated markets and the need for consumer safeguards that scale. A unified commission could streamline reviews of foreign applicants, enforce local content rules where needed and hold vendors to uniform technical standards.

Convergence with finance complicates the rulebook

The boundary between gambling and financial markets is also shifting. CME Group is preparing to launch contracts tied to sports and economic indicators, distributed through futures commission merchants, with one product developed alongside FanDuel. CME’s license allows it to self-certify new contracts, potentially shortening time to market. The move would compete with prediction platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, which have made gains through recent regulatory wins. More on the trend in CME Group’s plans for sports-linked contracts.

Such products raise familiar policy questions for gambling overseers: how to prevent retail speculation from crossing into unregulated betting, how to treat advertising that appeals to sports fans, and whether to draw bright lines between wagering and federally supervised derivatives. Belize’s commission will have to define what falls under its purview and coordinate with financial regulators when products are marketed to local consumers or intermediated through global platforms.

The through line is speed. Digital markets and hybrid products evolve faster than legacy laws. Belize’s consolidation aims to catch up, but impact will hinge on implementation: transparent rulemaking, accountable leadership, data-driven supervision and coordination across borders. The experiences in Massachusetts and Saskatchewan show the cost of lagging oversight. The lottery innovations and cross-market moves by DigiPlus and CME show the breadth of what a single regulator must now anticipate. Belize is building the structure; the next test is how it uses it.