Renewal of licenses to operate slots in stores begins in Puerto Rico

"We urge all owners of gaming machines en route to begin the procedures for the renewal of licenses," said the executive director of the Gaming Commission, Javier Rivera Emmanuelli in a written statement.

“This Administrative Order represents an affirmative step aimed at protecting and legalizing the operations of machines in commercial establishments and removing illegal machines from the streets. The process, approved by the Board of Commissioners, addresses the concerns that various components of the industry have raised, while, in turn, the Commission continues with its role of overseer in favor of responsible operators, players and citizens, "he added.

“The administrative procedure to update said licenses is contained in an Administrative Order, issued on August 26 by the Board of Commissioners, the governing body of the Gaming Commission.”

Regulation 9175 allowed the granting of the first hundred licenses to operators of gaming machines on the road, which are the slot machines installed in commercial establishments. Regulation 9174 makes possible the implementation of a central machine interconnection system, which will allow the Government to control the operation of the equipment and receive income.

In 2021, the Commission issued, for the first time, around one hundred licenses, under Acts 81 of 2019 and 11 of 1933, as amended. The latter legalized the entry into operation of betting machines outside casinos, and established a charge of 1,500 dollars per license per machine. As the renewal date approaches, there is a group of wholesale owners and operators that still have payment balances for the operating rights for the year 2021-2022. To facilitate license payments, the Commission will grant two types of payment plans. The first is aimed at operators who took advantage of three installment payment plans, which expired on July 15, but today maintain balances with the Commission. These will have until September 30 to settle their debts, or else, they are exposed to not having the operating rights of the slot machines renewed, since to renew they will not be able to owe money to the Government.

The second payment plan is for license renewal. They will be able to pay in two installments for the rights to legally operate the machines during the year 2022-2023. The first expires on September 30 and will be $500 per machine and the second expires on January 30, 2023 and will be $1,000 per machine.

Businesses that operate slot machines without the proper license and label will be violating the law and are exposed to fines and the confiscation of equipment, under the Confiscation Regulation that is in the final stages of approval by the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Directors. Tax control.

Applications for license renewals must be submitted to the Gaming Commission, at its new Central Office located in Hato Rey on or before September 15, 2022.