Tropical Gaming Company’s Lotto license expired on February 24, 2009. Since the last winner, Paula Vasquez, went to claim her prize there has been no Lotto playing in Belize. However, there is no need for Lotto lovers to panic. Tropical Gaming has received a short term license to operate.
According to Lincoln Blake, Senior Economist in the Ministry of Economic Development, the company has been granted a license that will expire at the
end of April. This license is short term because negotiations are still underway regarding a new contract between Tropical Gaming and the Government of Belize. Blake could not go into the details of the yet to be agreed upon contract but said that the goal is to retrieve more revenues and provide more regulation of the game. He said that Lotto players need to be protected and their winnings need to be guaranteed.
Currently, Tropical Gaming Company is the only establishment in negotiation for the Lotto contract. However, if they do not accept more regulation and the other protection measures requested, then the tendering process will begin.
