TLDR
- Puerto Rico collected more than $45 million from slot machines over the past 14 months.
- $17.6 million went to the Police Retirement Trust, $12 million to municipalities, and $12 million to the General Fund.
- The Office of Investigation and Regulation has carried out more than 60 operations since February, seizing hundreds of machines.
- Three new casinos are being built in Mayagüez, Ponce, and San Juan, joining 21 casinos already operating.
- The Association of Mayors of Puerto Rico wants clear details on how $4.7 million in slot revenue was allocated.
Puerto Rico has collected more than $45 million from slot machines over the past 14 months. Most of the money went to the Police Retirement Trust, municipal governments, and the island’s General Fund.
Juan Carlos Santaella, executive director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, said the results came from strong enforcement and controls across the sector.
Santaella and Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano shared the figures at a press conference organized by La Fortaleza, the governor’s office.
Where the Slot Machine Money Went
During the 2025-2026 fiscal year, $17.6 million from slot machine revenue was paid into the police pension system. Another $12 million was set aside for municipal governments.
Of that $12 million for municipalities, $9.5 million had been distributed at the time of the announcement. A further $12 million was deposited into the General Fund.
Officials presented the allocations as proof of how the gaming sector supports government revenue and development programs.
Santaella linked the collections to work by the Office of Investigation and Regulation. Since February, the office has carried out more than 60 operations, seizing hundreds of slot machines and issuing fines.
Casinos and Sports Betting Add to Revenue
Slot machines are only one part of Puerto Rico’s gaming income. The casino industry brings in about $200 million a year to the central government, with part of that going to the University of Puerto Rico.
Three new casinos are under construction in Mayagüez, Ponce, and San Juan, according to the Gaming Bureau, led by Loraine Irizarry Torres. They will join the 21 casinos already operating on the island.
Sports betting revenue also rose in the last fiscal year. Total wagers reached $354.7 million, producing just over $4.5 million for the government.
The distribution of slot machine money has drawn questions from local officials. The Association of Mayors of Puerto Rico has raised concerns about how some of the funds are shared.
The group questioned how $4.7 million in slot machine revenue was allocated. It said no public information is available on how the receiving municipalities were chosen.
Association president Jorge González Otero asked for clarity on the selection criteria. Executive director Verónica Rodríguez Irizarry requested a breakdown of the money by municipality.
The mayors want to see the number of machines in operation in each area, along with income and donations to the fund.
The association says public funds should be handed out using clear, measurable standards. It believes detailed reports would show whether allocations match the level of gaming activity and income in each city.
As the government reports higher collections and expands its casino industry, municipal leaders continue to press for more transparency on how some of the slot machine funds are used.
