Lottery activities in the Bahamas are generally unlawful under the Lotteries and Gaming Act, which states that subject to specific exemptions, all lotteries are prohibited. The law defines lottery broadly to include any game or method whereby money or money's worth is distributed depending upon chance or lot (1). However, certain exemptions exist for small lotteries incidental to entertainments, private lotteries, and charitable lotteries that obtain prior ministerial approval and meet strict regulatory conditions.
The Gaming Act 2014 modernized Bahamian gambling laws by transitioning web shops into regulated internet gaming operations while making provision for the continuation of the Numbers Game. The Act permits licensed Gaming House Operators to offer numbers games either through wagering on numbers from 000 to 999 at fixed odds, or by enabling bets on official public lottery drawings conducted worldwide (2). The Gaming Board authorizes licensed operators to offer these gaming products within a controlled regulatory environment.
"The definition for the Numbers Game incorporated into the Act was clearly designed to both accommodate the lotto products traditionally offered by Bahamian web shop operators and to allow Bahamian players future access to more innovative offerings."
Charitable lotteries may be organized by three or more residents for religious, educational, charitable, or athletic purposes with ministerial approval and payment of fifteen percent duty on gross receipts. Organizers must declare purposes for funds, enter into bonds with the Treasurer, and submit verified accounting statements within fourteen days (1). A 2013 referendum on establishing a national lottery was rejected by voters, and Bahamian citizens remain restricted from participating in casino gambling under current law.
Source:
https://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1969/1969-0008/1969-0008_1.pdf
https://www.roadtraffic.gov.bs/island-lucks-three-ball-game-wholly-consistent-with-provisions-in-the-gaming-act-2014/
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
