Gaming Control Commission Participates in IAGR 2026 Conference in Lima, Peru
Representatives of the Turks and Caicos Islands Gaming Control Commission (GCC) attended the 2026 International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) Conference in Lima, Peru, as part of the Commission’s continued commitment to professional development, international regulatory cooperation and strengthening oversight of the gaming sector.
The conference provided an opportunity for gaming regulators and industry stakeholders from various jurisdictions to exchange knowledge, examine emerging regulatory challenges and share approaches to effective gaming supervision.
Participation in international regulatory forums supports the Commission’s efforts to strengthen its regulatory framework, enhance institutional capacity and promote responsible, transparent and well-regulated gaming activities throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The conference, held from 19–22 October 2026, covered matters directly relevant to the GCC’s regulatory mandate, including combating illegal gambling, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT), emerging technologies, responsible gaming and regulatory approaches for smaller jurisdictions. These discussions provided valuable perspectives on strengthening enforcement, improving inter-agency cooperation and adapting regulatory practices to evolving industry risks.
About the First Illegal Gambling Awareness Week
The Gaming Control Commission of the Turks and Caicos Islands (GCC) is proud to support the first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, taking place from November 9 to 13, 2026.
The campaign was announced by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) at its Annual Conference in Lima, Peru, which members of the GCC team attended in October. As a member of IAGR, the Commission is joining gaming regulators around the world in the first internationally coordinated effort to raise public awareness of the risks of unlicensed online gambling.
Before you bet, check the licence
The message of the week is simple: before you place a bet online, check whether the site is licensed where you are playing.
A professional-looking website or a familiar brand name does not mean an operator is properly licensed. Unlicensed sites often look just as polished as legitimate ones, which is why checking first matters.
The risks of unlicensed gambling
People who use unlicensed gambling sites may face:
- Winnings that are never paid out
- Few or no options for resolving disputes
- Misuse of their personal or financial information
- No access to the responsible gambling protections that licensed operators must provide
Unlicensed gambling can also cause harm beyond the individual player. Money spent with illegal operators may end up funding criminal organisations involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking and terrorist financing.
A new free tool: CheckBeforeYouPlay.org
From November 9, the public can use CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, a free licensing information tool. Simply enter a gambling website’s address and the tool will check its licensing status against the records of IAGR member regulators and other verified public sources.
Our commitment
The GCC remains committed to a safe, transparent and well-regulated gaming environment in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and to protecting residents and visitors, especially vulnerable members of our community, from the harms of illegal gambling.
We encourage everyone to take a moment this week to check before they play, and to share this message with family and friends.
Report illegal gambling
If you have information about illegal or unlicensed gambling activity in the Turks and Caicos Islands, please contact the Commission by email at info@tcigamingcc.tc or by phone at 649-338-5152.
The Commission further reminds the public and business operators that the use of unlicensed handheld gaming devices to facilitate gambling activities at non-gaming establishments, including bars, restaurants, convenience stores and other commercial premises, is prohibited under the applicable gaming legislation. The possession of a general business licence does not authorize an establishment to conduct gaming activities. Operators are therefore reminded that gaming activities must only be conducted in accordance with the relevant licensing and regulatory requirements under the Gaming Control Ordinance, and that unauthorized activities may result in enforcement action.