Puerto Rico sees new “mobile lottery” launch as authorities tighten controls on illegal gaming machines

Local entrepreneurs have rolled out a mobile platform that lets players buy official electronic lottery plays from their phones, while the Games Commission and Police move to a tougher enforcement regime for unlicensed “route” slot machines.

A Puerto Rico-based startup has launched Lotería Móvil (also referred to in coverage as Lotería Móvil PR), positioning it as a digital channel for players to place official electronic lottery plays without going to a retail terminal. Local business and mainstream outlets report the app was built by entrepreneurs Karlos Miranda and Julián Soto, and it provides access to games such as Powerball, Loto Cash, Pega 2, Pega 3 and Pega 4, with features like results notifications and in-app balance management.

The launch comes as the Puerto Rico government escalates its response to illegal gambling activity, especially unlicensed “route” slot machines operating in small businesses. The Comisión de Juegos del Gobierno de Puerto Rico confirmed that the Reglamento de Confiscaciones de Máquinas de Juegos de Azar en Ruta (Reglamento Núm. 9718) entered into force on 22 January 2026, creating a clearer procedure for the seizure, custody and final disposition of machines operating outside the law.

In the days that followed, the Commission expanded interagency coordination: it delivered a seminar at Police Headquarters to train officers on the legal framework and practical steps for inspection and confiscation, citing Law No. 11 of 1933 (as amended) and the new confiscation rules as the backbone for enforcement.

Taken together, Puerto Rico’s message is two-sided: lottery participation is becoming more digital and convenient for consumers, but regulators are simultaneously building sharper tools to squeeze the illegal cash-based gaming that thrives outside licensing and oversight.