Man and woman fined $100,000 after Jones Town illegal lottery arrests

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A man and a woman have each been ordered to pay $100,000 or serve 30 days behind bars after court proceedings tied to unlawful lottery work in Jones Town, Kingston 12.

The penalties followed their recent appearance before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court. The case stems from a coordinated push against unlicensed lottery activity carried out on Friday, May 29, 2026, when enforcement officers from the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) teamed up with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in the area.

Authorities say the pair was taken into custody during the operation over suspected roles in illegal lottery schemes. Their names have not been made public. They were processed at the Denham Town Police Station and charged under the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act.

Police also recovered and recorded several items thought to support the investigation into the unauthorised gaming activity.

The file later moved to the Half-Way Tree Parish Court, where both defendants entered guilty pleas and were convicted.

In a statement issued Friday, the BGLC warned that running or backing illegal lottery schemes undermines Jamaica’s lawful gaming sector and breaks the law. "Persons who participate in, facilitate, or support illegal gaming activities may face legal consequences," the commission said.

The BGLC added that it will continue partnering with the JCF and other security agencies to find, discourage and break up illegal lottery networks islandwide, while keeping regulated gaming fair, accountable and protective of the public.