Puerto Rico mayors question distribution of gaming machine revenues

The President of the Puerto Rico Mayors Association, Jorge González Otero, has raised concerns over the legislative allocation of $4.7m in gaming machine revenues to just 10 municipalities, calling for transparency in the criteria used to distribute the funds.

In a written statement, González Otero said the lack of disclosed methodology behind the allocation was “deeply concerning,” stressing that revenues generated from gaming machines across the island should be distributed based on clear and equitable parameters.

“These funds are generated throughout Puerto Rico, and the country deserves to know what methodology was used to determine which municipalities would receive these resources and which would be excluded,” he stated.

According to the Association, the resolution fails to establish criteria linked to key indicators such as population size, poverty levels, municipal fiscal conditions, the number of gaming machines operating in each jurisdiction, or the revenue each municipality contributes to the fund.

González Otero also highlighted that none of the 41 municipalities represented by the Association were included in the allocation, a point he described as particularly striking.

Verónica Rodríguez Irizarry, Executive Director of the Association, called for the publication of detailed data on a per-municipality basis, including the number of gaming machines in operation, revenue generation, and each municipality’s contribution to the central fund.

“This information is essential for the public to assess whether the distribution was based on objective and equitable criteria,” she said.

Under the current proposal, allocations include $450,000 each for Aguas Buenas, Yauco, Corozal, Aibonito, Barranquitas and Maunabo; $300,000 for Cidra and Orocovis; and $714,000 for Guayanilla and Las Marías.

Meanwhile, Aguada Mayor Christian Cortés Feliciano, who also serves as Secretary of the Association’s Board, noted that no municipalities from Puerto Rico’s western region received funding.

“The country must know that not a single western municipality received any allocation. Once again, the interests and needs of Aguada and other western towns were not prioritised in the distribution of these resources,” he said.

The measure now moves to the House of Representatives, where Cortés Feliciano expressed confidence that amendments could be introduced to ensure a more balanced and equitable distribution.

Rodríguez Irizarry added that the Association has filed a formal information request under Puerto Rico’s Transparency and Expedited Procedure for Access to Public Information Act (Law 141-2019) with both the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Treasury, seeking full disclosure of the allocation process.