The Puerto Rico Senate opened an investigation into outstanding fines imposed on owners and operators of gaming machines and their potential impact on resources allocated to the Police Members’ Retirement Trust, during a public hearing held on September 22, 2026 under Senate Resolution 81. The hearing was led by Gregorio Matías Rosario, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety and Veterans Affairs.
The inquiry focuses on liabilities recorded in the Unified Internal Revenue System (SURI), several of which originated during or after the regulatory transition of 2019, when Act 81-2019 transferred powers over the operation and licensing of these machines from the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission.
Juan Carlos Santaella Marchán, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, explained that administrative fines imposed directly by the Commission are different from debts recorded in SURI, whose administration, collection and validity fall under the Department of Treasury. He added that the Commission cannot determine the origin or final amount of those obligations, although it does take them into account when evaluating license applications.
Juan Carlos Santaella Marchán
Santaella also detailed how gaming-machine revenue is distributed; the first US$12 million goes to the General Fund and, once that threshold is exceeded, 55% is allocated to the Police Retirement Trust, 40% to the General Fund to support municipalities, and 5% to cover the Gaming Commission’s operating costs.
Roxanna Soto Aguilú
A major absence marked the hearing. The Department of Treasury, headed by Secretary Ángel L. Pantoja Rodríguez, did not appear and argued that Senate Resolution 81 does not authorize the committee to investigate this specific matter. Senator Roxanna Soto Aguilú said Treasury’s participation is essential to clarify the technical and procedural workings of SURI.
The Puerto Rico Tourism Company, led by Executive Director Willianette Robles Cancel, also requested to be excused, arguing that it lost jurisdiction over these matters under the 2019 reform. Matías Rosario said Treasury will be summoned again and that, if necessary, an executive meeting will be held to obtain the outstanding information.
