LAND-BASED Latin America regulatory update
Te ADCJ raised concerns about various aspects of the bill,
including restricted operating hours, potential loss of existing license rights, increased bureaucratic hurdles for license renewals, and the introduction of separate licenses for slot
machines. In addition the organisation said that the drafting of the bill had been put together too quicky and without sufficient dialogue with stakeholders.
In June 2025 President Luis Abinader submitted a bill to the National Congress aimed at regulating and supervising the gambling sector in the Dominican Republic, while also establishing mechanisms to prevent money laundering. Key points of the bill include strict regulation on the use of slot machines, which will only be permitted to operate legally in casinos, hotels with one to three stars, and sports betting outlets. Penalties are also contemplated for owners who install these machines in grocery stores and entertainment centres. If approved casinos with between one and 15 tables will pay RD$55,853 for each table, while those with more than 36 tables will have to pay RD$85,927 per unit. Additionally, each slot machine will be subject to a five per cent monthly tax on gross sales. If approved the bill would also create a new gambling board called the General Directorate of Gambling (DGJA). Te Advisory Council of the National Lottery of the Dominican Republic has voiced its support for the draft of the new Gaming Law. Tey emphasised the law's significance in enhancing oversight and transparency within the country's gaming industry. In an official letter addressed to the President of the Senate,
Ricardo de los Santos, and the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, the organisation expressed its approval of the legislative proposal. "Te primary aim of this initiative is to implement stronger
controls over gambling, providing society with a genuine tool for oversight, security, transparency, and the necessary authority to impose penalties for any potential violations," the letter states, signed by all members of the Advisory Council.
134 However, the bill does not include public policies aimed at
preventing problem gambling or specific mechanisms to protect players which has led to some criticism. In addition, the bill has come under fire from the Dominican
Association of Sports Betting (ADOBAD) which has reported that nearly 20,000 jobs would be at risk if the bill is approved. ADOBAD argues that this initiative would enable the commercialisation of electronic and virtual games in locations that currently do not meet the necessary standards for housing slots.
“Te bill suffers from numerous errors and structural flaws
and would deepen disorder, harming the legal certainty of investments made to date,” they stated in a press release. Te Dominican Association of Game Casinos (ADCJ) has
also criticised the bill warning that it could lead to an expansion of illegal gambling. Te ADCJ raised concerns about various aspects of the bill, including restricted operating hours, potential loss of existing license rights, increased bureaucratic hurdles for license renewals, and the introduction of separate licenses for slot machines. In addition the organisation said that the drafting of the bill had been put together too quickly and without sufficient dialogue with stakeholders. Tis amount refers to taxes on financial transactions from
casinos, bingos, the illegal street numbers game known as “the animal game” (jogo do bicho), and horse racing, as outlined in the Gambling Bill. Te bill would also allow for a huge expansion of electronic bingo machines and slots across Brazil. Despite the arguments presented by supporters, the
regulation of gambling still faces resistance in Congress. Various senators have positioned themselves against
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
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