Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader has launched a brand new invoice that proposes the creation of a centralized regulatory authority to oversee all types of playing and betting actions. This initiative goals to strengthen the nation’s playing framework by establishing the General Directorate of Gaming (DGJA), which can fall below the Ministry of Finance. The invoice, just lately submitted to the National Congress, is designed to regulate all the pieces from sports activities betting to casinos, on-line playing, raffles, and digital lotteries.
A Stronger Regulatory Body and Comprehensive Oversight
The creation of the DGJA is a direct response to the challenges within the Dominican playing sector, which has seen fast development, particularly in online platforms. The new authority will give attention to registration, oversight, management, and licensing of playing actions. This transfer comes after the nation’s 2024 decision, which set a extra structured regulatory system for on-line sports activities betting and casinos.
The DGJA can have the ability to implement trade compliance, difficulty sanctions, and handle tax assortment extra successfully. In addition, the regulator shall be answerable for cracking down on unlawful playing websites, implementing real-time betting programs, and growing safeguards in opposition to cash laundering. The invoice additionally establishes laws for zoning, together with setting exclusion areas close to faculties, hospitals, and different delicate areas.
New Taxes and Fees for Gambling Operators
The invoice additionally brings vital modifications to the tax construction for playing operators. Sports golf equipment shall be required to pay a hefty payment of 794,000 Dominican pesos (round £9,915), together with an annual tax of 386,000 pesos (£4,820) in city areas, plus an extra 1% tax on product sales. Online playing platforms will face both a ten% tax on their earnings or a set month-to-month payment of 5 million pesos (£62,434), pending the event of a extra superior monitoring system.
Land-basedcasinos may even face new charges, with fees relying on the variety of gaming tables and slot machines. These charges will vary from 14,000 pesos (£175) to 85,000 pesos (£1,061) per machine or desk. Licences issued below the brand new invoice shall be legitimate for 5 years and non-transferable for the primary three years.
Provisions for Gambling Zones and Exclusion Areas
One of probably the most notable parts of the invoice is the introduction of geographic restrictions designed to restrict the social influence of playing. Lottery kiosks shall be prohibited from working inside 200 meters of colleges, childcare facilities, hospitals, church buildings, and authorities establishments. Sports betting institutions can have even stricter restrictions, requiring them to keep a minimal distance of 500 meters from these delicate areas.
These measures replicate the federal government’s intent to stability the expansion of the playing trade with social duty, decreasing the chance of habit and making certain playing operations should not simply accessible to susceptible communities.
Gambling Licences and Additional Measures for Compliance
The new invoice outlines strict licensing procedures for casinos and playing operators. Only motels rated 4 stars or larger shall be eligible to function casinos, and the licences granted shall be legitimate for 5 years. The invoice additionally establishes an in depth compliance framework for anti-money laundering, client safety, and the technical requirements for gaming programs to guarantee equity and safety.
The proposal additionally seeks to modernize the regulation of on-line playing, bringing all digital and land-based playing below unified oversight. A penalty of up to 10 years in jail is usually recommended for individuals who violate the proposed playing legal guidelines.
Next Steps for the Gambling Reform Bill
As the invoice progresses by the legislative course of, it’s anticipated to bear a number of revisions earlier than being finalized. The authorities is eager on establishing a complete, honest, and clear playing atmosphere, aligning with worldwide requirements whereas making an allowance for the distinctive wants of the Dominican market.
Source:
Dominican Republic Introduces New Gambling Reform Bill, sbcnews.co.uk, June 20, 2025.
