Louis Abindar, president of the Dominican Republic, has introduced a new bill that proposes the construction of a centralized regulatory authority to oversee all forms of gambling and betting activities. The objective of this initiative is to strengthen the gambling structure of the country General Directorate of Gaming (DGJA)Which will come under the Finance Ministry. Recently, the National Congress has been designed to regulate everything from the bill, sports betting to casino, online gambling, rafles and electronic lottery.
A strong regulatory body and comprehensive inspection
The construction of DGJA is a direct reaction to challenges in the dominican gambling sector, especially in the rapid growth, Online platformThe new authority will focus on registration, oversight, control and licensing of gambling activities. The move comes after the country’s 2024 resolution, which set a more structured regulatory system for online sports betting and casinos.
DGJA will have power Apply industry compliance, issue ban and manage tax collection more effectively. In addition, the regulator will be responsible for breaking up on illegal gambling sites, implementing real -time betting systems and developing security measures against money laundering. Bill also establishes rules for zoning, including establishing exclusion areas near schools, hospitals and other sensitive places.
New taxes and fees for gambling operators
The bill also brings significant changes in tax structure for gambling operators. Sports clubs will have to pay heavy duty of 794,000 Dominican Pesos (about £ 9,915) in urban areas with an annual tax of 386,000 pesos (£ 4,820), as well as an additional 1% tax on gross sales. Online gambling platforms will either face 10% tax on their income or a fixed monthly fee of 5 million peso (£ 62,434 (£ 62,434)), Pending the development of a more advanced monitoring system.
Land-basedCasino will also face new fees based on the number of gaming tables and slot machines. These fees will be from 14,000 peso (£ 175) to 85,000 peso (£ 1,061) per device or table. There will be licenses issued under the new bill Valid for five years And non-transferable for the first three years.
Provision for gambling sector and exclusion areas
One of the most notable elements of the bill is the introduction Geographical restrictions designed to limit the social impact of gamblingThe lottery kiosk will be banned from operations within 200m schools, childcare centers, hospitals, churches and government institutions. There will also be strict restrictions in sports betting installations, they will need to maintain a minimum distance of 500 meters from these sensitive places.
These measures reflect the government’s intentions to balance the development of the gambling industry with social responsibility, reducing the risk of drug addiction and ensuring gambling operations is not easily accessible to weak communities.
Additional measures for gambling license and compliance
The new bill underlines strict licensing processes for casinos and gambling operators. Only four hotel rated four stars or higher casinos will be eligible to operateAnd the licenses given will be valid for five years. The bill also establishes a detailed compliance structure for anti-laundering, consumer protection and technical standards for gaming systems to ensure fairness and safety.
This proposal also tries to modernize the regulation of online gambling, which brings all virtual and land-based gambling under the integrated oversight. For those who violate the proposed gambling laws, a jail sentence up to 10 years has been suggested.
Next step for gambling improvement bill
As the bill proceeds through the legislative process, it is expected to undergo several amendments before finally final. The government is eager to establish a broad, fair and transparent gambling environment, aligning with international standards keeping in mind the unique needs of the Dominican market.
Source,
Dominican Republic introduced new gambling improvement billsbcnews.co.uk, 20 June, 2025.
