Dominican Republic Advances Fiscal Reform and Gaming Sector Restructuring

The Dominican Republic is moving to tighten control over its gambling sector through a combination of fiscal reform, tax verification and institutional restructuring aimed at formalising operators and improving state revenue.

The Dominican Republic is advancing a broader reform agenda for its gaming sector, combining new fiscal measures with a renewed effort to regularise lottery shops, betting agencies and other gambling operators.

The government has reactivated the National Regularization Plan for lottery shops, points of sale, betting agencies and other gambling businesses through Decree 197-26. The measure is designed to complete the process of reviewing, validating and formalising operators that were left pending after earlier compliance deadlines expired.

A central part of the restructuring is the stronger role given to the Dirección General de Impuestos Internos, or DGII. The tax authority will be responsible for verifying operators’ tax compliance, supporting fiscal supervision and helping bring establishments into the formal tax system. This signals that the government now sees gambling sector reform not only as a licensing issue, but also as a revenue protection and anti-evasion priority.

The decree also reorganises the consultative structure overseeing the regularisation process. It brings together state institutions and industry representatives, including the Ministry of Finance and Economy, DGII, Indotel, OGTIC, the National Lottery, Fenabanca, sports betting representatives, casino operators and other stakeholders. The National Lottery administrator will temporarily coordinate the operational and administrative follow-up of the process.

At the same time, the Dominican government is preparing a wider fiscal package that reportedly includes higher taxation for casinos and games of chance. The broader proposal is aimed at increasing public revenue, reducing tax evasion and addressing informal economic activity. Local reports indicate that the government expects the overall fiscal package to generate between RD$40bn and RD$50bn in additional revenue.

The legislative debate is also moving forward. The Senate Finance Committee has been studying and merging proposals intended to create clearer rules for authorisation, supervision and taxation of gambling and betting activities. These initiatives also seek to address fraud, money laundering risks, responsible gaming and better protection for players.

For the Dominican gambling market, the reforms could mark a structural turning point. The country has long faced challenges linked to irregular betting shops, tax leakage and fragmented oversight. By combining tax reform, regularisation and institutional restructuring, the government is trying to move the sector toward greater transparency and fiscal discipline.

For operators, the message is clear: formalisation and tax compliance will become increasingly important conditions for remaining in the market. If implemented consistently, the reform could help the Dominican Republic build a more controlled gambling environment while increasing state revenue and reducing space for illegal or informal operations.