Dominican Republic Deputies Approve Amended Gambling Regulation Bill

The Dominican Republic’s Chamber of Deputies has approved an amended version of the gambling regulation bill, sending the proposal back to the Senate for review of the changes.

The Dominican Republic has moved closer to a major overhaul of its gambling framework after the Chamber of Deputies approved a revised version of the bill regulating games of chance and betting.

The proposal was approved in two consecutive readings under an urgent procedure. Because deputies introduced amendments during the lower-house debate, the text must now return to the Senate, where an earlier version had already been approved.

The legislation was sponsored by Senators Pedro Catrain and Félix Bautista and is intended to create a unified legal framework for gambling activities in the country. It covers both physical establishments and electronic or digital platforms, including lottery shops, sports betting outlets, casinos, slot-machine rooms and online gambling operators.

One of the central provisions is the creation of a new Dirección General de Juegos de Azar, which would serve as the main authority responsible for regulating, supervising and inspecting the sector. The proposal is designed to replace a fragmented system with a clearer institutional structure and stronger enforcement capacity.

The bill also introduces licensing rules for operators, with licences generally valid for 10 years. Casinos would only be allowed to operate under a licence and, according to the draft provisions reported locally, would be linked to hotels meeting defined conditions.

A major part of the proposal focuses on controlling the physical expansion of gambling establishments. The bill sets distance restrictions around protected locations such as schools, universities, hospitals, churches, childcare centres, military and police facilities, and government institutions. It also establishes minimum distances between certain types of betting and lottery outlets.

Another important measure is a proposed 10-year pause on new licences for gambling establishments once the official register of licensees is published. The restriction would not apply to casinos located in hotels and tourism areas, reflecting the country’s effort to preserve tourism-linked casino investment while limiting the uncontrolled spread of smaller gambling venues.

The digital gambling segment is also addressed. The bill seeks to regulate internet-based gambling, prevent minors from registering on online betting platforms and strengthen the authorities’ ability to act against unauthorised websites. Local reports also indicate that the draft includes a 10% tax on gross sales from internet gambling and powers to block domains or IP addresses linked to unlicensed platforms.

The proposal also contains measures against illegal gambling, fraud, betting manipulation and money-laundering risks. Administrative offences would be classified by severity, while criminal penalties could apply to operators working without a licence, promoting unauthorised games, manipulating betting results or breaching anti-money laundering obligations.

For licensed operators, the reform would create a more demanding compliance environment. Companies would need to meet clearer licensing, reporting, location, advertising, consumer-protection and AML requirements. For informal or illegal operators, the bill would give authorities stronger legal tools to impose sanctions and close regulatory gaps.

The reform reflects the scale of the Dominican gambling market, where lottery and betting outlets are highly visible and where online gambling has created new regulatory challenges. Lawmakers are now trying to modernise rules that have struggled to keep pace with digital platforms, retail expansion and tax-control needs.

The bill is not yet final law. The Senate must review the amendments made by the Chamber of Deputies before the process can move toward final approval. That stage will be important, because the upper house may accept, reject or adjust the lower chamber’s changes.

If approved, the reform could become one of the most important gambling-law updates in the Dominican Republic in years. Its success, however, will depend on implementation: the new regulator will need resources, data systems, inspection capacity and political support to turn the legal framework into effective oversight.

For the industry, the message is clear. The Dominican Republic is moving toward a stricter and more unified gambling regime, where licences, taxation, digital controls and player protection will become central to market access.