Dominican Republic Enacts New Gambling Law and Creates Unified Regulator

The Dominican Republic has enacted Law 86-26, introducing a new regulatory framework for gambling that creates a dedicated national regulator, changes licensing rules and imposes new requirements on casinos, betting shops and slot machines.

President Luis Abinader has enacted Law 86-26, opening a new regulatory phase for the Dominican Republic’s gambling industry. The legislation was published in Official Gazette No. 11263 on October 2 and establishes the new Dirección General de Juegos de Azar (DGJA) as the sector’s central regulatory authority.

At the same time, Abinader issued Decree 684-26 appointing Teófilo “Quico” Tabar Manzur as interim director general of the DGJA. Tabar previously coordinated the country’s gambling regularisation process.

The law introduces substantial changes to licensing. Lottery betting-shop licences will now run for five years, while casino licences remain valid for ten years. Casinos may operate only in hotels rated four stars or higher.

Slot machines will require a separate ten-year licence and face tighter location rules. Sports betting shops may operate up to 15 machines, while all approved slot prize plans must provide a minimum 85% return to player. Gambling businesses will generally be prohibited from operating within 500 metres of schools, universities, churches, hospitals and certain government facilities, although casinos are exempt from those distance requirements.

The framework also introduces a National Self-Exclusion Register and provides for a ten-year freeze on new gambling establishment licences once the registration of existing operators is completed. Casinos located in qualifying tourism developments are excluded from that moratorium.

The legislation has not been without industry concerns. Before promulgation, the Association of Point-of-Sale Software Providers (ASOPOS) warned that provisions in Article 163 could expose technology suppliers to criminal liability for illegal activity carried out by their operator clients. The association had asked for clearer distinctions between gambling operators and companies that merely develop or support their technological systems.

Law 86-26 therefore represents one of the most significant restructurings of Dominican gambling regulation in decades. The immediate focus will now shift to implementation by the new DGJA, including operator registration, licensing procedures and the practical interpretation of provisions affecting both gambling companies and their technology suppliers.