Dominican Republic imposes mandatory licences for cruise ship casinos under new Resolution 164-2026

The Dominican Republic has formally introduced a licensing regime for casino operations aboard cruise ships, requiring qualifying vessels to obtain authorization from the Ministry of Finance and Economy before offering gambling services in Dominican ports or national waters.

The measure is contained in Resolution 164-2026, which was published by the Ministry of Finance and Economy and added to the ministry’s official legal archive on April 6. The text establishes the requirements for issuing licences to operate gambling rooms on cruise ships that arrive at Dominican ports, anchor, or sail in the country’s national waters.

The new rules apply specifically to “first-category” cruise ships, defined in the resolution as vessels designed to carry 2,000 passengers or more on international leisure voyages. The ministry says the goal is not only to regulate casino activity on board, but also to update the legal framework around a fast-growing cruise segment that has become increasingly important for the country’s tourism economy.

A key feature of the regime is that the licence is tied to a specific ship. The resolution states that the authorization enables the operation of one casino on one single first-category cruise ship, rather than serving as a blanket permit for an entire fleet. Operations are also subject to conditions including a minimum six-hour route in Dominican waters and access restricted to properly registered passengers.

The financial requirements are substantial. Operators must provide a RD$20 million performance bond or its U.S. dollar equivalent before beginning operations. The licence issuance fee is set at RD$1 million for ships carrying 2,000 to 3,499 passengers and RD$1.5 million for vessels with capacity of 3,500 or more. Annual operating fees then range from RD$600,000 to RD$800,000, depending on the number of gaming tables in operation.

The resolution also limits licensed cruise casinos to 15 entries per year into Dominican waters under the standard annual fee, with RD$15,000 payable for each additional entry. Licences will remain valid for five years and may be renewed for similar periods, subject to ministry approval and compliance with the regulatory conditions.

The ministry makes clear that the reform is also driven by compliance concerns. In the text of the resolution, it explicitly states that cruise casinos can be used for money laundering and terrorist financing, which is why they must now fall under formal licensing, supervision, and control by the Dominican authorities. That gives the measure significance beyond tourism policy alone: it brings cruise-based casino activity more directly into the country’s fiscal and anti-money-laundering framework.