Peru Opens Consultation to Add Casino and Slot Operators to Tourism Services List

Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism has opened a public consultation on a draft decree that would formally include casino and slot machine operators in the tourism services list under the New General Tourism Law.

Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism has opened a public consultation on a draft Supreme Decree that would modify Annex I of Law No. 32392, the New General Tourism Law, to formally include operators of casino games and slot machines in the country’s list of tourism services.

The proposal was published through Ministerial Resolution No. 188-2026-MINCETUR on June 21. The move is significant because Annex I defines which activities are recognised as tourism services under Peru’s new tourism framework. At present, the list includes hotels, travel agencies, tour guides, classified restaurants, thermal tourism centres, community and religious tourism, adventure and nature tourism, MICE tourism, tourist transport and handicraft services.

Casino and slot machine operators are already regulated by the General Directorate of Casino Games and Slot Machines, which operates under the Vice-Ministry of Tourism. However, the new proposal would give the sector a more explicit place inside the broader tourism services framework.

For land-based gaming operators, the change could be important from both regulatory and business perspectives. Formal recognition as tourism service providers may strengthen the connection between casinos, entertainment venues, hotels, restaurants and wider destination development strategies. It could also help clarify the sector’s role in tourism investment, visitor experience and formal economic activity.

The consultation does not mean the change is already final. The draft decree is still subject to public comments, and the final text may be adjusted before approval. However, the publication of the proposal shows that Mincetur is considering a more integrated approach to gaming and tourism policy.

The measure comes at a time when Peru has been modernising its tourism and gaming frameworks. The country has already moved forward with a regulated model for online gaming and sports betting, while land-based casinos and slot halls remain part of the traditional supervised gaming sector.

For the gambling industry, the proposal is notable because it frames casino and slot operations not only as gaming activities, but also as part of the tourism economy. This can influence how policymakers view the sector’s contribution to employment, investment, formalisation and destination competitiveness.

At the same time, formal inclusion in the tourism services list could also bring stronger expectations. Tourism service providers are subject to quality, consumer protection, formalisation and compliance standards under the broader tourism framework. If casinos and slot operators are added, the sector may need to align more closely with these public-policy objectives.

The change may also matter for regional tourism development. Casinos and gaming venues often operate in connection with hotels, convention centres, leisure facilities and urban entertainment areas. Recognising them as tourism services could make them more visible in destination planning and investment discussions.

For investors, the proposal could provide more legal certainty over how the sector is positioned within Peru’s tourism economy. A clearer classification may help operators, suppliers and commercial partners understand whether gaming venues are treated as isolated gambling facilities or as part of a wider entertainment and tourism ecosystem.

The key issue now is how the consultation develops. Operators, legal advisers, tourism stakeholders and public authorities are likely to examine whether the proposed inclusion creates new obligations, new opportunities or both.

Peru’s initiative reflects a broader trend in Latin America, where gaming regulation is increasingly being connected with tourism, taxation, compliance and economic development. The final decision will show whether Peru wants to give casino and slot operators a more formal role in its tourism strategy.