Lottery kiosks: The new bill that would freeze the market for ten years
The gambling sector in the Dominican Republic is preparing for a significant transformation. A recent bill, approved by the Chamber of Deputies, contemplates a strategic measure that would grant exclusive market control to operators that manage to formalize under the new legal regime over the next decade.
The legislative piece, in its article 191, establishes the prohibition of issuing new licenses for the installation of lottery and betting shops for a period of ten years. This provision, which excludes casinos located in hotels and tourist complexes, seeks to consolidate an operating environment where current players, once regularized, do not face new competitors in the short and medium term.
A market under scrutiny: Registration and oversight
Although the measure restricts the entry of new actors, access to this benefit is not automatic. The project requires bank owners to comply with strict registration, validation, and oversight processes. The state’s objective is to clean up the system, which currently has more than 71,000 registered establishments, thus facilitating effective interconnection and more rigorous tax control.
The magnitude reached by the sector has made its oversight difficult; therefore, it is proposed to temporarily halt expansion so that the State can validate and interconnect existing establishments.
Tax facilities for operators
In addition to the moratorium on licenses, the bill introduces a “Special Discount Regime” through article 192. This provision is designed to alleviate debts accumulated from taxes and fees up to December 2025. Operators who complete their regularization process will be able to opt for benefits on their tax obligations, always under the guidelines established by the General Directorate of Gambling (DGJA) in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII).
- Economic impact: The law seeks to regulate a sector that moves millions daily in the country.
- Legal certainty: License renewal is guaranteed for those operators that meet the required technical requirements.
- Transparency: The exact fiscal impact of the discounts and the total amount of debt that the sector owes to the tax authorities have yet to be determined.
The debate on conflicts of interest
The discussion regarding this law has generated public attention due to the composition of the National Congress. Currently, eight legislators—seven deputies and one senator—have formally declared economic ties, shareholdings, or properties directly linked to betting shops and lotteries, which places the topic at the center of the debate on ethics and legislative decision-making at Alofoke Deportes.
