Senators seek to regulate the gambling sector in the Dominican Republic
The National Congress is debating an ambitious bill that aims to comprehensively regulate the gambling sector in the country. Senators Eduard Espiritusantos and Ramón Rogelio Genao have defended the initiative, highlighting the urgent need to organize an activity that, according to estimates, moves more than RD$1 billion daily.
According to Senator Espiritusantos, the legislative proposal does not seek to benefit specific sectors, but rather to establish a clear and equitable regulatory framework for all involved actors. Currently, the project is under analysis in committee, complying with the necessary legislative process before its possible approval.
If it is a law, I believe it does not come to benefit anyone in particular, but rather it comes to put the sector in order, as all laws do.
Eduard Espiritusantos, senator.
Control, oversight and freezing of licenses
For his part, Senator Ramón Rogelio Genao emphasized that the sector requires strict regulation to fill an existing regulatory gap. Among the most relevant points of the bill, the proposal to prohibit the granting of new licenses for any form of gambling for a period of ten years stands out.
- License freeze: The issuance of new permits will be suspended for a decade.
- Formalization: Establishments operating outside the law will be required to regularize their status.
- Distance control: Location criteria regarding educational centers, churches, and hospitals will be reinforced.
- Oversight: Supervision mechanisms will be strengthened to ensure compliance with regulations.
Which comes to fill a regulatory void in a sector that represents, unfortunately, a significant weight in the Dominican economy. They are frozen, that is, the granting of new licenses for all types of gambling is prohibited for 10 years.
Ramón Rogelio Genao, senator.
A social reality that requires order
When asked about the relevance of the sector in Dominican daily life, Genao acknowledged that gambling has a significant presence in society, extending from neighborhoods to residential areas. For the legislator, the key is not to ignore the activity, but to subject it to a legal framework that guarantees responsible gaming.
The project will now continue its course in Congress, where it is expected that the debates will allow for the refinement of control measures. This initiative aligns with previous State efforts to oversee casinos, lottery banks, and slot machines, seeking to protect public order and ensure that this industry operates under the strict control of the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
