Dominican Republic to Establish New Gambling Regulator — DGJA

Dominican Republic to Establish New Gambling Regulator — DGJA

The Dominican Ministry of Finance has introduced a bill to create the General Directorate for Gambling (DGJA), which will be granted authority to oversee all forms of gambling — including the online sector. Read more.

The New Bill: Objectives and Scope

President Luis Abinader has submitted a proposal aimed at regulating, taxing, and preventing money laundering in the gambling industry. The legislation includes the creation of the DGJA as a centralized regulatory body.

The bill covers 15 types of gambling activities, including:

  • Casinos
  • Lottery banks
  • Sports betting
  • Slot machines
  • Raffles and bingo
  • Online gambling

The DGJA will be responsible for issuing licenses, enforcing tax compliance, and applying administrative or criminal penalties for violations.

Requirements for Casinos and Sports Betting

To operate legally, casinos must meet the following criteria:

  • Be located within hotels rated 4 stars or higher
  • Pay a monthly tax of RD$55,853 to RD$85,927 per gaming table
  • 5% gross revenue tax on slot machine earnings

Requirements for sports betting operators include:

  • Minimum distance of 500 meters between outlets
  • Prohibited in rural areas
  • Annual tax: RD$386,673 (urban), RD$257,782 (rural)
  • Initial registration fee: RD$794,414
  • Additional 1% gross revenue tax monthly

Bans and Restrictions

The bill outlines several prohibitions:

  • Slot machines are banned in convenience stores and entertainment venues
  • Allowed only in casinos, 3-star+ hotels, and licensed betting shops
  • Penalties: up to 400 minimum wages or prison sentences up to 10 years

Licensing is also denied to individuals or entities involved in:

  • Fraud
  • Money laundering
  • Health-related offenses within the past 4 years

Online Gambling: Taxation and Oversight

The following rules apply to online gambling operators:

  • 10% monthly sales tax
  • Until the launch of a digital control platform: mandatory monthly payment of RD$5 million
  • Non-payment may result in domain suspension

Tax Overview by Gambling Format

Type Tax / Fee Additional Conditions
Casinos 5% on slots; RD$55,853–85,927/month per table Only in 4★+ hotels
Sportsbooks 1% of sales; RD$794,414 registration fee 500m minimum between shops; not allowed in rural zones
Lotteries RD$60,149/year + 1% of sales At least 200m from schools, hospitals, churches
Online Gambling 10% of sales or RD$5M/month Until control platform is operational
Bingo 10% of sales Location-based restrictions apply

Additional Measures

Other key requirements include:

  • A warning message “Jugar compulsivamente afecta tu salud” (“Compulsive gambling harms your health”) must be displayed at all entrances
  • Implementation of a Unified Registration System for players and operators
  • Enforcement of cybersecurity and protection of minors

What’s Next?

The bill has been submitted to the Senate and is currently under review by the relevant committee. It’s still unclear whether the DGJA will replace the existing DCJA or operate alongside it, but the Dominican Republic is taking clear steps toward modernizing its gambling regulation framework.