Everything You Need to Know About the Casino Laws
Gambling at licensed and regulated land-based casinos in the Dominican Republic is legal, as are lotteries and sports betting. Nevertheless, the government does make a public effort to crack down on illegal gambling operations, regularly seizing and destroying equipment, such as slot machines at establishments that are not licensed.
At present, there are no laws that ban the public from playing casino gaming or games of chance, including those hosted online. However, legislature published in 2024 has introduced a new licensing and regulatory framework, managed by the Direccion de Casinos y Juegos de Azar (DCJA), and this has led to offshore gambling sites being blacklisted.
Gobierno de la Republica Dominicana
- Gambling at land-based and online casinos is legal for residents.
- Online gambling sites are blacklisted unless licensed and regulated in DR.
- Online gambling sites must be hosted at a .do web domain.
- Comprehensive licensing and regulatory legislature was introduced in 2024.
- DCJA controls licensing and regulation, part of the Ministry of Finance.
- Land-based gambling is strictly regulated and laws are enforced by DCJA.
Essentially, while residents break no laws by playing at online casinos, gambling operators are blacklisted in the Dominican Republic if they don’t hold a license in the country. This measure was introduced in 2024, accompanying new laws to comprehensively regulate and license online gambling.
Fortunately, land-based casinos are strictly regulated and licensed in the Dominican Republic, given they are an important part of the tourism industry for the country. These resort venues are perfectly safe and legitimate, providing a suitable alternative for locals and tourists who wish to enjoy casino gaming options, including slots, roulette, poker, blackjack, and more.
Gambling in Dominican Republic
Until major overseas gambling companies obtain licenses in the Dominican Republic, they cannot legally operate in the country or offer their services to residents. The DCJA has blacklisted the most reputable casino sites and betting brands in the world, until they comply with local regulations.
Licensed and regulated land-based casinos are widespread throughout the country, primarily at tourism hot-spots, where safe and regulated casino gaming is available. There are also fully licensed outlets for lotteries and sports betting, offering plenty of suitable alternatives to unlicensed and illegal activities hosted online.
Gambling History and Future
There has always been an intrinsic link between gambling and tourism in the Dominican Republic, where land-based casinos are an important feature of resort locations. However, the digital era has inevitably generated many complexities, particularly surrounding legislature and regulation for online casinos and online sports betting.
Casinos are popular attractions in DR for tourists and locals alike, leading to licensing and regulation that functions well, but online gambling has brought many challenges. Licensing laws introduced in 2006 largely failed to achieve the desired outcomes, which is to create safe and legitimate gaming options, while the country benefits from tax revenues.
Dominican Republic Flag
- 1964 – Law 351 authorizes the licensing of gambling establishments.
- 2006 – Law 29-06 amends various articles of Law 351 (1964), authorizing the issue of licenses for establishments offering games of chance.
- 2011 – Law 139-11 introduces 10% monthly tax on games of chance operated over the phone or via the internet.
- 2011 – The first and only online gambling license was issued to Amaya, which rebranded as The Stars Group in 2017.
- 2024 – Resolution 136-2024, regulating the authorization to operate games of chance on the internet.
- 2024 – More than 40 major international gambling brands are blacklisted in the Dominican Republic, following the announcement of Resolution 136-2024.
- 2024 – Unlicensed operators are no longer permitted to offer gambling services to residents of the Dominican Republic.
Following the introduction of Resolution 136-2024, the Dominican Republic has taken steps to regulate and license online gambling, treading carefully in the same footsteps of other leading iGaming countries around the world. Nevertheless, it could take some time for these good intentions to function practically.
In the meantime, while it’s not illegal for Dominican residents to gamble online, offshore iGaming sites that aren’t licensed or regulated in the country are blacklisted. The government is also setting up the process to establish responsible gambling and self-exclusion mechanisms. At present, there are no groups to provide support and help for problem gambling.
Conclusion
While the introduction of Resolution 136-2024 is a positive step for the Dominican Republic, it will be interesting to follow how successful this move actually becomes. Proper licensing and regulation for online gambling is certainly warranted, bringing safe and legitimate gaming, alongside valuable consumer protections.
Now that so many reputable international brands are banned from operating in the Dominican Republic, unless they obtain licenses to operate in the country, we urge players to take great care until the regulatory system there is fully established. Don’t risk your hard-earned cash playing at unlicensed and unregulated sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please feel free to reach out with any questions about online casinos in the Dominican Republic. We have also answered some of the most popular questions, below.
Is online gambling in the Dominican Republic legal?
Yes, online gambling is legal in the Dominican Republic, although new legislation introduced in 2024 aims to tighten control of the industry. This means that in order to legally offer their services to residents, they must also be regulated and licensed in the country.
Can I bet on sports from the Dominican Republic?
Yes, you can bet on sports from the Dominican Republic, whether at retail bookmakers located throughout the country or at trusted betting sites online. Nevertheless, following the introduction of new licensing and regulation in 2024, online bookmakers must be licensed in DR to legally offer their betting services to residents.
Written By Heath Chesters