The Dominican Republic has announced the relaunch of its National Plan for Regularization in an effort to formalize the country’s gambling operations after a 4-year delay in license request deadlines that were set by the former Ministry of Finance. The relaunch means that the institutional structure of lotteries, betting shops, and casinos will be fully
The Dominican Republic has announced the relaunch of its National Plan for Regularization in an effort to formalize the country’s gambling operations after a 4-year delay in license request deadlines that were set by the former Ministry of Finance.
The relaunch means that the institutional structure of lotteries, betting shops, and casinos will be fully changed, as they will become legal entities operating in a regulated environment.
The Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII) will be tasked with supervising the process and focusing on fiscal verifications by bringing all operators into the regulated tax system. Additionally, a Multistakeholder Council has been established to manage the initiative.
Different state agencies will be part of the council, including Indotel (Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones), Ogtic (Oficina Gubernamental de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación), and Lotería Nacional. From the private sector, Fenabanca, the Association of Sports Betting Shops, and the Casino Association will participate in the council.
The administrator of the Lotería Nacional, Teófilo Tabar, has also been appointed as the temporary coordinator of the council.
The decree first came into force on March 26, 2026, and has since overruled the previous regulations, as the government is trying to create a more comprehensive approach for regulating the gambling sector and establishing tighter fiscal control and more transparency for the country’s gaming industry.