Ecuador’s attorney general has firmly reaffirmed the country’s blanket ban on gambling, ruling out any attempt to operate casinos or gaming halls—whether for profit or under the guise of charitable activity.
In Official Letter 16528, issued on 4 May 2026, Attorney General Juan Carlos Larrea Valencia responded to a query from Juan Xavier Cordovéz Ortega, head of the Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil. The Junta, the only entity legally authorised to run a lottery in Ecuador, sought clarity on whether private operators could bypass the casino ban by operating through non-profit foundations, and whether any exceptions existed beyond those explicitly recognised in law.
The answer was unequivocal: they cannot, and no additional exceptions apply.
The opinion, which is binding on public institutions, draws on long-standing legal provisions. Supreme Decree 130 of 1937 prohibits games of chance involving wagers where outcomes depend solely on luck, while Article 1482 of the Civil Code classifies such activities as contracts with an unlawful object. The 2011 referendum under former president Rafael Correa further reinforced this prohibition at the constitutional level, explicitly banning casinos and gaming halls.
The attorney general clarified that the legal status of a gaming operation does not change based on whether it is run for profit or for charitable purposes. That distinction is only relevant when determining potential criminal liability under Article 236 of the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code—not the legality of the activity itself.
The ruling was prompted by the “Casino del Sol” case in Guayaquil. The operator had argued that its link to the Fundación Ecuatoriana de Fibrosis Quística gave it legal cover, claiming that part of its proceeds supported patients. However, the attorney general rejected this argument.
Under current law, the only permitted forms of gambling in Ecuador are the lottery operated by the Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil and certain raffles held during civic festivities, Christmas, and New Year—provided prizes are not monetary. Any new form of gambling would require explicit legislative approval.
Finally, the attorney general emphasised that authorities—including the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Financial and Economic Analysis Unit, and the National Customs Service—must investigate such operations, particularly regarding the origin of their funds. Any contracts, agreements, or debts arising from unauthorised gambling activities may be deemed legally void.
Ecuador banned all types of gambling after a referendum was held under the administration of left wing populist Rafael Correa in 2010 who was president from 2007 to 2017. The casino issue, which was part of a number of questions put forward to the Ecuadorian people in May 2011, was approved by a small majority. While it was initially believed that the casinos would be given a further two years to recuperate some of their investment, the ban went into effect in March 2012. Before the ban around 160 gambling halls operated in Ecuador, employing more than 25,000 people.
The post Ecuador’s attorney general slams the door on gambling appeared first on G3 Newswire.
Ecuador’s attorney general has firmly reaffirmed the country’s blanket ban on gambling, ruling out any attempt to operate casinos or gaming halls—whether for profit or under the guise of charitable activity. In Official Letter 16528, issued on 4 May 2026, Attorney General Juan Carlos Larrea Valencia responded to a query from Juan Xavier Cordovéz Ortega,…
The post Ecuador’s attorney general slams the door on gambling appeared first on G3 Newswire.