Santo Domingo.– The President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, submitted this Tuesday to the National Congress a bill that seeks to
regulate, supervise and prevent money laundering in the gambling sector in the country. The proposal was channeled through the Legal Consultancy of the Executive Branch.
As a central part of the initiative, the creation of the
General Directorate of Gambling (DGJA) is contemplated, a new entity that will act as a governing body with the authority to grant operating licenses for 15 types of games defined in the regulations, including
casinos, lottery banks, sports betting, raffles and virtual platforms, among others.
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Casinos only in luxury hotels
According to article 36 of the project,
casinos may only operate in hotels with at least four stars. Operating fees will vary depending on the number of tables, starting from
RD$55,853 to RD$85,927 for each. Slot machines installed in these establishments will pay a
5% on their gross sales.
Restrictions and Fees for Sports Betting
Sports betting establishments must be located
no less than 500 meters from other gambling entities and may not be installed in rural sections or areas. To operate, they must pay more than
RD$794,000, in addition to
1% of gross monthly sales.
While a digital tax control platform is being developed, a provisional monthly fee of
RD$9,500 is established.
Penalties for illegal slot machines
The project limits the use of
slot machines to casinos, hotels, and betting shops,
prohibiting their installation in grocery stores, bars, and other informal establishments. While a fiscal control platform is implemented, each machine must pay
RD$14,000 monthly.
Lotteries Under New Rules
The
lottery kiosks must be at a minimum of
200 meters from schools, churches, health centers and public institutions, with the aim of avoiding their proximity to vulnerable places.
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