TLDR
- Finance Minister Magín Díaz has proposed measures to raise DOP40bn–DOP50bn in new revenue
- Gambling operators are among sectors targeted, though tax structure hasn’t been disclosed yet
- A national self-exclusion register is planned, which would be a first for the Caribbean
- Sports betting, online operators, and casinos would each face new licensing fees and levies
- All licences would run five years, with transfers restricted in the first three years
The Dominican Republic is weighing a temporary tax increase on gambling operators as the government looks to raise funds to cover rising public costs.
Finance and Economy Minister Magín Díaz presented Congress with a fiscal package expected to generate between DOP40 billion and DOP50 billion in additional revenue. The measures come as the country deals with higher borrowing costs, inflation, and rising energy prices.
Gambling operators are among the sectors being targeted. The government has not yet said how any new gambling taxes would be structured.
Other proposed measures include higher airline ticket taxes, new levies on cheque and electronic transfers, and excise duties on vaping products.
Reforms Already in Motion
The tax discussion is happening at the same time as President Luis Abinader’s administration is pushing a wider overhaul of the country’s gambling sector.
A key part of that reform is a national self-exclusion register. This would let players block themselves from all licensed gambling operators across the country.
If passed, the Dominican Republic would become the first Caribbean nation to run a centralized player protection database.
The proposed legislation also sets out new licensing rules. Sports betting venues would face licensing fees, annual municipal charges, and a levy on gross sales.
Online operators would pay a 10% revenue tax or a fixed monthly fee during a transition period.
Casinos would be charged based on the number of gaming tables and slot machines they operate.
Licensing and Investment Questions
All licences under the new framework would run for five years. Transfers would be restricted during the first three years.
Abinader has framed the reforms as part of a plan to make the Dominican Republic a stable place for gambling investment. Oversight would sit with the Dirección de Casinos y Juegos de Azar and the Ministry of Finance.
The temporary tax proposal could complicate that goal. Operators and investors may weigh whether higher short-term costs are compatible with the government’s longer-term push to attract new businesses.
Congress is expected to review both the fiscal measures and the broader gambling reform package in the coming months.
The government says the revenue is needed to fund infrastructure, welfare programs, and public services without disrupting development plans.
