TLDR
- The Dominican Republic Senate approved amendments to a new gambling and betting law on September 16, 2026.
- The law creates a single General Directorate of Gambling to oversee casinos, lottery shops, sports betting, bingo, slots, and online gambling.
- FENABANCA proposed a 90-day technical working group to suggest further changes before the law is finalized.
- The law lets regulators block illegal online gambling sites and freeze related bank transfers.
- New betting venues must stay at least 500 meters from schools, churches, and health centers.
The Dominican Republic Senate approved amendments to a new gambling and betting law on September 16, 2026. The Chamber of Deputies had already passed the bill before it reached the Senate.
The law creates a single regulator called the General Directorate of Gambling. This office will oversee casinos, lottery shops, sports betting, bingo, slot machines, and online gambling.
Before this law, gambling oversight was spread across several different government agencies. Industry groups say this created confusion and unclear rules.
FENABANCA Sets Up Review Process
The National Federation of Lottery Banking, known as FENABANCA, has agreed to lead a technical working group. This group will review the new law and propose possible changes.
The group has 90 days after the law is officially signed to do this work. Industry sectors involved include private lottery operators, the Dominican Association of Gaming Casinos, and the Association of Sports Betting Operators.
The Dominican Horse Racing Commission is also part of the discussions. Any proposed changes would then go back to the National Congress for consideration.
FENABANCA Secretary General Cristian Guzmán spoke about the Senate vote. He said the previous regulations were scattered and unclear.
Guzmán said the new law will modernize gambling regulation in the country. He added that the law still needs improvements.
He said the 90-day period was part of an agreement made before the law passed. Different sectors will use this time to propose fixes through the technical working group.
New Rules Target Illegal Betting Sites
The law focuses heavily on stopping illegal online gambling. It sets up coordination between the new gambling regulator, the Dominican Telecommunications Institute, and the country’s banks.
Under the new system, regulators can block the domain or IP address of any unlicensed gambling website. This applies to both websites and mobile apps operating without a license.
Banks and payment providers will also get new powers. They can freeze transfers and deposits sent to illegal gambling operators.
The law also sets location rules for gambling businesses. New betting venues cannot open within 500 meters of schools, childcare centers, churches, health care facilities, or universities.
Operators who violate this distance rule face penalties. In the most severe cases, they could be barred from getting new gambling licenses for up to 10 years.
The law passed the Senate on September 16, 2026, and now moves toward formal promulgation. The 90-day technical review period is expected to begin once the law is officially signed, giving industry groups a set window to submit proposed changes to Congress.
