Dominican Republic Establishes New Responsible Gambling Rules and Creates National Self-Exclusion System
The Ministerio de Hacienda y Economía of the Dominican Republic has adopted Resolution No. 184-2026, introducing new measures regarding Responsible Gambling and officially establishing a National Self-Exclusion System in the country’s gaming market.
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The document is supposed to facilitate the introduction of consumer protection policies, promoting gambling in a responsible way, and preventing problem gambling behaviors in the sector, with the participation of operators, regulators, and civil society organizations.
Resolution 184-2026 is another move within the Dominican government’s efforts to tighten its grip on the gambling industry.
Dominican Republic Tightens Control Over Gaming Market
The regulation of the gambling sector has become one of the key concerns for the country’s government over the last few months.
In early April, the Executive Branch of the Dominican government launched its National Regularization Plan for lottery shops, betting agencies, and gaming operators by adopting Decree 197-26.
In accordance with this decision, representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Economy took an active role in restructuring the Advisory Council supervising the process, alongside other organizations such as the Lotería Nacional and the Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII).
The authorities highlighted that the overall objective of the plan is to strengthen industry supervision, ensure tax compliance among gambling operators, and improve inspection and fiscal integration processes in the sector.
In this regard, Resolution 184-2026 deals specifically with the issue of introducing responsible gambling policies and self-exclusion tools.
Operators Are Obliged To Apply Consumer Protection Tools
According to the new requirements, gambling companies will have to introduce a number of player protection measures in their platform and operational management. Some of the measures to be introduced are spending limitations and time limitations to ensure a greater level of control over gambling activity by users.
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Operators should also implement voluntary self-exclusion tools, allowing people who want to exclude themselves from gambling services. The legislation also requires gambling companies to create prevention, assistance, and advice programs concerning gambling behavior.
Specifically, according to the regulation, some prevention tools are obligatory for gambling companies to implement in the following list:
- Deposit limits
- Spending limits
- Time limits
- Automatic alerts
- Mandatory pauses
- Quick exit button
- History of activity control
- Blocking of betting categories
- Self-assessment tool
The resolution is applicable to all forms of gambling, including casinos, lottery betting shops, sports betting operators, slot machines, online gambling sites, horse betting, and other authorized types of gambling activities.
National Self-Exclusion Program Introduced
One of the most important elements of the regulation is the establishment of the National Self-Exclusion Program. With its help, citizens of the Dominican Republic are able to voluntarily ask for exclusion from the gambling platforms and physical establishments.
Gambling operators should block access to those who apply for exclusion and be registered in the National Self-Exclusion Program. This procedure will be supervised by the Dirección de Casinos y Juegos de Azar (DCJA).
New Restrictions On Children And Teenagers’ Gambling Exposure
The legislation introduces additional restrictions on gambling operators related to minors and teenagers. Specific age verification measures are to be introduced. In addition, gambling firms should promote parental control tools and not conduct advertising aimed at underage audiences.
Using images or characters attractive to children and teenagers in marketing campaigns is prohibited as per the requirements introduced by the law.
The introduction of the new requirements is seen as a part of growing trends regarding responsible gambling policies and consumer protection in Latin America’s gambling regions.
Source: SBC Noticias
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