Dominican Republic enacts new gambling law and appoints DGJA director

President Luis Abinader has promulgated Law 86-26 to regulate gambling in the Dominican Republic. Following the publication of this law in the Official Gazette, the President issued Decree 684-26, appointing Teófilo (Quico) Tabar Manzur as the interim Director General of the General Directorate of Gambling (DGJA). Tabar Manzur previously served as the coordinator for the Gambling Regularization Process.

The new legislation introduces several key regulatory changes. Slot machines must now guarantee a payout to the public of at least 85 percent. Additionally, the law extends the validity of operating licenses for lottery banks from two years to five years. To protect sensitive areas, gambling establishments are prohibited from operating within 500 meters of schools, universities, churches, hospitals, and government buildings.

Slot machine rooms are restricted to operating between 4:00 PM and 6:00 AM, though the DGJA may extend these hours for locations in tourist areas and hotels. Furthermore, slot machines may only operate within casinos, one-to-three-star hotels, and sports betting shops, with a limit of 15 machines per sports betting establishment. The decree also mandates that the existing Advisory Council will provide honorary assistance to the DGJA to help design public policies and improve internal procedures.