Operator Licenses (DR)

Licenses for operators

1) Regulator and baselines

The competent authority is the Dirección de Casinos y Juegos de Azar (DCJA) under the Ministry of Finance of the DR. He issues and administers licenses, publishes requirements/tariffs and maintains public lists of unauthorized sites.

From March 26, 2024, there is a regulatory regime for online casinos and online betting under Resolution No. 136-2024 of the Ministry of Finance.

2) Types of licenses (operating verticals)

A. Casino (offline)

Licenses and related admin services (from "primary admission" to changing the fleet of slots, re-registrations, etc.) with details of requirements and benchmarks for admin rates are published on the DCJA portal. To install and operate a casino in DR, among other things, you need: a description of the project and hotel, hall plans, a list of games and limits, corporate documents, tax serviceability (DGII).

B. Bookmakers "bancas," lottery "bancas," bingo, slot halls

Each vertical has its own administrative procedures/resolutions (registration, address transfer, fleet change, inspections, etc.) published in the "Marco legal" section of the DCJA.

C. "Virtual" games at ground points (not to be confused with full-fledged iGaming)

A separate service is "Concesión de licencia para realizar apuestas de juegos de azar virtuales": applied to virtual events/terminals in offline locations. There is a fixed admin payment, an extended package of documents (including financial status, contracts with content providers, no criminal record, etc.).

D. Online Gaming and Online Betting (iGaming) - from 2024

Separate service of the Ministry of Finance "Expedición de licencia de operación de juegos de azar y apuestas por internet" with strict technical and display requirements (see section 4).

3) Corporate documents and general terms and conditions (typical)

For applicants, the Ministry of Finance requires (with variations on the service):

Constituent documents/register (Chamber of Commerce), shareholder/management documents.
Local bank account, audited reports, DGII certificate of no debts.
Confirmation of brand/trademark rights (ONAPI) or license to use it.
Notarized/legalized declarations of origin of funds (AML).

4) Online license under Resolution No. 136-2024: key requirements

Technical and procedural conditions (excerpts from the service of the Ministry of Finance):

Platform certification (covers player and account accounting, RNG/non-RNG games, inspection system, information security management, anti-fraud and AML).
.do-domain bound to the operator redirect all connections from DR/local accounts to ccTLD sites. do.
Information security system according to ISO/IEC 27001/27002/27005 (risk management, access, communication channels, etc.).
Message about the location of servers (in the DR or abroad) and notification procedure during the transfer.
Player/transaction data storage (including verification of name, address, age and nationality), data access for DCJA, age 18 +, retention up to 10 years after account closure.
Launch within 6 months of license issue (unless proven technical obstacles).
Local offices and call center in the territory of the DR.
The site requires a block with the operator's details, a resolution number, a complaint icon (mail for DCJA), an "18 +" warning and a section on responsible play.
Guarantee fianza (security): RD $20,000,000 with distribution cover (penalties/taxes/prize payout).

5) KYC/AML and Player Defense

At the industry level, the requirements of Act No. 155-17 (AML/CFT) apply. For the Internet, mechanisms for verification, storage and availability of data for DCJA, as well as a ban on the participation of minors, are separately indicated.

6) Tariffs and financial liabilities (examples)

For casinos (offline), the DCJA portal publishes admin rates for a number of operations (installation/re-opening, changing the slot fleet, transferring the title, registering administrators, etc.); there are rules on charging a 10% non-refundable fee upon refusal of an application and on partial prepayment for large services. Specific amounts are regularly updated in service cards.

For virtual point games (not iGaming), a separate admin board is installed, documents and procedure are listed.

For online operators, Resolution No. 136-2024 establishes, in addition to showcase/technical requirements, a mandatory RD finance of $20 million and launch dates; taxation and fees are administered in conjunction with applicable regulations (DGII and profile acts).

💡 Note: the current figures and payment details are always specified in the card of the corresponding service on the websites of the Ministry of Finance/DCJA - the conditions and forms of payment are updated.

7) Submission process: What the roadmap looks like

Step 1. Prepare a corporate package (charter, list of shareholders, RNC, ONAPI by brand, DGII certificate, bank account, audit).

Step 2. Fill out a profile service card and a cover letter to the Minister (through DCJA) with a list of games/project, contacts and payment document.

Step 3. For iGaming - go through technical certification, prepare Manual de Control Interno, implement ISO-IS contours, configure CUS/age filters, .do-domain and site showcase.

Step 4. Make the provided administrative payments/security (finance RD $20 million - before the start).

Step 5. Having received a resolution - launch in 6 months, connecting channels for DCJA inspection, reporting compliance.

8) "Blacklists" and coercion

DCJA publishes warnings and lists of unauthorized sites/brands, recommending that players use only permitted resources. This is part of a campaign to clean up the market after the start of the 136-2024 regime.

9) Reform 2025: What's on the horizon

In 2025, a bill on comprehensive regulation (strengthening supervision, unification of vertical rules) was introduced to the Senate. So far, he has not changed the current licensing procedure, but sets the course for centralization and tightening. Stay tuned.

10) Frequent Questions (FAQs)

Is it possible to host iGaming without a domain. do and office in DR?

No, it isn't. Online licenses are required. do-domain, local office/call center, showcase site attributes and certification tech stack.

Is there a launch deadline after the licence is issued?

Yes, 6 months (if there are no proven technical obstacles).

Do I need a financial guarantee for an online operator?

Yes, a $20,000,000 RD fan with penalty/tax/prize payout coverage.

How to distinguish a legal site from an unauthorized one?

Legal - .do, operator data, resolution number and complaint icon; DCJA maintains a public list of unauthorized persons.

Where to view rates and forms by land-based casino/concourse?

In service cards on the DCJA portal (casinos, slot parks, re-registration, etc.).

11) Short checklist for operators

1. Define the vertical (s) and check the service card on the Treasury/DCJA portal.

2. Prepare the corporate package, DGII certificates, bank account, audit, ONAPI.

3. For iGaming - .do, local office/call center, ISO-information security, KYC/AML, Manual de Control Interno, platform certification.

4. Consider the $20 million RD collateral and a 6-month launch timeline.

5. Check for updates on Reform 2025 and unauthorized lists.

The Dominican Republic offers a full range of licenses - from offline casinos and bancas to full-fledged iGaming. Since 2024, the online market has been operating according to a transparent but demanding model: localization (.do, office and support), strict technical certification, ISO-information security, long data retention, KYC/AML and warranty finance. To successfully enter the market, it is important for operators to carefully prepare a package of documents, build compliance and stay on course for regulatory updates in 2025.