Online DR gambling - status

Online gambling in DR: legal status

1) What is considered legal

Since March 26, 2024, DR has a new regulatory model for online casinos and online sports betting based on Resolution No. 136-2024 of the Ministry of Finance. She introduced a full-fledged licensing regime for distance games and betting, replacing the "gray" practice of past years.

The regulator is Dirección de Casinos y Juegos de Azar (DCJA) under the Ministry of Finance; it is this department that issues licenses and monitors compliance with the requirements of online operators.

2) Licenses: who gets how

• registration of a legal entity;
• local office and call center in the Dominican Republic;
• compliance of the platform with the list of games regulated by DCJA;
• domain name with national ccTLD. "do";
• the site must include the operator, contacts, resolution/license number, and available complaint form associated with the DCJA.
• The operator must start within 6 months from the date of issue of the license (in the absence of technical obstacles).

According to the industry, the new system provides new licenses for iGaming; the publications indicated guidelines for fees and license terms (up to 5 years), however, the final figures must be checked with the current materials of the Ministry of Finance at the time of submission.

3) KYC/AML, responsible play and consumer protection

DCJA emphasizes that online betting and casinos should only work in a regulated field; users are advised to avoid unlicensed sites due to the risks of fraud and lack of guarantees of payments. Requirements include customer identification (KYC), transaction monitoring, and responsible play procedures.

Technical and showcase requirements (display of operator details, resolution number, "complaint icon," local support) are enshrined in the description of licensing on the website of the Ministry of Finance.

4) Supervision and first enforcement measures

Immediately after the launch of the 136-2024 regime, the authorities published a "black list" of popular international brands, warning about working without a local license and preparing a "restart" of the market in the regulatory logic of the DR. This demonstrates the course towards strict market filtering and localization of operators to the norms of the country.

5) Taxes and fees (brief)

The basic tax framework for gambling in the DR was formed previously by separate laws (for example, Ley 139-11 on fiscal payments and fixed fees for some verticals). For the online segment, specific parameters (rates/fees) must be checked against the current publications of the Ministry of Finance/resolutions and license conditions, since the regulator updates the regime during the implementation process.

6) Reform Outlook (2025)

In 2025, a draft comprehensive reform of the gambling industry was introduced in the Senate, providing for the creation of a new Dirección General de Juegos de Azar (DGJA) with authority over all verticals (casinos, bets, online, lotteries, machines). The document is being discussed: before adoption, it does not change the current procedure for online operators, but indicates further centralization and increased control.

7) What it means for players and operators

• Playing legally means using sites with a domain. do, operator details and resolution number issued by DCJA. Check for local contacts and a complaint section.
• Avoid brands from public "black lists" and do not publish personal/payment data on unregulated sites.

• Mandatory local perimeter (office/support), .do-domain, showcase and compliance attributes, launch within 6 months after the license.
• Follow the updates on taxes/fees and on the reform of 2025: changes in the regulator and reporting are possible.

8) FAQ (short)

Are online casinos and online betting in DR legal?

Yes, with a local license under Resolution No. 136-2024 and compliance with the DCJA conditions.

Do I need a domain? do and local office?

Yes I did. Required. do-domain, local office/call center, regulatory information display and complaint channel.

What about foreign sites that do not have a DR license?

The regulator published "black lists" and warned of risks - it is recommended to play only with operators licensed in the DR.

Are new changes planned?

Yes, the bill-reform of 2025 (the creation of DGJA) is being discussed. So far, this does not change the current licensing procedure, but indicates further tightening.

The online DR market has been officially regulated since 2024: it is possible to work, but only under a local license and in compliance with strict KYC/AML and showcase requirements (local office, .do, details, resolution number). Users - check the legality of sites; operators - keep focus on compliance and monitor the 2025 reform.