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Guatemala Online Casino
Guatemala is a country with a growing interest in gambling, but without full government regulation. Despite the lack of a specialized law, gambling is de facto allowed here, and the sector is developing in the "gray zone" under the control of municipal authorities and travel companies.
Due to its geographical location, open economy and high popularity of online entertainment, Guatemala is gradually turning into a new platform for iGaming in Central America.
Legislative framework
To date, Guatemala has no separate law governing gambling.
The main legal document is the Ley de Lotería Nacional (National Lottery Law), adopted in 1882 and repeatedly updated. It regulates only the activities of the state lottery, leaving other types of games without a clear legal framework.
Key facts:- Gambling is not directly prohibited, but has no formal legalization;
- Casinos and bookmakers exist by permits from local municipalities;
- Online gambling is not regulated by any law, but it is not prosecuted either;
- There is no single licensing authority in the country.
Control over the activities of gambling establishments is carried out by the Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio de Gobernación) and the National Lottery (Lotería Santa Lucía), but their functions are only observational.
Licensing practices
Since Guatemala does not have a central regulator, casinos and gaming operators receive municipal licenses or operate under foreign permits, most often:- Curaçao (Curaçao eGaming),
- Belize,
- Panama,
- Malta (MGA),
- Isle of Man.
This model allows local entrepreneurs to open online casinos and betting sites aimed at the Latin American market without the risk of criminal prosecution.
Minimum requirements for operating a casino in Guatemala include:- registration of the company in the country (Sociedad Anónima);
- having a bank account and an address in Guatemala;
- compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations when interacting with foreign banks;
- obtaining a business permit from the municipality.
Taxation
Due to the lack of specific legislation, gambling in Guatemala is subject to general commercial tax rules:- 30% corporate income tax;
- 12% value added tax (IVA);
- licensing fees at the municipality level (on average 2-3 thousand USD per year);
- there are no taxes on player winnings.
Online operators registered outside the country are often exempt from local taxes entirely.
Online gambling
Despite the lack of regulation, online gambling is actively developing in Guatemala.
Most platforms operate under international licenses and are available in Spanish.
Popular sites and brands among Guatemalans:- Bet365, 1xBet, Betano, Codere, Betway, Stake, 22Bet, Caliente, LeoVegas.
Often players use the sites of neighboring countries (Belize, Panama or Mexico), where the legislation is more flexible.
The most popular formats:- video slots and live games;
- roulette, blackjack and poker;
- sports betting, including football, baseball, esports;
- online lotteries and bingo.
According to DigitalLatAm (2024), more than 60% of online bets from Guatemala are made from mobile devices, and the total iGaming market is estimated at $250 million USD.
Land-based casinos
Although the legislation remains informal, there are about 30 casinos and gaming halls in the country, most of which are located in large cities and tourist areas:- Casino Fantastic Majestic (Guatemala City),
- Grand Casino Royal (Guatemala City),
- Casino Palace (Quetzaltenango),
- Casino del Sol (Escuintla),
- Las Vegas Casino (San Pedro Sula, border area).
The work of these establishments is carried out with the permission of local authorities, with the support of the police and tax inspections.
Payment methods
The main currency is Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ), but most online operators accept US dollars (USD).
The most popular payment methods:- Visa, MasterCard;
- PayPal, Skrill, Neteller;
- Oxxo and ToditoCash (via Mexican partner networks);
- bank transfers through BAC Credomatic and Banrural;
- cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, USDT, Ethereum) are actively used due to weak regulation.
Responsible play
There are no official Responsible Gaming programs in Guatemala yet, but many international operators are implementing their own measures:- age control (18 +);
- self-exclusion and deposit limits;
- Dependency information sections
- Spanish language support.
At the NGO level, private initiatives work - Centro Vida Libre and Asociación para la Salud Mental, which are engaged in the prevention of addiction to gambling and digital platforms.
Economic importance
Despite the lack of formal regulation, the gambling sector plays an important role in the Guatemalan economy:- creates more than 5,000 jobs;
- attracts foreign investment in IT and tourism;
- provides municipal budgets through licensing fees;
- supports the tourism industry in Guatemala City, Antigua, and Petén.
The official market turnover is estimated at $400-450 million USD, of which up to 70% falls on online gambling.
Challenges and challenges
The main difficulties of the industry:- lack of a single regulator and legislative norms;
- opacity of financial flows;
- risk of abuse and lack of player protection;
- impact of offshore operators without quality control;
- slow development of national IT initiatives.
- The National Gambling Agency (Agencia Nacional de Juegos);
- Centralized license base
- online gambling taxation system;
- protecting players and fighting illegal operators.
Development prospects
Guatemala is on the cusp of formally legalizing online gambling.
In the coming years, it is expected:- the passing of a new gambling law;
- implementation of a state license for online operators;
- attracting international investors;
- creation of jobs in the field of IT and payment solutions;
- Responsible Gaming infrastructure development.
Due to its geographic location, growing digital audience and friendly tax policy, Guatemala has the potential to become the new hub of Central America's iGaming industry, alongside Belize and Panama.
