Nicaragua vs Central America

Comparison with other Central American countries

Brief conclusion

Nicaragua has detailed rules for land-based casinos/gaming halls (Ley 766 + Regulation 06-2015, curator - MHCP), but there is no separate local B2C online license in the open rules. The online activities of private operators remain outside the public permitting procedure.

Panama is the most "mature" onshore model in the region: licensing under Junta de Control de Juegos (JCJ), mandatory permits for operators.

Costa Rica does not issue classic online licenses: operators have historically been registered as "data processing "/IT companies, which de facto meant working without a separate gambling permit.

Belize in 2025 officially warns: online licenses are not issued (moratorium/warnings against false statements).

Guatemala: gambling is formally prohibited (exceptions are lottery/bingo); at the same time, there is a tightening of the fight against illegal machines (draft law 6645, September 2025).

Honduras: Offline Regulated and Taxed (License Duties/Interest on Gross Income), Online Regulation Bill Discussed.

El Salvador: the sector is regulated (through LNB/government agencies), a number of sources point to the current licensing model for operators (online and offline).

Where Nicaragua stands - a base for offline, "softness" for online

Offline norms: Ley Nº 766 and Decreto 06-2015 fix an understandable mode for casinos/gaming halls: licensing of objects, control, sanctions; "autoridad de aplicación" - Ministry of Finance (MNSR/Casino Office).

Online: no separate public B2C online license procedure has been published - hence the offshore orientation and emphasis on AML/KYC through general financial rules. (See Panama contrast below.)

Neighboring countries: a brief map of regimes (2025)

Panama - "regulated onshore"

Who regulates: JCJ under the Ministry of Finance; the mission is to control, license and supervise all chance and bet games.

Online status: licensing is mandatory; Panama is positioned as the onshore jurisdiction of the region. (Market research summaries 2025 confirm that permits are mandatory.)

What this means: transparent licensing/control ⇒ better predictability for operators and consumers than in soft models.

Costa Rica - no classic online license

Fact: Costa Rica doesn't have a dedicated online license; historically, companies have recorded IT activity/" data processing."

Bottom line: de facto "soft" mode - convenient for the back office/development, but not equal to the onshore gambling license.

Belize - "stop" for online licenses

Official: the government warns of false site claims and says online licenses are not currently issued. (June 2025.)

Bottom line: Belize is no longer a "flag" for online operators - claims of a "Belize license" require critical scrutiny.

Guatemala - ban + attempt to clean up illegal

Today: "Technically" gambling (online and terrestrial) is illegal; only the lottery/part of the bingo is legal (limited).

New (September 2025): Bill 6645 strengthens penalties for illegal machines/" quarterly "points (closure, fines, prison 5-10 years).

Honduras - offline works, online in development

Offline: minimum age 18; licences HNL 300-700 thousand or 20% of gross income (excluding prizes) - which is higher.

Online: a bill for regulated online (initiative 2024) is being discussed.

El Salvador - Regulated Model

Status: Gambling regulated; in industry reports, mandatory registration/licensing is noted (offline and online - by type).

Note: specific license parameters/registry data should be checked with competent authorities prior to start-up.

What it means for Nicaragua (practical perspective)

1. Nicaragua's offline industry is comparable in structure to El Salvador/Honduras (land casinos, 18 +, control of the Ministry of Finance), but online the country is closer to Costa Rica/Belize with their lack of a local B2C online license now.

2. Panama remains the closest "benchmark" of onshore supervision: if you want to deploy a local online model of Nicaragua, it is logical to look at JCJ tools (license categories, payment/advertising control).

3. The regional trend is the tightening of the treatment of illegal immigrants (an example of Guatemala) and the movement towards formal online contours (Honduras). This adds competition for "white" demand.

Summary table (simplified)

Conclusions for Strategy (Operators/Analysts)

If you are an offline operator in Nicaragua: you are in a "white" field and are comparable in requirements to neighbors; look to Panamanian compliance practices as a "quality bar" and Honduran payment figures as a benchmark for the region's fiscal burden.

If you are an online brand with a focus on Nicaragua: consider the lack of a local B2C online license; compare risks/access with the Panamanian onshore, "soft" CR model, and actual prohibitions/risks in Belize/Guatemala.

If you are a regulator/politician: the nearest "matrix" for online draft is Panama (JCJ licenses) plus accounting for Guatemala's new anti-illegal measures and Honduras' expected online framework.

On the map of Central America, Panama is the flagship of the onshore model; Costa Rica - "soft" mode without a separate online license; Belize - with a public "stop" on an online license; Guatemala - a course to ban/clean up illegal; Honduras - preparing an online frame; El Salvador - supports a regulated system. Nicaragua looks confident offline, but in order to "catch up" with its neighbors in terms of transparency and fiscal effect online, the country will need separate norms for distance games and clear payment/advertising rules - modeled on regional leaders.

Relevant for October 09, 2025.