Gambling and control (Nicaragua)

Social aspects: gambling addiction and control (Nicaragua)

Brief conclusion

In Nicaragua, the land sector (casinos and gambling halls) is regulated in detail with control by the Ministry of Finance (MHCP) under Ley Nº 766 and its Regulations 06-2015. The focus of the state is supervision and financial compliance: casinos are classified as "entities obligated" under Ley 977 (UAF), with KYC/AML requirements and document retention. At the same time, there are few unified public state programs specifically for gambling addiction (gaming disorder); help is more often tied to common MINSA addiction treatment infrastructures.

Regulatory framework and control

Offline casinos and gaming halls. Regulated by Ley Nº 766 "on the control and regulation of casinos and gaming halls" and Decree 06-2015 (licensing, inspection, sanctions). Competent authority - MNSR/Casino Office. The age barrier is 18 +.

Financial Compliance (AML/CFT). Under Ley 977, casinos are "obligated entities": required to identify customers, store data and report to the UAF; UAF has specialized casino materials.

Lottery and welfare payments. Goslotereya regularly transfers funds to social programs - in 2024 it was reported about C $294 million (and the final record with an additional payment at the end of the year). This is not about the treatment of gambling addiction, but reflects the social component of the sector.

Gambling: how to recognize and where to go

Signs of a problem game (universal guidelines of medicine): loss of control, playing "dogon," hiding spending, debts, conflict with work/family, anxiety/depression. Association with other disorders (substance abuse, depression, anxiety disorders) is not uncommon.

• MINSA/Institutes and Dependency Centers. The network of institutions conducts programs for families and patients (diagnostics, referral, outpatient/inpatient programs, mutual assistance groups). Although the focus is traditionally on substances, these services are the first entry point for behavioral addictions.
• MINSA Addictions Standard (General). Documents on the standards of work of dependency centers describe infrastructure and supervision (historically - 23 centers; emphasis on quality and control).
• Profile centers. For example, Centro de Adicciones Benjamín Medina (Managua) in the MINSA network. You can find out the nearest center on the website of the ministry or in the local health office.

What casinos and regulators are doing today

1. Age verification and KYC for large payments - protection of minors and financial transparency.

2. Video surveillance and ticket office protocols are part of the responsibilities for Ley 766/06-2015.

3. Record storage and reporting in UAF - at least 5 years according to AML/PLD standards.

4. Social support through the lottery - although this is not a treatment for addiction, but an important constant social contribution of the sector.

• a public national register of self-exclusion;
• uniform advertising/responsible online game guidelines;
• regular public statistics on appeals and treatment of gaming disorder (separately from ZAPAV).

Basic self-help measures and responsible play policies

For the player (checklist)

Limits on deposit/time before the start of the game, diary of sessions.

Ban on credits "for the game"; separate card/wallet for entertainment.

The 24-hour rule: After a big win, pause, don't "reinvest" right away.

Alarms: hide accounts/game from family, play "in despair," take loans - a reason to contact MINSA/dependency center.

For operators

Visible 18 + and "play responsibly" at the entrance and checkout.

Internal self-restriction options (limits of visits, time, deposits) and the procedure for voluntary self-exclusion from the establishment/network.

Training personnel to recognize vulnerable behavior; "soft aid" scenarios (MINSA leaflets/contact centres).

Advertising policy: do not target young people, do not promise "economic benefits," do not use "quasi-medical" promises.

Online: Where are the weaknesses and what can be improved

Weaknesses: there is no local B2C license → there is no single set of RG rules for onshore; part of the sites are offshore, with different standards of self-control.

What will help: if the country decides to put things in order online, the "Responsible Game" block should consolidate self-exclusion, limits, age-gating, verifiable advertising and local help lines through MINSA. (See how the region's jurisdictions do - an argument for future reforms.)

Q&A (short)

Age to visit the casino? - 18 +. Check ID at entry/large payments.

Is there a state hotline specifically for gambling addiction? - In open sources we see common channels of MINSA/addiction centers; a specialized gambling addiction line comparable to a number of countries is not publicly visible.

Where to turn to loved ones first? - To the nearest MINSA center (psychologist/psychiatrist, routing to the center of addictions), then to private clinics/NGOs for addiction, if required.

Nicaragua's current model is based on strict offline supervision (Ley 766/06-2015) and financial control (Ley 977/UAF). This restrains some of the risks, but there are few specialized, system programs for gambling addiction in public - assistance is more often organized through the MINSA infrastructure for dependencies in general. Strengthening the balance of "entertainment ↔ protection" will help: public rules for responsible play (including online), visible options for self-restraint and self-exclusion, staff training and direct channels to medical care.

• Ley Nº 766 (casinos and gaming halls) and Regulation 06-2015.
• Ley 977 and UAF Casino Materials (AML/CFT).
• MINSA: Institutes/Dependency Centers and Routing.
• Social transfers Lottery (landmarks to 2024).

Relevant for October 09, 2025.