Online casinos in Paraguay

Paraguay is a small but economically active South American country that has a special place in the region due to flexible gambling regulation and favorable tax policies. Unlike many neighbors, casinos and betting are completely legal here, and online gambling is officially allowed and regulated by the state.

This openness has made Paraguay one of the most attractive jurisdictions for international iGaming companies and offshore casino operators.

Legislation and regulation

Gambling in Paraguay is regulated by Ley N ° 1. 016/97 "De los Juegos de Azar," adopted back in 1997.

According to the law, control over gambling activities is carried out by the Comisión Nacional de Juegos de Azar (CONAJZAR), the National Gambling Commission subordinate to the Ministry of Finance.

The powers of CONAJZAR include:

issuing and renewing licenses for all types of gambling;
monitoring compliance with license requirements;
setting tax rates;
supervision of online gambling and betting platforms.

Gambling is allowed throughout the country, including both land-based casinos and online platforms.

Licensing and taxation

Any operator wishing to provide gambling services in Paraguay must obtain a CONAJZAR license.

Licenses are issued for 5 years and cover:

land-based casinos;
online casinos and poker sites;
sports and esports betting;
lotteries and bingo.

Gambling taxes average 10-12% of gross income (GGR), making Paraguay one of the region's most loyal countries.

In addition, the state actively cooperates with operators, offering flexible regulatory schemes and transparent reporting. This allows the country to develop the market without restricting foreign investment.

Online gambling in Paraguay

Online gambling is officially allowed in the country, and since 2017, CONAJZAR began issuing licenses for virtual casinos and bets via the Internet.

The first legal operator was Aposta. LA, which received an exclusive sports betting license and launched a nationwide platform.

Subsequently, other projects appeared offering online games, lotteries and poker.

Players can use both local sites and offshore platforms, since access to foreign casinos is not limited.

Offshore operators and international brands

The world's leading companies are actively working in the Paraguayan market:

Bet365, Betano, Betway, 1xBet, Codere, 888casino, PokerStars, LeoVegas - international sites with Spanish support and peso reception;
Stake, BC. Game, Fairspin, Bitcasino. io, TrustDice - crypto platforms offering anonymous deposits;
Aposta. LA is a national brand with an exclusive betting licence.

Due to the lack of restrictions for foreign operators, Paraguay has become a regional center for offshore iGaming companies, along with Curacao and St. Vincent.

Popular games and player preferences

Players in Paraguay prefer a variety of forms of gambling entertainment.

Financial infrastructure and payment methods

The national currency is the Paraguayan Guaraní (PYG).

Players can use many payment systems, including:

Visa and MasterCard bank cards;
e-wallets Skrill, Neteller, Pay4Fun;
AstroPay, MuchBetter, PagoExpress;
cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Litecoin).

Payments through crypto assets have become especially popular due to low fees and anonymity, which makes the market more flexible and modern.

The economic role of gambling

Gambling in Paraguay makes a significant contribution to the country's economy.

According to CONAJZAR, annual revenues from licensed operators exceed US $70 million, with most of the funds going to government funds, social and sports programs.

In addition, the gambling market:

creates new jobs in IT and marketing;
attracts foreign investment;
stimulates the development of digital technologies.

Challenges and challenges

Despite the positive trends, the market faces a number of difficulties:

lack of a single law on the regulation of online gambling (amendments to old acts are still applied);
the need to combat illegal sites;
Strengthening player data protection requirements
lack of a responsible play system in most operators.

Nevertheless, the Paraguayan government is actively working to update the legislation, seeking to create a modern legal framework for digital games and cryptocasinos.

Development prospects

Paraguay has all the prerequisites for becoming a regional iGaming hub in South America.

In the coming years, the following are expected:

implementation of a new law on online gambling with separate licenses for virtual operators;
creation of a register of players and a system of responsible play;
development of partnerships with European and Asian brands;
expanding the presence of crypto operators and blockchain projects.

Thanks to a liberal economy, tax stability and openness to innovation, Paraguay is rapidly strengthening its position in the international arena, becoming one of the most attractive jurisdictions for online casinos and investors in the iGaming industry in Latin America.