(H1): First casinos in Paraguay

Brief canvas

Gambling practices in Paraguay were formed around city clubs and hotels, and the "modern" era began in the middle of the 20th century: the iconic Hotel Guaraní (1961) appeared in Asuncion, and then the Hotel Casino Acaray (1965) in the then city of President Stroessner (now Ciudad del Este), designed as a tourist anchor on the Paraná River. The regulatory design of the industry was consolidated later - Ley 1016/1997 and subsequent regulations gave the sector a single legal basis.

Timeline of key milestones

1950s-1960s: Icon hotels and the transition to a "comprehensive" model

Hotel Guaraní (Asuncion, 1961) is an architectural symbol of the modernization of the capital and a center of attraction for cultural and business life. Its launch became a marker for the development of hotel infrastructure, on the basis of which casino services and entertainment formats were later strengthened.

Hotel Casino Acaray (1965) is one of the country's first full-fledged hotel-casino projects, commissioned by the Social Insurance Institute (IPS) to stimulate tourism in the east. The location at the Friendship Bridge and trade clusters set a "cross-border" market profile.

💡 In a number of English-language reference books there is a statement that "the first casino in Paraguay opened in 1943." This is a popular date, but not confirmed by primary sources; it is more correct to consider it as a reference version without official validation.

1970-1990s: institutionalization and preparation of the regulatory framework

Until the late 1990s, regulation remained fragmented; points with gambling content developed around hotels and clubs, especially in tourist hubs (Asuncion, east of the country). Towards the end of the decade, a request for a single legal regime is being formed.

1997 +: Legal Framework and Supervision

Ley 1016/1997 was adopted, which established a legal regime for the operation of games and the powers of the national regulator CONAJZAR (tenders/concessions, distribution of canons, control). Subsequent decrees and resolutions concretized the application of the law.

2010s: the digital age and "the first online casino"

Casino Amambay announced the launch of the country's first online casino (17. 12. 2017), drawing on the brand's long offline history. From that moment on, the online direction became a separate line of development.

Geography of the first sites and why the "east" became a catalyst

Asuncion is a historical stage for hotel and club formats (Hotel Guaraní and other city facilities), where business and cultural events flocked.

Ciudad del Este is a city on the "triple border" (with Brazil and Argentina), where Acaray has consolidated the "hotel + casino + shopping/tourism" model. Cross-border demand, the flow to the Friendship Bridge and proximity to Iguas intensified overnight stays and spending of guests.

How the legal framework changed the industry

Consistency instead of point resolutions. Ley 1016/1997 moved the industry into concession and tender mode, defining the roles of CONAJZAR and the procedure for distributing payments (canons). This allowed rationing of game types, operating conditions and controls.

Regulations and resolutions. Post-1997, decrees and internal rules appeared (for example, on the distribution of outstanding prizes, tender procedure, etc.), building an operational routine.

Pioneers and their contribution: what is left "in the inheritance"

Hotel Guaraní is a benchmark of modernist architecture and the "assembly point" of Asunción's urban hotel scene; its cultural status still affects the perception of premium hospitality.

Hotel Casino Acaray is one of the first full-length "resort approach" cases with casinos in Paraguay; proved the viability of the tourist model near the border and became a prototype for subsequent projects.

Ambay (online) is a digital pioneer that has linked offline heritage and the Internet channel, accelerating the industry's transition to hybrid products.

Historical lessons for 2025-2030

1. Location decides. Border and resort hubs provide super-strong demand for "casino + hotel + shopping/events."

2. Regulation as an accelerator. Where the rules are transparent (tenders, control, distribution of canons), investments in new formats appear faster.

3. Content follows infrastructure. Hotel and MICE activities generate an audience for halls, live games and an online channel.

The history of Paraguay's first casinos is a journey from elite urban venues and pioneer hotels to a formalized, tender model under the auspices of CONAJZAR. Hotel Guaraní (1961) and Hotel Casino Acaray (1965) set the standards for hospitality and showed how a gambling product is embedded in tourism; Ley 1016/1997 gave the industry uniform rules, and the online launch of Amambay (2017) opened the digital circuit. Taken together, this explains why today's market relies on cultural heritage, infrastructure anchors, and a clear regulatory architecture.

Sources and confirmations: historical and institutional references (Hotel Guaraní; Hotel Casino Acaray website), Ley 1016/1997 texts and CONAJZAR/DNIT materials, industry publications about the launch of the first online casino.