Online Casino Peru

Peru is one of the few Latin American markets where gambling is legalized and officially regulated both offline and online. The state introduced clear licensing and taxation rules, which made it possible to create a transparent, safe and profitable gambling system. Today, Peru is considered one of the leaders in South America in the field of iGaming, second only to Colombia and Argentina.

Legislation and regulation

Gambling in Peru is regulated by Ley N ° 27153 (1999), which legalized casinos and slot machines, and Ley N ° 31. 557 (2022) - the first official act regulating online gambling and betting on the Internet.

The industry is controlled by Dirección General de Juegos de Casino y Máquinas Tragamonedas (DGJCMT), part of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR).

The main functions of DGJCMT are:

issuing casino and online operator licenses;
control of quality and honesty of games;
transaction monitoring and anti-money laundering;
protecting the interests of players.

With the passage of Ley 31. 557 Peru became the second country in South America (after Colombia) to implement a full-fledged licensing system for online gambling.

Licensing and taxation

From 2023, all operators offering gambling or betting online are required to obtain a Peruvian license.

Licensing terms include:

legal representation in Peru;
RNG and game server certification;
protecting player data (under cybersecurity law);
payment of a license fee in the amount of 2% of income;
12% GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue) tax.

Licenses are issued for a period of 5 years with the possibility of extension. Violation of the conditions entails fines and blocking of the site.

Online gambling and key operators

Online gambling in Peru is completely legal, and there are many licensed companies on the market.

The largest brands operating in the country:

Betsson, Apuesta Total, Te Apuesto, Inkabet, Bet365, Betano, BetWarrior, Casino777. pe;
international platforms 888casino, LeoVegas, Bplay, Betway;
crypto platforms Stake, BC. Game, Fairspin, Bitcasino. io, operating under offshore licenses.

Many operators sponsor local football clubs and national tournaments, actively promoting the brand on media and social media.

Land based casinos and traditional market

Peru's land-based casinos have a long history and play an important role in the country's economy.

Today in Peru there are more than 700 gaming establishments - from large casinos to small halls with machines.

The largest casino chains are:

Casino Atlantic City (Lima) is one of the most famous casinos in Latin America;
Mardigras Casino and Palace Casino - a modern entertainment format with live games;
La Hacienda Tragamonedas, Golden Palace, Liberty Casino are popular brands in the regions.

All ground operators are DGJCMT certified and pay monthly taxes depending on income and equipment volume.

Popular games and player interests

Peruvians are actively involved in both offline and online gambling. Most popular destinations:

video slots and progressive jackpots;
roulette, blackjack and poker;
sports betting, especially football (Copa Libertadores, Primera División tournaments);
bingo and lotteries;
Live games with dealers are a popular format among mobile users.

According to DGJCMT data, about 75% of players prefer to play through smartphones, making mobile casinos the main driver of market growth.

Payment methods and cryptocurrencies

The national currency is the Peruvian salt (PEN).

The main methods of replenishment and withdrawal of funds:

Visa and MasterCard bank cards;
e-wallets Skrill, Neteller, Pay4Fun;
local payment services PagoEfectivo, SafetyPay, Yape, Plin;
AstroPay и MuchBetter;
cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Tether, Ethereum, Litecoin) are actively used by players on international sites.

PIX and digital wallets, similar to Brazilian systems, are gradually being introduced in Peru, making online payments easier.

Economic role and impact

Gambling plays a significant role in Peru's economy.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the total gambling market exceeds $1.1 billion per year, of which about 35% is in the online segment.

The industry provides:

more than 20,000 jobs;
tax revenues in social and cultural programs;
development of tourism infrastructure.

In addition, Peru exports IT services for iGaming companies, forming a regional technology cluster.

Challenges and challenges

The main challenges for the industry are:

combating unlicensed offshore sites;
the need to strengthen cybersecurity and data protection;
limited financial literacy of players;
the need to adapt legislation for crypto payments and NFT gambling.

Nevertheless, the government is actively working to improve the legal framework and increase confidence in the digital market.

Development prospects

Peru confidently takes the position of the leader of the iGaming industry in Latin America.

In the coming years, the following are expected:

introduction of a single digital register of operators;
expanding international cooperation with Europe's regulated markets;
development of responsible play technologies;
increasing share of crypto operators and integration of blockchain into licensing.

Thanks to a stable economy, transparent jurisdiction and a high culture of regulation, Peru can already be considered one of the reference markets for online gambling in South America - where innovation, legality and a game-oriented approach are combined in a single system.