Legality of lotteries and sports betting (Venezuela)

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1) Lotteries: legal, with a single regulator

Venezuelan lotteries are explicitly allowed and regulated at the level of "Ley Nacional de Lotería": the law determines the order of circulation, the publicity of the draws and the ban on unauthorized use of results/brands. Oversight and administration of fees is handled by the national system (including CONALOT and SENIAT for the tax portion).

• circulations - public acts with technical requirements for equipment;
• results and signs of lotteries can be used only with permission;
• tax administration for games - federal competence.

2) Sports betting: the legal "skeleton" and the real picture

(a) Racetrack and tote. A separate decree law of 1999 abolished the old institution and simultaneously settled the entire "actividad hípica," including the national reciprocal system of rates and the authorization/sanction regime for hypodromes and the hipica apostles themselves throughout the country. This is the clearest part of sports betting in Venezuela.

(b) Other sports betting. The nationwide tax law on games and betting explicitly includes "operation of a sports bet" (apuesta deportiva) in the list of taxable activities - that is, bets as an activity are legal and recognized by law, but regulatory detail (especially for online) has historically been less elaborate than for a hippodrome.

• municipal/state ordinances on tax on "apostas lisitas" (including remote/electronic rates from commercial premises);
• administrative clarifications on rate centers and requirements for their legalization.

This gave rise to a fragmented picture: offline points and online platforms could work through different channels, while there was no centralized "white list" for online sports books.

3) What happens to online betting in 2023-2025

Investigative journalism and industry reviews record a rapid increase in online rates in the racetrack and other markets, with part of the operating model going through private intermediaries who received licensing authority for hippic platforms. At the same time, there are offshore sports books on the market that host Venezuelan players. Bottom line: in practice, there is online betting, but the right "superstructure" remains mixed (a hybrid of federal regulations, industry regulations and local ordinances).

4) Quick answers on legality (FAQ)

Lotteries? Yes, legal and centrally regulated; circulation order, attributes and prohibitions on unfair use - in the law.

Racecourse bets? Yes, they are directly regulated by the 1999 decree-law (organization of races, sweepstakes, licensing of points).

Betting on other sports? Allowed as an activity (tax coverage "apuesta deportiva"), but the detailed "digital" framework has long been incomplete; part of the norms - at the level of municipalities/admin. acts.

Online betting? In fact, they are present (including hipics and offshore sites), but a single national regime for online sports books is not fully formed - hence the variety of practices and risks.

5) Risks and what players/operators should look at

Legal certainty. Lotteries and hippies have the best certainty; on online sports books, you need to check the grounds for permits, tax records and requirements for betting centers in a particular jurisdiction.

Taxes and fees. Gaming and betting activities - federal tax facility; additionally there are municipal ordinances for "apostas lisitas."

Providers/intermediaries. When working with hipic online platforms, consider the history of delegating authority to private operators and their compliance with 2014 regulations.

In Venezuela, lotteries are a completely "white" zone, with a single law and regulator; hippodrome rates - formally settled and have a traditional legal contour. Wide sports bets are recognized in terms of taxation and are allowed as a type of activity, but the online segment remains mosaic: a significant part of practices is based on local ordinances, industry acts and/or offshore platforms. For players and operators, the key to reducing risks is to check the legal basis (federal and local), tax status and the presence of transparent procedures in a specific model (offline center, hipic platform or online sports book).