Fenabanca Proposes Gambling Regularization Reforms

The National Federation of Lottery Betting Shops of the Dominican Republic (Fenabanca) has submitted a series of recommendations to the government aimed at improving the regularization of lottery betting businesses across the country. The proposals form part of the National Regularization Plan covering lottery outlets, sports betting operators and other gaming establishments.

The initiative follows the extension of the Regularization Plan through Executive Decree 197-26, which seeks to revive the licensing process after many applications remained unresolved when the previous deadlines expired in 2022.

Revised Oversight Framework

Under the updated plan, the Dominican government intends to introduce a revised structure for supervising the gambling industry.

The General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII) will oversee tax compliance while assisting operators with provisional tax registration. The decree also restructures the Advisory Council responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Regularization Plan.

The council will include representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Economy, the DGII, the National Lottery, Indotel, Ogtic, the National Horse Racing Commission, the Casino Association, Fenabanca and the Sports Betting Shops Association.

Fenabanca’s Key Recommendations

Fenabanca’s proposals are designed to support operators seeking to legalize their businesses while discouraging unlicensed activity.

Among its recommendations is the introduction of a minimum distance of 200 metres between lottery betting shops participating in the Regularization Plan. Businesses operating outside the plan would instead be required to maintain a minimum distance of 400 metres from one another.

The federation also called for applications submitted under the previous framework to continue being processed through a transitional arrangement, allowing applicants to retain their existing rights and procedures.

Additional proposals include exempting participants in the Regularization Plan from certain fees, introducing measures to encourage fair competition and prevent monopolistic practices, and granting Fenabanca a seat on the future General Directorate of Games of Chance to allow direct participation in regulatory matters.

Focus on Legal Certainty

Fenabanca stated that its recommendations are intended to strengthen the legal framework governing the gambling sector while providing operators with greater certainty and protection.

In its statement, the federation said the proposals are designed to support legal certainty, protect free enterprise and preserve the rights of businesses operating within the industry.