Peru Proposes Lower Online Gambling Fines

Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) has proposed reducing penalties for online gambling operators while introducing additional requirements for advertising, technical oversight and regulatory monitoring.

Published for public consultation on October 21, the draft would amend the regulations implementing Law No. 31557. Among its main proposals is a reduction in the maximum fine for very serious violations from 200 to 70 Tax Units (UIT), alongside changes to enforcement procedures, consumer safeguards and technical compliance obligations.

Proposed Changes to Fines and Enforcement

Under the existing framework, fines can reach 50 UIT for minor offences, 150 UIT for serious violations and 200 UIT for very serious breaches. The proposed system would set penalties at one to 11 UIT for minor violations, one to 35 UIT for serious offences and one to 70 UIT for very serious breaches.

Mincetur would retain the power to revoke operating licences or disqualify operators for up to 10 years or indefinitely.

When determining penalties, authorities would consider factors including unlawful gains, the likelihood of committing an offence, the resulting harm, intent, effects on the market and consumers, repeat violations and the operator’s financial capacity. In most cases, fines would be capped at 10% of the operator’s previous-year revenue, with exceptions for repeat offenders and illegal websites or gambling establishments.

The draft also proposes reductions for operators that acknowledge responsibility. Penalties could be reduced by 50% if the admission occurs before the final investigation report, by 35% before the sanctioning decision and by 25% for payment without an appeal. Repeat offenders would not qualify for these reductions.

Tighter Requirements for Gambling Advertising

Under the proposed rules, advertising would be permitted only for games, betting services and platforms holding valid Mincetur authorisation. Promotional content would have to identify the licensing authority and provide the relevant licence number.

Advertisements could not target minors or portray gambling as a source of livelihood or a solution to financial difficulties. They would also be prohibited from associating gambling with social status, success, acceptance or personal attractiveness.

Audiovisual and digital advertisements would need to display responsible gambling warnings for at least five seconds. Printed and static advertisements would have to dedicate at least 10% of their space to a clearly legible warning.

Influencers and content creators would be required to identify advertising content and avoid campaigns aimed at audiences made up predominantly of young people. Agencies, intermediaries and influencers engaged by licensed operators would also be held accountable for the advertising they produce.

Responsibility for oversight would be divided between the National Institute for the Defense of Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI), which would monitor advertising violations and Mincetur, which would supervise advertising on platforms and at venues within its jurisdiction.

Changes to Technical Controls and Monitoring

The draft would remove the requirement for operators to pre-configure permanent usernames and passwords before commencing operations. However, Mincetur would be able to request access to systems, databases and reports during inspections.

Other proposed technical changes include reducing the minimum password length from eight characters to four, extending the interval between full re-authentication from 30 days to six months and moving automated checks of critical software from every 24 hours to every 30 days.

Mincetur could also request detailed information on deposits, withdrawals, prizes, bonuses, odds, sporting or other events, betting markets, player accounts and suppliers.

The proposal would further allow authorities to seize assets used in unauthorised operations or activities that lack the required technical approval.

Mincetur Signals Further Advertising Measures

Speaking to SBC Noticias during the IAGR 2026 conference in Lima, Yuri Guerra Padilla, director general of Mincetur’s casino and slot machine gaming division, outlined additional regulatory priorities.

He said the government was developing measures to strengthen gambling advertising rules, reviewing aspects of the Selective Consumption Tax (ISC), and seeking greater coordination between institutions on responsible gambling.

Guerra said the next regulatory stage would focus on providing greater clarity around risk-warning standards and sanctions. He also cautioned against imposing stricter advertising requirements if the initial measures failed to reduce excessive promotion.

The draft remains open to public consultation. Its final provisions and implementation will depend on the regulatory process.