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The Senate of the Dominican Republic approved, by the Chamber of Deputies, the amendments to the bill for a new gambling and betting system in the country. This Bill aims to streamline a patchwork of different institutions and parts of government controlling food-related regulations.
An autonomous General Directorate of Gambling, which would bring together all the responsibilities related to the management and control of various types of gambling, including casinos, lottery shops, sports betting, bingo and slot machines, as well as online gambling, is an important part of the bill.
Several industry stakeholders have endorsed the reform, but other changes may be possible. After the Senate passed on September 16, it is expected that the regulators and industry representatives will be involved in the discussions, which will be coordinated by the National Federation of Lottery Banking (FENABANCA).
FENABANCA Sets 90-Day Technical Working Period
Local media reports that FENABANCA has agreed to create a technical working group to review possible changes to the bill, as the bill was approved. The group would have a period of 90 days after the promulgation of the law during which the participating sectors would consider necessary changes.
The proposed modifications would then be introduced in the National Congress. It is an agreement that involves FENABANCA, private lottery and gambling concessionaires, the Dominican Association of Gaming Casinos, the Association of Sports Betting Operators (ADOBAD), the Dominican Horse Racing Commission, and other industry players.
FENABANCA Secretary General Cristian Guzmán welcomed the Senate approval, saying: “We celebrate that this bill has been approved by Congress. We understand that the regulations were very dispersed and regulations that were unclear. This will greatly modernize everything related to gambling regulation in the Dominican Republic.”
He added: “The bill needs improvements, but one of the commitments we made was that, once the law was approved, we would take 90 days among the different sectors to propose improvements through a technical working group.”
New Framework Targets Illegal Online Gambling
The law aims in particular to regulate the gambling sector and to improve the controls on illegal operators. The proposed framework will incorporate coordination with the new General Directorate of Gambling, the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL) and the country’s banking network.
With the new system, the regulator could block the domain or IP address of an unlicensed online gambling website or application. The banking and payment service providers would also be given the power to freeze transfers and deposits to the illegal gambling sites.
Through the measures, a technically and financially coordinated mechanism will be developed to fight against illegal gambling, which will involve blocking websites and limiting payment flows.
500-Meter Restrictions Near Schools and Other Facilities
The act will also establish territorial limits for gaming establishments. No new betting venues would be located within 500 meters of venues that are known to be frequented by minors and families, such as schools, childcare facilities, churches, health care centers, and universities.
Violations of the minimum-distance requirement could lead to significant regulatory consequences. For the most severe cases, operators might be prohibited from obtaining new licenses in the gambling industry for up to 10 years.
Centralized regulation, combined with increased efforts to deter illegal online gambling and restrictions on where gambling may take place, is a major restructuring of the Dominican Republic’s gambling system. The 90-day technical process will give industry experts and regulators a chance to suggest changes before it is finalized.
Source: SBC Noticias
