Ecuador has taken the most significant regulatory step in its recent gambling history, while Peru has accelerated its campaign against illegal operators through new closures and enforcement actions. Together, both developments reflect a broader regional trend; strengthening regulated gaming markets while increasing pressure on illegal gambling activity.
The key development in Ecuador was the implementation of a new regulatory framework for sports prediction operators following the publication of the corresponding regulations on 19 June 2026. Introduced under the administration of President Daniel Noboa, the new framework establishes, for the first time, a comprehensive system covering licensing, taxation, financial oversight and compliance obligations for both domestic and international operators.
Alexandra Verónica Navarrete Ricaurte
Under the new rules, operators must obtain a gaming license valid for five years, renewable upon expiration. The annual licensing cost is set at 655 unified basic salaries, equivalent to approximately US$315,710 in 2026. Operators have 90 days to regularize their status. Foreign operators must appoint a local representative, register with Ecuador’s Internal Revenue Service (SRI), headed by Alexandra Verónica Navarrete Ricaurte, and comply with all local tax obligations.
The regulatory framework is based on Ecuador’s Organic Law of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation and the country’s new sports betting tax regime. Operators will be subject to a 15% single income tax on qualifying revenues after prize payouts, as well as a 15% VAT on digital betting-related services. In addition, operators must report suspicious transactions to the Financial and Economic Analysis Unit (UAFE), led by Ana Paula Patiño, implement AML/KYC programs and appoint compliance officers.
Berthín Enrique Gómez Vela
While Ecuador is building a regulated market structure, Peru has reinforced its enforcement strategy. The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), headed by Berthín Enrique Gómez Vela, together with the General Directorate of Casino Games and Slot Machines, led by Yuri Guerra Padilla, carried out enforcement operations in the province of Huaura, in the Lima region.
In the district of Sayán, authorities shut down two illegal sports betting venues and seized 26 computer terminals used to process unauthorized wagers. Officials also closed two clandestine gaming halls operating 11 illegal slot machines. In the district of Huaura, inspectors intervened in three additional establishments, confiscating 18 slot machines aimed at minors, an activity expressly prohibited under Peruvian law.
The operations were carried out under Law No. 27153, Law No. 31557 governing remote sports betting and gaming, and Law No. 29149, which regulates slot machines intended for minors. With these latest actions, Peru has now closed 12 illegal betting venues and five clandestine slot machine halls during 2026, reinforcing a regional strategy in which regulation and enforcement continue to advance simultaneously.
