Santo Domingo, July 22, 2026. The Dominican Republic is moving toward a territorial reorganization of gambling. A 146-article bill, approved by the Senate on second reading on July 10, establishes mandatory distances ranging from 100 to 500 meters for lottery shops, sports betting shops, bingo halls and electronic lottery points.
Dominican Republic now rides the Online gambling with the publication of the regulation document.
Article 60 requires lottery shops to remain 200 linear meters from schools, private colleges, childcare facilities, centers for people with disabilities, hospitals, clinics, incorporated churches and the headquarters of public authorities. It also maintains 200 meters between lottery shops, in accordance with Decree 1167-01.
Félix Ramón Bautista Rosario
Article 67 sets a 500-meter separation for sports betting shops from those establishments and competing venues, in line with Law 140-02 on Professional Sports Betting Shops. Traditional and electronic bingo halls must remain 100 meters from schools, hospitals, clinics, churches and sports or cultural clubs, as well as 300 meters from another bingo hall, under Article 80.
Claudia Álvarez Troncoso
Article 98 imposes a 200-meter distance for electronic lottery points from educational, healthcare, religious and childcare facilities, government buildings and disability centers. Although the original headline mentions casinos, the published provisions do not establish a universal 500-meter rule for every casino. Independent slot halls already operate under administrative requirements including a 500-meter separation and a minimum area of 150 square meters.
The bill merges proposals introduced by senators Pedro Catrain Bonilla, representing Samaná and serving as Senate vice president, and Félix Ramón Bautista Rosario of San Juan. The Ministry of Finance and the Directorate of Casinos and Gambling, headed by Claudia Álvarez Troncoso, submitted technical observations.
On July 14, the Chamber of Deputies referred the bill to a special committee chaired by Rogelio Genao Lanza. It still requires a favorable committee report, two readings, a possible return to the Senate and presidential enactment. Meanwhile, the Directorate, under the ministry led by Magín Díaz, continues regulating more than 71,000 registered betting shops, with tax oversight from the DGII headed by Pedro Urrutia Sangiovanni.
