Dominican Republic: Irregular gambling operations to be reviewed and suspended once new Gaming Law is approved

Teófilo “Quico” Tabar, coordinator of the Oversight Council for the Regularization of Gambling in the Dominican Republic, said that once the country’s new Gaming Law is approved, he will propose that all gambling activities operating outside the limits established by the legislation be thoroughly reviewed and, where appropriate, suspended.

The bill, which has already been approved by the Chamber of Deputies and would establish the new General Directorate of Gaming, has sparked disagreements between lawmakers and representatives of gaming companies and industry associations, who have raised concerns about several provisions.

In a public statement, Tabar said he would recommend the immediate suspension of any decisions involving changes to the status of gambling operations to prevent them from becoming associated with actions that could later be questioned.

The official said he expects the bill, submitted to Congress by President Luis Abinader, to pave the way for greater transparency and regulation across the gambling sector. He added that the process should begin with a review and correction of operations that have failed to comply with existing regulations, with the aim of ending years of irregularities tolerated by the government, society, and the industry itself.

In that context, Tabar urged operators, employees, and public officials connected to the sector to refrain from making changes that could alter the current status of businesses or permits while the new regulatory framework is being finalized.

Under the proposed legislation, any activity carried out outside the limits established by previous regularization decrees would be subject to evaluation by the authorities designated under the new law, as well as by the Oversight Council, which includes representatives from various sectors of the gaming industry.

Tabar was appointed to coordinate the regularization process under Decree 63-22, issued on February 9, 2022. The Executive Branch later reactivated the Oversight Council through Decree 197-26, issued on March 26, 2026, expanding its responsibilities beyond lotteries to cover the full range of gambling-related activities.