The Dominican Republic regulates online and land-based gambling, overseen by the Directorate of Casinos and Gambling (DCJA), under the Ministry of Finance and Economy. Online gambling regulation launched in 2024 via Resolution No. 136-2024, establishing clear licensing requirements and operational standards for taxation and responsible gaming compliance. Land-based casinos and sports betting venues form the backbone of the market, with baseball betting particularly prominent.
Market Opportunities
- Market scale: Estimated monthly iGaming revenue reached approximately EUR 13.39 million for July 2025 – June 2026.
- Competition: Seven authorised online operators are listed in the DCJA regulator’s directory of authorised providers as of September 2026.
- Demographics: Around 10.8 million residents (2026 estimate), with 56.2% of households connected to the internet at home (2025). The minimum gambling age is 18.
- Benefits of the market: A single national regulator governs online and land-based gaming. The introduction of online licensing in 2024 provides a formal route for operators seeking authorisation in the Dominican Republic.
Gambling Licensing Checklist for the Dominican Republic
Online operators applying for a Dominican Republic licence should complete the following steps:
- Local company registration. Either use an existing Dominican company or register a foreign company locally. Obtain commercial registration and a DGII taxpayer number (RNC), and open a Dominican bank account.
- Application. Prepare corporate and beneficial ownership records, financial statements, source-of-funds evidence, criminal-record certificates, and tax clearance. Suitability declarations for relevant individuals may also be required, as required by the Directorate of Casinos and Gambling (DCJA). Arrange legalisation or apostilles and Spanish translations where required.
- Technical documentation. Obtain gaming-system certification and prepare an internal control manual covering player verification, security, and AML controls. Specify the required domain and server locations in the application.
- Submission and payment. Submit the application to the DCJA and pay when instructed. Published base fees are EUR 303,884 for online casinos, EUR 227,913 for sports betting, and EUR 151,942 for other online games. Confirm the payable amount following annual CPI indexation.
- Licensing decision. Submit the application to the Ministry through the DCJA and await the Ministry’s decision. The Ministry publishes no fixed processing timeframe. Licences last five years; renewal requires updated documents, a recommendation from the Casino Commission, Ministry approval, and a fee equivalent to 50% of the applicable issuance fee.
- Pre-launch requirements. Check with the DCJA whether a performance bond applies and confirm its amount and conditions. It may be required to establish Dominican offices and call centres, as well as to launch gambling operations, within six months of license issuance.
- Can one company operate multiple online gambling brands?
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The Ministry's published application guidance does not confirm whether a single licence covers multiple brands. Applications must identify the commercial name and .do website with supporting trademark documentation. Operators should seek explicit confirmation from the DCJA on whether additional brands or domains require licence amendments or separate approvals.
- Which operational functions can operators outsource to third-party providers?
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Operators may engage advertising agencies, media providers, and independent auditors. Outsourced advertising must comply with regulatory requirements, and contractors must safeguard confidential self-exclusion data. Official materials reviewed do not establish blanket permission to outsource platform operations, payment processing, KYC procedures, or customer support functions.
- What restrictions apply to gambling advertising, affiliate marketing, and sponsorship?
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Resolution 184-2026 requires responsible, truthful advertising and prohibits ads that target minors or vulnerable groups or mislead audiences about gambling. Statutory casino and slot-hall advertising bans remain in force. Affiliate and sponsorship arrangements are not exempt; operators remain accountable for compliance when engaging external advertising services.
- What ongoing reporting and audit obligations apply post-launch?
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Operators must maintain records for inspection, submit prescribed compliance notifications, and commission external AML audits at a minimum biennially. Responsible-gambling audits require separate contracting. Reports must follow DCJA submission schedules, whilst compliance manuals and risk assessments must remain available for regulatory inspection.