Dominican Republic Appoints New Gaming Council Members

President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic issued Decree 810-26, designating three new members to the Consejo de Juegos de Azar on November 11. This decision follows the recently enacted Law 86-26, which also outlined new regulatory measures for the country’s gaming market.

What Happened

On November 11, President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic designated three individuals to the Consejo de Juegos de Azar (Gaming Council) through Decree 810-26, according to SBC Noticias. The newly appointed members are Julio César Castaños Guzmán, José Julio Antonio de la Altagracia Cross Frías, and José Delio Ares Guzmán. This decree is slated for submission to the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Dirección General de Juegos de Azar (DGJA) for official announcement and subsequent approval, as reported by Diario Libre.

The appointments align with Article 9 of Law 86-26, which was enacted on September 22. The Consejo de Juegos de Azar serves as the normative and supervisory authority over the DGJA. Teófilo José Abrahán Leo Tabar Manzur currently leads the DGJA, having been appointed by President Abinader via Decree 684-26 in September. Earlier in November, Tabar announced the promulgation of Law 86-26, which not only facilitates these appointments but also officially listed the seven authorized gaming operators in the country on the Ministry of Finance’s portal.

The new council members bring diverse professional backgrounds. Julio César Castaños Guzmán is an attorney, former president of the Central Electoral Board, and previously served as a Supreme Court judge and National District prosecutor. José Julio Antonio de la Altagracia Cross Frías specializes in Public Finance, Accounting, and Corporate Finance, with studies from New York University. José Delio Ares Guzmán, an electronics engineer, holds a master’s degree in Computer Science from New York University and has served as executive director of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) and as an advisor to the Presidential Office of Information and Communication Technologies (Optic), according to Diario Libre.

Key Details

• President Luis Abinader designated three new members to the Consejo de Juegos de Azar via Decree 810-26 on November 11, as reported by SBC Noticias.
• The appointments of Julio César Castaños Guzmán, José Julio Antonio de la Altagracia Cross Frías, and José Delio Ares Guzmán are consistent with Article 9 of Law 86-26, issued on September 22.
• Law 86-26 stipulates a five-year license for lottery banks and mandates a minimum 500-meter distance between gaming establishments and protected locations, as well as specific distances between different types of betting shops.
• Casinos are restricted to operating under a ten-year license granted by the DGJA and exclusively within hotels rated four stars or higher, according to the new legislation.
• The seven legally authorized gaming operators in the country are Game Technology International, Betcris, Juancito Sport, Gogo Sport, Orobet, Breeze Management, and Drbets.

Why It Matters

The designation of new members to the Consejo de Juegos de Azar, alongside the implementation of Law 86-26, signifies a structured regulatory evolution within the Dominican Republic’s gaming sector. This legislative framework introduces specific operational requirements and licensing terms for various gaming segments, including lottery banks, sports betting agencies, and casinos. The mandates for geographical separation of gaming establishments from sensitive areas and minimum distances between betting shops aim to regulate market density and address social considerations. By clearly delineating authorized operators and licensing durations, the Dominican government is establishing a more defined and controlled environment for both land-based and online gaming activities, influencing operational strategies for current and prospective market participants.

What’s Next

The Decree 810-26 is scheduled to be sent to the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Dirección General de Juegos de Azar (DGJA) for official public announcement and subsequent approval, as reported by Diario Libre.