Dominican Republic Identifies Seven Authorised Online Gambling Operators

The Dominican Republic's gambling regulator has identified seven authorised online gambling operators while warning that approximately 81 other businesses lack the necessary state permission to offer gambling services.

The Directorate General of Gambling (DGJA), led by Teófilo “Quico” Tabar, issued the clarification as the country implements Law 86-26, legislation designed to reorganise gambling regulation, strengthen supervision and establish a clearer framework for licensed operators.

The announcement identifies companies already recognised by the authorities rather than confirming the award of new licences. It also comes as the regulator prepares further licensing requirements for virtual gambling products, with key rules still awaiting approval from the newly established Council of Gambling.

Seven Operators Recognised By Gambling Regulator

The DGJA confirmed that Game Technology International, Betcris Banca de Apuesta, Juancito Sport, Gogo Sport, Orobet, Breeze Management and Drbets are authorised to provide online gambling services in the Dominican Republic.

The seven companies operate through the following platforms:

The regulator's clarification provides consumers and industry participants with a reference point for identifying recognised gambling businesses. However, the DGJA has also identified approximately 81 operators that do not hold state authorisation, raising concerns about gambling activity taking place outside the country's formal regulatory framework.

The authority is reviewing potentially unauthorised operations and coordinating with other government agencies to determine whether infringements have occurred and what legal or administrative measures may be appropriate. It has also encouraged members of the public and media organisations to report information about gambling businesses suspected of operating without permission.

New Online Gambling Licensing Rules Await Approval

Although the Dominican Republic has introduced legislation restructuring gambling oversight, the detailed requirements for obtaining new virtual gambling licences have not yet been finalised.

The DGJA confirmed that the Council of Gambling, established under the new framework, has yet to hold its inaugural meeting. As a result, a resolution outlining licensing fees, application requirements and operating conditions remains pending, leaving prospective market entrants without the full regulatory information needed to prepare applications.

The council will be responsible for approving those requirements before the regulator can provide further clarity on the process for obtaining virtual gambling authorisations. No timetable has been announced for the resolution's approval or the potential issuance of additional licences.

The distinction is significant because the seven companies identified in the latest announcement are existing authorised operators, not recipients of licences issued under the new legislation. Businesses seeking to enter the market will therefore need to await the formal licensing conditions rather than treating the announcement as the beginning of a new application round.

Wider Gambling Sector Undergoes Regulatory Overhaul

Law 86-26 established the DGJA as part of a broader restructuring of the Dominican Republic's gambling regulatory system. President Luis Abinader subsequently appointed Tabar as the authority's transitional director through Decree 684-26, dated 2 October 2026.

Alongside its work on online gambling, the regulator is overseeing efforts to bring lottery outlets, sports betting shops and other gambling establishments into the country's formal regulatory and taxation systems. The initiative involves coordination with the Directorate General of Internal Taxes (DGII), which is responsible for administering national tax obligations.

On 19 October, the DGJA provided the DGII with a provisional database of gambling establishments participating in the regularisation programme. The information was supplied on a conditional basis as authorities work to establish which businesses meet the requirements for recognition within the regulated sector.

The regulator subsequently issued a notice on 2 November reminding establishments excluded from the existing programme that they have until 15 November to submit a voluntary declaration. The deadline forms part of a separate 30-day regularisation procedure and does not represent a new licensing window for online gambling operators.

Importantly, the DGJA has warned that submitting a declaration does not automatically legalise a gambling establishment or grant permission to continue operating. Businesses must still satisfy the applicable regulatory requirements before receiving formal authorisation.

The latest developments underline the Dominican Republic's efforts to distinguish recognised gambling businesses from unauthorised operators while establishing the administrative structures required under Law 86-26. Further progress on online licensing will depend on the Council of Gambling approving the outstanding regulations, with no confirmed date for that decision.