ADOBAD demands deep reform from government to end gaming chaos
The Dominican Association of Sports Betting Shops (ADOBAD) has raised its voice to demand that the recent reactivation of the National Plan for the Regulation of Gambling be the definitive tool to bring order to a market they describe as chaotic. This demand arises after the entry into force of Decree 197-26, through which the Executive Branch seeks to resume the formalization of betting shops, agencies, and various betting operators in the Dominican Republic. For the trade association, it is not just an administrative procedure, but a critical opportunity to establish a clear set of rules that restores transparency and rationality to the industry.
ADOBAD recalls that this regularization process is not new, as it had a first failed attempt in 2022. At that time, hundreds of entrepreneurs in the sector made significant investments and paid millions to the State with the firm objective of legalizing their operations. However, the process was abruptly interrupted, leaving numerous operators in a legal limbo, without definitive licenses and with their financial contributions already executed by the public administration. The state administration itself has acknowledged that the results of that first effort were far from meeting the expectations generated.
Regulatory Distortions and the Threat of Uncontrolled Illegal Gambling
One of the most critical points highlighted by the association is the lack of effective oversight of new gaming formats that have proliferated in recent months. ADOBAD has specifically denounced the excessive expansion of so-called horse racing agencies, alleging that these establishments are marketing a variety of gambling games that exceed the limits authorized by current legislation. This situation, according to the association, generates unfair competition that severely harms traditional operators who do comply with distancing and tax regulations.
Added to this scenario is the controversy generated by Resolution 136-2024 of the Ministry of Finance. This regulation allows licensed online operators to install physical points to carry out certain transactions, which for ADOBAD represents a distortion of the law that contributes to structural disorder. The association argues that allowing this hybrid model without robust regulation only further fragments the market and hinders control efforts, allowing actors with operational advantages to cannibalize sectors that have traditionally sustained the in-person employment network in the country.
Towards a Legal Framework that Guarantees Legal Certainty and Sustainability
The sector's concern also extends to a legislative project recently promoted by the Executive. According to ADOBAD's analysis, this parliamentary initiative does not address the underlying problems affecting the market and, on the contrary, could generate greater legal uncertainty for those who have already begun their regularization process. The entity insists that any reform must focus on the traceability of bets and on ensuring that all actors, whether physical or digital, operate under conditions of tax and operational equity.
"Many entrepreneurs made millionaire payments trusting the word of the State and still today have not received a definitive answer regarding their licenses. It is essential that this new decree does not repeat the mistakes of the past and offers real guarantees."
With this demand, the Dominican Association of Sports Betting Shops seeks to position itself as a key interlocutor in the drafting of the new guidelines. For industry leaders, the sustainability of the sector depends on the government's ability to eradicate clandestinity and unify inspection criteria. Regularization must be understood as a transparency pact that protects both honest investors and Dominican bettors, consolidating the Dominican Republic as a safe and professionalized entertainment market.
Tags: Dominican Republic, Dominican Republic gambling, Dominican Republic gambling regulation, ADOBAD