Alleged bribes reported for Dominican gambling law
The bill seeking to regulate gambling in the Dominican Republic has sparked significant controversy. Representatives from the Primero Justicia Foundation and owners of sports betting establishments denounced an alleged movement of money aimed at favoring the approval of the initiative, in a demonstration in front of the National Congress where they rejected the text, considering that it would facilitate the installation and legalization of thousands of establishments currently operating outside the regulations.
The president of the foundation, Miguel Surún Hernández, called on the Attorney General's Office to investigate this alleged flow of large sums of money and warned that, if the delivery of funds to legislators to promote the bill were proven, it could constitute an act punishable by law. The demonstrators also warned that the initiative, which must return to the Senate after its approval in the Chamber of Deputies, would allow the legalization of more than 20,000 betting shops that, according to their complaints, operate in violation of regulations, some even near schools and churches. They questioned whether the reform would primarily benefit a small group of concessionaires, with an impact on society and particularly on minors.
Concrete demands also emerged from the sector. The president of the Association of Betting Shops of Santo Domingo Este, Carmen Minaya, asked the Public Ministry and the Ministry of Finance to investigate the installation of betting shops less than 200 meters from educational centers and other institutions. She affirmed having filed complaints and documentation regarding establishments that continue to operate despite non-compliance with current rules, in addition to pointing out several concessionaires for allegedly paying prizes and offering virtual games outside the regulations. Minaya also warned about the opening of new points in Santo Domingo Este and demanded that current regulations be enforced before approving new ones, along with the dismantling of betting shops that do not respect the established distances. Finally, the demonstrators requested that Congress summon sector authorities to explain what measures they have taken in response to these complaints.
The bill in question, originating from the Executive Branch, aims to provide the country with its first comprehensive framework for gambling and has already been approved with changes by the Chamber of Deputies, so it must return to the Senate for final review. The initiative includes, among other points, the creation of an autonomous regulatory body, a ten-year moratorium on new betting shops, and a regularization process for existing operators, in a market with a strong presence of informal establishments, which is precisely the background of the complaints.
Tags: Primero Justicia Foundation, complaints regarding the gambling law in the Dominican Republic, Miguel Surún Hernández, illegal betting shops