Dominican Horseracing Commission responds to sportsbooks
The National Horseracing Commission of the Dominican Republic has responded to criticisms made by sports betting associations against the regulation process of gambling in the country, asserting that its actions are supported by the current legal framework. Furthermore, the entity reported that some operators in the sports sector offer virtual horseracing games without the corresponding license. This response comes after the National Association of Sports Betting Shops and the Dominican Association of Sports Betting Shops questioned the bill approved by the Chamber of Deputies and warned about an alleged uncontrolled expansion of horseracing agencies.
Through its president, Francisco Pavonessa Grullón, the commission rejected these accusations and maintained that the figures disseminated by the sports associations do not reflect the reality of the market. He explained that the body historically granted 29,100 licenses for the operation of virtual horseracing games out of a total of 60,000 applications received. These data, according to the entity, contradict the estimates of the sports betting sector, which had warned about the existence of 70,000 or even 150,000 operational horseracing agencies.
One of the main points of conflict relates to the offering of virtual games. While sports betting shops question that horseracing agencies can operate different betting modalities, the commission affirmed that some sports establishments also market horseracing products without the regulator's authorization. According to the entity, several betting shops that obtained authorization to operate simulcasting and other products have valid permits, but there are operators who sell virtual horseracing games without a license, which would represent a competitive advantage over those who comply with authorization and oversight processes, and a violation of the sector's regulatory framework.
In response to questions about its powers, the commission affirmed that its jurisdiction over horse racing, greyhound racing, and other modalities linked to animal competitions, in real, virtual, or simulated formats, is established in the 1944 law, in subsequent horseracing regulations, in technological contracts in force since 2014, and in a 2019 decree. It considered that disregarding these powers would affect the legal certainty of the sector. In fiscal matters, it highlighted that virtual horseracing bets have a collection system based on real gross sales monitored in real-time, which in its opinion allows for greater transparency compared to fixed-rate models, and defended that the regulation seeks to incorporate operators into the formal system, reduce clandestine activity, and improve oversight. The discussion unfolds as Congress advances with the project to create the General Directorate of Gambling, an initiative that the commission supported, considering that it will strengthen oversight and control tools for the sector.
Tags: National Horseracing Commission, Francisco Pavonessa Grullón, virtual horse racing games, Directorate General of Gambling