The National Association of Sports Betting Companies (Asonabade) and the Dominican Association of Sports Betting Companies (Adobad) have urged lawmakers to revise a bill establishing the National Directorate of Gambling, warning that its current wording could expand the distribution of virtual gambling products.
The associations said they support replacing the Dominican Republic’s fragmented supervisory structure with a central governing body. However, they argued that amendments introduced during the legislative process have altered the measure’s regulatory purpose and could create unequal licensing conditions between gambling sectors.
The Chamber of Deputies approved the legislation in two consecutive readings on 24 July. Amendments made by deputies mean the bill must return to the Senate, which had previously approved an earlier version.
The proposal covers licensing, player protection and supervision of retail and digital gambling operations.
Asonabade and Adobad alleged that the National Horse Racing Commission has issued more than 70,000 permits for virtual games through horse racing agencies.
They warned that provisions contained in the revised bill could enable those products to reach more than 150,000 lottery sales points. These figures were presented by the associations and have not been independently confirmed.
Their objection centres on which state body can authorize gambling activity. Law 494-06 assigns the Ministry of Finance and Economy responsibility for granting licenses covering casinos, electronic games, bingo and other forms of gambling, while also giving it inspection powers.
The Ministry reached a similar conclusion during an earlier regulatory impact process concerning virtual horse racing. It removed wording that could have implied that the National Horse Racing Commission had authority to authorize virtual gambling, stating that licensing and inspection powers remained with the Ministry.
The dispute comes as the country develops a broader responsible gambling framework. Resolution 184-2026 introduced a national self-exclusion system covering sports betting shops, lottery outlets, casinos, online platforms and horse racing agencies, with operators given six months to implement its requirements.
Asonabade and Adobad called on President Luis Abinader and the Senate committee reviewing the measure to prevent provisions that could grant preferential treatment or accelerate the number of gambling locations.
The intervention follows a warning from gambling regularization coordinator Teófilo “Quico” Tabar that operations conducted outside existing decrees could face examination once the legislation takes effect. He also called for decisions changing the status of gambling businesses to be suspended while Congress considers the bill.
Dominican regulations currently require licensed online and retail operators to comply with centralized responsible gambling and self-exclusion rules
