TITLE: Dominican Republic Reactivates National Gaming Regularization Plan Through Decree
BODY:
On March 26, 2026, the Executive Power of the Dominican Republic reactivated the National Plan for Regularization of lottery banks, sports betting, and gaming operators through Decree 197-26. The measure aims to advance formalization of the sector following the expiration of regularization deadlines previously set by the Ministry of Finance in 2022, now the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
Under the new framework, the Internal Revenue Directorate (Dirección General de Impuestos Internos, DGII) assumes a central role, responsible for verifying operator tax compliance, managing provisional incorporation into the fiscal regime, and supporting oversight processes. The decree reorganises the Advisory Council overseeing the plan, which comprises representatives from the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the DGII, the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel), the Government Office of Information and Communication Technologies (Ogtic), the National Lottery, and private sector delegates including Fenabanca, the Association of Sports Betting Banks, the National Horse Racing Commission, and the Association of Casinos. Archbishop Coadjutor Carlos Tomás Morel Diplán also participates. The Ministry of Finance and Economy, alongside the Council, will design and adjust regulatory frameworks to ensure continuity of regularisation processes.
Teófilo Tabar, administrator of the National Lottery, temporarily coordinates the plan's implementation. The decree repeals previous regulation (Decree 295-22), establishing new institutional supervision structures for gaming in the country. Tabar indicated plans to convene Advisory Council members imminently to advance implementation, emphasising the incorporation and strengthening of key agencies including the DGII, Indotel, and Ogtic within the new regulatory framework.