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The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Finance and Economy has introduced licensing requirements for cruise ships operating casinos within the country's territorial waters through Resolution 164-2026. All first-category cruise ships that dock at Dominican ports, anchor, or navigate in national waters and wish to operate gaming rooms or casinos must obtain an official licence. The licensing fees vary according to passenger capacity. Cruise ships carrying between 2,000 and 3,499 passengers must pay one million Dominican pesos, whilst those with 3,500 or more passengers must pay 1.5 million Dominican pesos. The measure aims to regulate casino operations within the country's legal framework and strengthen the tourism sector by expanding entertainment offerings linked to maritime tourism. Casino operations are subject to strict regulatory and financial controls. Operators must comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements, implementing necessary controls and procedures to prevent illicit activity. The resolution defines casino rooms as spaces within first-category cruise ships that offer gaming services to tourists aboard vessels docking at Dominican ports. This regulatory framework establishes the requirements that first-category cruise ships must meet to legally operate gaming facilities whilst in Dominican waters. The initiative represents a formalised approach to regulating an existing activity within the country's tourism industry, ensuring compliance with financial crime prevention standards whilst generating revenue through licensing fees.