The Paraguay Chamber of Deputies has approved a bill to end the country’s gambling monopoly and liberalise its market. The reforms, which amend Law No. 1,016/1997, aim to modernise the sector, enhance regulation, and boost tax revenues.
The Act, which updates the nation’s existing gambling legislation (Law No 1,016/1997), has made reforms to modernise and regulate the gaming industry, paving the way for private operators to enter the market.
Amendments to gambling legislation
The approved bill removes the monopoly that limited gambling operations only to public tenders. This opens the door for private operators to enter the market, fostering greater competition and diversity in the industry.
The bill also strengthens the National Commission of Gambling (Conajzar) by placing it under the National Tax Revenue Directorate (DNIT). This move aims to improve revenue collection, market oversight, and regulatory enforcement.
Under the new framework, Conajzar’s general director will now oversee gambling activities in Paraguay, including their coordination, development, supervision, and regulation.
Focus on modernisation and economic growth
The law aims to update the gambling sector and increase tax income. A press release from the Chamber of Deputies highlighted the government’s intent to optimise the use of resources from the gambling sector while tightening regulatory mechanisms.
Carlos Liseras, president of Conajzar, welcomed the changes and said, “It is a fundamental step to democratise the market and allow greater competitiveness, which will translate into benefits for both operators and the state.”
He also stressed that placing Conajzar under the DNIT would lead to “institutional optimisation,” ensuring better revenue collection and market supervision.
The reforms align with the government’s broader goals to boost the economy and adapt to social and technological changes. A statement in the bill acknowledged that Paraguay’s gambling sector has been influenced by the country’s economic dynamism, technological advancements, and the growing number of gambling providers and users.
Reactions from lawmakers
The amendments sparked debate among lawmakers. While Deputies Adrián Vaesken (PLRA-Central) and Rocío Vallejo (PPQ-Capital) opposed the modification of Article 20, Deputy Yamil Esgaib (ANR-Capital) was in favour of the changes and pointed out that “the modification seeks to provide the commission with a solid executive arm, increasing its capacity to enforce resolutions and assuming a more active role in the collection and supervision of games of chance at the national level.”
Following the favourable opinion, the plenary session proceeded to the general study and approved the document, which will now be sent to the Executive Branch for final approval.
Subscribe HERE to SiGMA’s Top 10 News countdown and SiGMA’s weekly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest iGaming News from the world’s iGaming authority and benefit from subscriber-only offers.
