Paraguay casinos are legal and regulated by the National Gaming Commission (Conajzar), and the country is in the middle of its biggest gambling reform in decades. A 2025 law ended the old single-operator model, and a bill now before the Senate would replace Conajzar with a new regulator and set clear rules for online casinos and sports betting. The casino market itself is small, and its best-known venues are hotel casinos in the border cities of Ciudad del Este and Encarnación.

Is Gambling Legal in Paraguay?

Yes. Casinos, lotteries, sports betting, bingo and horse racing are all legal when run under a licence or concession. Key points today:

Main law: Law 1016/1997 set up the legal framework for games of chance and created Conajzar. Law 7438/2025, signed in May 2025, amended and expanded it, and Decree 3846 sets out how it works in practice.
Regulator: Conajzar is now a decentralised body under the National Directorate of Tax Revenue (DNIT), which chairs it and must approve its rules and tenders.
Competition: the 2025 law allows more than one operator in the same category instead of a single concession won by public tender. In 2026, Conajzar awarded national lottery concessions to two operators.
Venue rules: gambling venues must be at least 200 metres from schools and universities, and machines and systems must be certified by an accredited testing body.
Minimum age: 18.

The DINAJZAR Bill

In October 2026 the government sent the Senate a 72-article bill to replace Conajzar with an autonomous National Directorate of Games of Chance (DINAJZAR). As drafted, it would:

cover land-based and online gambling, including online casino, online bingo and sports betting;
allow up to three concessions each for quiniela (the lottery-style numbers game) and sports betting;
give the regulator power to inspect venues and websites and to fine, suspend or shut down unlicensed operators;
require identity checks, blocks on minors, self-exclusion and advertising rules;
keep existing concessions valid until they expire.

The bill was still in committee in late October 2026 and is not yet law.

Casinos in Paraguay

Paraguay has never attracted the big casino investors seen in neighbouring Argentina and Brazil, and most of its casinos sit inside hotels. The best-known venues are:

Hotel Casino Acaray, Ciudad del Este, on the border with Brazil. It hosted the SAGSE Paraguay gaming trade show in August 2026.
Carnaval Hotel Casino, Encarnación, across the river from Argentina. Run by Casinos Paraguayos S.A., it marked its 20th anniversary in July 2026.

Expect slot machines, roulette, blackjack, craps and casino poker games such as Texas Hold’em and Caribbean Stud Poker. Bingo halls operate separately from casinos.

Lottery, Betting and Racing

Lottery games, including the quiniela, are run under national concessions, now held by two operators. Sports betting is legal under concession, and racetracks are part of the regulated market too. Gaming revenue is growing: the sector brought in about PYG 113.8 billion (around US$18.7 million) in the first half of 2026, up 16.5% on the same period of 2025. Part of the fees goes to the state charity directorate, regional and local governments, and the Ministry of Sports.

Online Gambling in Paraguay

Paraguay does not yet issue a dedicated online casino licence. The 2025 law covers games of chance both online and offline, and the DINAJZAR bill would set out the first detailed rules for online casinos and sports betting websites, with powers to act against unlicensed sites. If you are in the United States, see our guide to online gambling options for US players.

A Short History

Paraguay won independence from Spain in 1811. The Paraguayan War of 1864 to 1870 against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay devastated the country, and long periods of dictatorship followed, which left little room for a gambling industry. The modern market began with Law 1016 in 1997, which created Conajzar and the concession system that the 2025 reform has now opened up.

Paraguay Casinos FAQ

Is gambling legal in Paraguay?

Yes. Casinos, lotteries, sports betting, bingo and racing are legal under licences or concessions overseen by Conajzar.

What is the gambling age in Paraguay?

18.

Where are the casinos in Paraguay?

The best-known casinos are hotel casinos in the border cities of Ciudad del Este and Encarnación.

Is online gambling legal in Paraguay?

There is no dedicated online casino licence yet. A bill before the Senate would create a new regulator and licensing rules for online casinos and sports betting.

Please gamble responsibly. In the US, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.