Nicaragua casinos are legal and licensed by the national government. The Ministry of Finance (Ministerio de Hacienda y Crédito Público, or MHCP) regulates casinos and gaming halls under Law 766, and players must be 18 or older. Online gambling is a gray area: Nicaragua has no licence for a stand-alone online casino, and foreign sites are not blocked.
Nicaragua gambling at a glance
| Land-based casinos | Legal with an MHCP licence |
|---|---|
| Regulator | MHCP, through its Office of Casinos and Gaming Halls (Oficina de Casinos y Salas de Juegos de Azar) |
| Main law | Law 766 (Ley Especial para el Control y Regulación de Casinos y Salas de Juegos de Azar) and its regulation, Decree 06-2015 |
| Minimum gambling age | 18 |
| Online casinos | No stand-alone online licence; licensed casinos may add online games only with written MHCP approval |
| Lottery | State monopoly run by the Lotería Nacional |
| Last checked | November 2026 |
How gambling is regulated in Nicaragua
Law 766, the special law for the control and regulation of casinos and gaming halls, sets the rules for every slot machine and table game in the country. It is applied through Executive Decree 06-2015. The MHCP issues the licences and inspects venues through its Office of Casinos and Gaming Halls, and only licensed operators may run casino games. Entry is limited to adults aged 18 and over.
Casino and other gaming prizes of C$25,000 or more are subject to a 15% income tax withholding, a rate that has applied since February 2019.
The fight against illegal slot machines
Unlicensed slot machines in small shops and bars are the main problem the regulator deals with. In July 2026 the MHCP destroyed 369 slot machines that had been seized from illegal venues. The machines were dismantled with heavy equipment under the watch of a commission that included the Interior Ministry, the Public Ministry and the National Police, so they could not end up back in illegal halls.
For visitors, the practical advice is simple: play in a licensed casino, not in a corner shop with a few machines in the back.
What you can play in Nicaraguan casinos
Licensed casinos offer slot machines alongside table games such as blackjack, roulette and Caribbean Stud Poker, and some also deal baccarat. Game mix, limits and opening hours vary by property, so if you want video poker or other table games, check with the casino before you go.
Online gambling in Nicaragua
Nicaragua has no licence for a stand-alone online casino. The law does let a licensed land-based casino add online casino games or online sports betting, but only with written authorization from the MHCP.
Foreign gambling sites are not blocked, and the penalties in the law are aimed at operators rather than players. That still leaves Nicaraguans who play on offshore casino, sports betting or online poker sites without a local regulator to turn to if a site refuses to pay.
The one fully state-sanctioned form of online gambling is the national lottery. The Lotería Nacional holds a monopoly on lottery games, and its electronic lottery, LOTO Nicaragua, is sold online.
Nicaragua casinos FAQ
Is gambling legal in Nicaragua?
Yes. Casinos and gaming halls are legal when licensed by the MHCP under Law 766, and the national lottery is run by the state.
What is the gambling age in Nicaragua?
18.
Are online casinos legal in Nicaragua?
There is no licence for a stand-alone online casino. A licensed land-based casino can offer online games only with written MHCP approval. Foreign sites are not blocked, but they are not regulated in Nicaragua either.
Who regulates casinos in Nicaragua?
The Ministry of Finance (MHCP), through its Office of Casinos and Gaming Halls.
Gambling in nearby countries
For more of the region, see our Central America casino guide and our guides to Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador and Panama. Readers interested in Spanish-speaking Europe can start with our Spain guide.
Please gamble responsibly. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone you know, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.