Bolivia casinos are legal but tightly controlled: every casino, gaming machine and lottery needs a licence from the national gaming authority, the Autoridad de Fiscalización y Control Social del Juego (AJ). Bolivia has no specific licensing system for online casinos, so Bolivians who gamble online mostly use foreign sites licensed elsewhere, although the government is working on an online betting framework.
Bolivia gambling at a glance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Casinos and gaming machines | Legal with an AJ licence |
| Regulator | Autoridad de Fiscalización y Control Social del Juego (AJ) |
| Main law | Law 060 on lottery and games of chance (November 25, 2010) |
| Gaming tax on operators | 30% |
| Online gambling | No specific local licence; reform under discussion |
| Last checked | November 2026 |
How gambling is regulated in Bolivia
Law 060 on lottery and games of chance, promulgated on November 25, 2010, is the basis of Bolivian gambling law. Supreme Decree 0782 of 2011 and Law 717 of 2015 built on it. Together they put casinos, gaming machines, lotteries and raffles under the AJ, which reports to the Ministry of Economy and Public Finance. The AJ grants licences, audits operators and acts against illegal gambling. Anything run without an AJ licence is illegal.
Law 060 also set a gaming tax of 30% on operators. A tax law passed in May 2026 kept that rate and made clear that gambling offered through digital and electronic media falls within the tax.
The AJ regularly raids unlicensed gaming halls and seizes illegal slot machines, with frequent operations in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.
A short history
Bolivia was part of Spain’s empire, ruled from Upper Peru, until it won independence from Spain on August 6, 1825. The new country was named after Simón Bolívar.
The modern system dates from 2010, when Law 060 brought every form of gambling under a single national regulator and licensing regime. Operators that could meet the licensing and tax rules kept running under AJ supervision.
Casinos in Bolivia
Licensed casinos are found in the big cities. The AJ’s register is the only reliable list, because venues open and lose licences over time.
A typical Bolivian casino is built around slot machines and video poker, with table games such as roulette, blackjack, baccarat and Caribbean stud poker.
Online gambling and sports betting in Bolivia
Law 060 never set up a licensing system for online operators, and no foreign online casino holds an AJ licence. In practice, Bolivians who gamble online use sites licensed in places such as Curaçao or Malta, which offer no local protection if a payout goes wrong. The AJ has blocked illegal betting and casino websites. The government that took office in November 2025 is preparing a framework to license online betting, and those rules are not yet in force. Poker and sports betting have small followings compared with neighboring countries.
For US readers, the same caution applies at home: offshore sites are not licensed by US state regulators. Read our offshore online casino reviews before you deposit.
Gambling in neighboring countries
Bolivia’s neighbors take a more open approach. See our guides to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Peru.
Bolivia casinos FAQ
Are casinos legal in Bolivia?
Yes, if they hold a licence from the AJ. Unlicensed gambling is illegal.
Who regulates gambling in Bolivia?
The Autoridad de Fiscalización y Control Social del Juego (AJ), under the Ministry of Economy and Public Finance.
Can you gamble online in Bolivia?
Bolivia has no specific licence for online casinos or sportsbooks. Players who gamble online use foreign sites without a Bolivian licence, and the government is working on new online betting rules.
How much are casinos taxed in Bolivia?
Law 060 sets a 30% gaming tax on operators, one reason the legal market stays tightly controlled.
Gamble only with money you can afford to lose. If gambling stops being fun, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.