Dominican Republic casinos are legal and almost all of them sit inside resorts and city hotels, with the biggest cluster in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo. Since October 2026 every form of gambling in the country, from hotel casinos and slot parlors to lottery outlets and online betting, falls under Law 86-26 and a new regulator, the Dirección General de Juegos de Azar (DGJA). This guide covers what the law says, what you can play and where.
Dominican Republic gambling at a glance
| Casino gambling | Legal, mostly in hotel and resort casinos |
|---|---|
| Main law | Law 86-26 on gambling, published October 2, 2026 |
| Regulator | Dirección General de Juegos de Azar (DGJA), attached to the Ministry of Finance and Economy |
| New licenses | Ten-year freeze, except casinos in hotels and tourist areas |
| Online gambling | Legal only with a DGJA license |
| Lotteries | National lottery plus licensed operators such as LEIDSA |
| Horse racing | Hipódromo V Centenario, Santo Domingo |
| Last checked | November 2026 |
The law: Law 86-26 and the DGJA
For decades Dominican gambling ran under a patchwork of separate laws, decrees and resolutions. Congress replaced that with a single framework in 2026. The Chamber of Deputies approved the bill in July, Congress sent it to the president in September, and Law 86-26 was published in the Official Gazette on October 2, 2026. President Luis Abinader named Teófilo “Quico” Tabar to lead the new regulator on a transitional basis.
The main points:
- One regulator. The DGJA is an autonomous agency attached to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. A Gambling Council inside it reviews license applications.
- Broad scope. The law covers casinos, slot machine parlors, sports betting shops, lottery outlets, horse racing agencies, electronic lotteries, online gaming and betting, virtual games, bingo and raffles.
- A ten-year license freeze. No new licenses will be issued for ten years, with one exception: casinos in hotels and tourist destinations. Shortly after it opened, the DGJA also barred new betting shops (bancas).
- Transition deadlines. Existing license holders get three months to adapt their operations and twelve months to join a single national registry, and the government has ninety days to issue implementing rules.
- Player protection. Advertising aimed at minors under 18 is banned, and a May 2026 resolution from the Ministry of Finance and Economy created a national self-exclusion registry, with a minimum exclusion of six months, that operators must enforce in real time.
Online gambling
Under Law 86-26 only licensed companies may offer online gambling, under DGJA supervision. Internet gaming licenses run for ten years. Licensed sites must verify each player’s identity and legal age against the national electoral registry before taking deposits or bets, allow regulators remote access to their systems, and offer deposit, loss and session limits. The DGJA has reported that only seven online betting operators hold authorization and has identified about 81 unlicensed platforms. Offshore sites that take Dominican players without a DGJA license are not authorized there. US readers can compare offshore brands in our online gambling reviews, which note that those sites are not licensed by US state regulators.
Where the casinos are
The Dominican Republic’s casino scene is built around tourism. Punta Cana and the Bávaro beach strip have the most casinos, mostly inside all-inclusive resorts, and Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata have hotel casinos too. Expect a resort casino rather than a Las Vegas megaresort.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana has its own casino with table games, slots and poker. Our venue guides cover:
- Avalon Casino at the Grand Bávaro Princess, Punta Cana
- Breathless Punta Cana Resort, Casino & Spa
- Casino Diamante Punta Cana
What you can play
Hotel casinos focus on slot machines and a short list of table games. Depending on the casino, the mix can include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps and carnival poker games such as Caribbean Stud, Three Card Poker and Let It Ride. Some casinos also run poker tournaments. Tables and limits vary a lot from one hotel to the next, so check with the casino before you go. Our slots guides explain how to read a machine before you play.
Lottery and horse racing
Alongside the national lottery, licensed operators such as LEIDSA run regular draws, sold through street-level lottery outlets known as bancas. Under Law 86-26 these outlets need DGJA licenses, and new bancas are barred.
Horse racing runs at the Hipódromo V Centenario in Santo Domingo, which holds regular race meetings.
Dominican Republic casinos FAQ
Is gambling legal in the Dominican Republic?
Yes. Casinos, lotteries, sports betting and licensed online gambling are legal and are regulated by the DGJA under Law 86-26.
Who regulates casinos in the Dominican Republic?
The Dirección General de Juegos de Azar (DGJA), an agency attached to the Ministry of Finance and Economy, created by Law 86-26 in October 2026.
Can new casinos open?
The law freezes new gambling licenses for ten years, but casinos in hotels and tourist destinations are exempt, so new resort casinos can still be licensed.
Is online gambling legal in the Dominican Republic?
Only with a DGJA license. Licensed operators must verify players’ identity and age and offer deposit and loss limits.
Gamble responsibly. If gambling stops being fun, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.