Paraguay approves overhaul of gambling laws to end monopolies, boost regulation

Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña has approved a sweeping reform of the country’s gambling laws, aiming to de-monopolize the sector and increase competition. The bill, endorsed by the Ministry of Finance and passed by Paraguay’s National Congress in December 2024, establishes a new legal framework for games of chance.  
  
The legislation opens the market to new operators, expanding the number of lottery and sports betting licensees, and allowing unlimited licenses for gambling activities including online betting. It also introduces regulations for online gambling, a move designed to modernize the sector in line with global trends.  

Calls for reform gained momentum in 2022 following corruption allegations linked to Conajzar, Paraguay’s gambling commission. The awarding of a national sportsbook license to Apost.la without government oversight spurred criticism and led Lorena Rojas, head of the Association of Gaming Operators (APOJA), to push for legislative changes. President Peña then intervened in 2024 to expedite the bill’s review after delays in Congress.  
 
The reforms shift regulatory oversight of gambling from Conajzar to the National Directorate of Tax Revenue (DNIT), a move intended to enhance operational capacity and tax collection.  

Under the new structure, Conajzar will benefit from expanded resources, including 800 inspectors and improved legal tools to combat illegal gambling. Measures include blocking unauthorized online gambling platforms through collaboration with the national computing center and telecommunications agency Conatel.  

“We had a long, arduous job, but lacked the capacity to fulfill our obligations,” said Carlos Liseras, President of Conajzar. “Today, with Law 7438, Conajzar depends on the DNIT, which has the logistics, trained personnel, and infrastructure to enforce the law.”  
The reform is expected to attract new operators and boost government revenue while enhancing oversight and combating illegal gambling. Supporters say the changes mark a new era of accountability and competitiveness for Paraguay’s gambling industry.