At SAGSE Paraguay 2025, Óscar Orué, who leads the National Directorate of Tax Revenue (DNIT), delivered a speech about new changes in Paraguay’s gambling rules. Asunción was the host city for this meeting, bringing together casino owners, regulators, and professionals from the sector, all to focus on Law No. 7438/2025. This law updates and gives changes to Law 1016/1997, becoming a key point for Paraguay’s gambling laws.

The End of the Monopoly on Betting and Lottery

A highlight from the event was the news that lottery betting and sports betting permits will no longer be held by only one company. Now, the law will let a maximum of three licensed operators run each kind of betting game, which supports more competition and lets more bettors participate while helping the government bring in more funds. Orué explained that this decision aims to bring in new operators to the legal market and help the government keep better oversight and reduce illegal activities. He also shared that tenders for sports betting operators will start next year, as President Santiago Peña Nieto ordered. Daruma SAM (Apostala) still has rights for betting until 2028, but the new plan could bring two more legal betting companies into the market, ending single-company control.

Impact on Resource Distribution

This law also changes how the money from gambling gets spread to different groups or projects. DNIT will now collect the money and then separate it for local, regional, and national programs. How much each group gets will depend on where the games take place:

• National Level Games

In cities (which includes Asuncion) 30% goes to them, 30% goes to the regional (departmental) governments, 30% to the Directorate of Charity and Social Assistance (DIBEN) and 10% to the National Treasury.

• Games Managed in Asunción

The municipal government goes 25%, 20% each to regional governments and lower income city areas, 25% to DIBEN and 10% to general revenue.

• For Municipal and Regional Games

30% goes to each government level and DIBEN, with 10% reserved for the National Treasury.

Formalisation and Responsible Gaming

The law also focuses on encouraging all operators to follow legal rules, join the formal economy, and not avoid taxes or rules. There is a goal to make all companies work with the system and follow fair controls. The DNIT director spoke of the need for responsible gaming policies, especially those that stop underage gambling and ensure that ads do not target children.

Opportunities for the Industry

These changes offer new options for companies wanting to run betting and casino games in Paraguay by making the rules wider and giving more space for different kinds of operations. Orué said Law 7438/2025 will make Paraguay attractive for more investors and ensure the government stays in control, always aiming to benefit the whole sector. He finished by asking for cooperation between public officials and private businesses, so the market will be open, competitive, and bring benefits to everyone in Paraguay through both social and tax advantages.