The government isn’t ready to move forward with a planned introduction of iGaming
Paraguay’s Senate has delayed discussions on proposed changes to its gambling laws, putting a halt to the legalization of online gambling for the time being. The Senate’s Constitutional Affairs Committee had been tasked with reviewing updates to Law 1016/1997, which governs gambling regulations in the country. The proposed reforms, championed by Senators Sergio Rojas and Dionisio Amarilla, aimed to bring the outdated law up to speed with modern online gambling practices.
One of the key motivations behind the proposal was to curb the rise of black-market gambling, which has flourished in the absence of clear regulations. The senators also aimed to restructure the National Gambling Commission (Conajzar), which faced scrutiny after a controversial sports betting tender. Last year, Conajzar awarded a monopoly sports betting license to Daruma SAM, sparking an investigation by the National Competition Commission (CONACOM) and resulting in the tender being declared invalid.
However, the proposed changes have hit a roadblock. Javier Zacarías Irún, chair of the Constitutional Affairs Committee, expressed concerns that the proposed amendments did not adequately address certain contractual disputes or clarify the rights around monopoly contracts.
This delay has caused frustration within the gambling industry. The Paraguayan Association of Gambling Operators (APOJA) has been particularly vocal, urging lawmakers to move forward with the necessary reforms. APOJA president Lorena Rojas highlighted that the current quiniela contract is set to expire soon, and without reforms, the monopoly system may continue unchanged.
For now, the future of online gambling in Paraguay remains uncertain as the legislative process is paused, leaving the industry in limbo.
Emma Rodriguez is the Proofreader at the Big Blind, with seven years of experience and five years in online gambling. She plays a crucial role in maintaining content quality by ensuring error-free, reader-friendly information about the gambling industry.