Paraguay is considering a major reform of its gambling regulatory framework, including plans to replace the National Gambling Commission (Conajzar) with a more autonomous authority.
The government-backed bill, submitted to Congress on 12 October 2026, would establish the National Directorate of Gambling (Dinajzar) and give it broader powers to address unlicensed gambling. The proposal is currently under review by Senate committees and has not been enacted.
New Regulator Would Have Greater Autonomy
Under the proposal, Dinajzar would have its own legal status and greater financial and operational independence than Conajzar. The reform follows an earlier restructuring that transferred gambling oversight to the National Directorate of Tax Revenue (DNIT).
Javier Balbuena, a lawyer and former head of Conajzar, told NEXT.io that the previous arrangement had weakened administrative processes and made it harder to respond to illegal gambling and advance licensing procedures.
The bill would also give the new regulator stronger enforcement tools, including measures targeting unauthorised online gambling websites and payment providers.
Tougher Measures Against Illegal Gambling
The proposed framework would allow authorities to act against illegal online gambling services and their supporting infrastructure. According to Balbuena, the regulator would be able to order telecommunications companies and financial institutions to block illegal websites, applications and payment gateways.
The bill also proposes prison terms of up to five years for illegal gambling operators.
The enforcement challenge was discussed at a Senate committee meeting on 26 October. Senator Luis Pettengill said Conajzar currently has 12 officials responsible for gambling oversight across the country. Lawmakers are seeking to prepare a revised version of the bill, although no date has been announced for a full parliamentary vote.
Potential Expansion of Online Gambling Licences
The reform could create a more formal licensing framework for online casino, bingo and sportsbook operators. Balbuena said Paraguay currently has more than 20 authorised online casino operators, while Aposta.la remains the only regulated sportsbook brand.
Local media reports cited by NEXT.io indicate that the proposal could provide for 26 online gambling licences. Existing provisional authorisations are reported to expire by January 2028, with holders potentially able to compete for full licences.
The reported fee structure includes a minimum monthly payment of PYG 12 million and a charge linked to gross gaming revenue. However, the final licensing terms and fees remain subject to legislative review.
Player Protection and Advertising Rules
The bill also proposes additional requirements related to player identification, responsible gambling and advertising.
Measures under consideration include deposit limits, monitoring of potentially harmful gambling behaviour and a central self-exclusion register. Advertising restrictions would include a ban on marketing directed at minors and limits on when gambling promotions could appear.
The proposal would also require influencers, media organisations and other businesses involved in gambling promotion to register with the regulator.
These provisions remain part of the proposed legislation and may change during the parliamentary process.
Legislative Process Remains Ongoing
The bill is being reviewed by several Senate committees. Lawmakers are still discussing issues including licensing periods and how gambling revenue should be distributed between regional and municipal governments.
If approved, the reform would mark another significant change to Paraguay’s gambling oversight structure less than two years after Conajzar was moved under DNIT.
For operators, the proposal could affect licensing, compliance requirements and access to the Paraguayan online gambling market. However, the final regulatory framework will depend on the version passed by Congress and subsequently enacted.
Source: https://next.io/news/regulation/paraguay-primed-for-gambling-regulation-overhaul/
