The National Assembly has decided to accept the recommendations of the country’s President Leonel Fernandez, who just before last Christmas returned unapproved the White Paper on amendments to the Casino Law. Apart from reforms to the access of minors to gambling houses, opening hours and their proximity to schools, hospitals and churches, the presidential message to the Lower House president Alfredo Pacheco was unequivocal in that tax had to be the same for casinos as for sports betting shops.

According to the text approved near midnight on 8 February, in a single reading, the representatives decided that slot machines would pay a fixed and single tax sum, and that the operation of such gaming devices would be restricted to casinos and sports betting shops. This is the final word from the legislators of the Dominican Republic, as they agreed to the presidential request to amend the Casinos and Gaming Law that regulates the installation of slot machines in the country.

In respect of the new regulations, the casinos operating in what is celled the National District and in Santo Domingo province will pay the monthly the sum of 4,000 Dominican Pesos or around US$115 in gaming tax. Casinos or slot operations located in La Altagracia, Santiago and La Romana will pay around US$100 (DP3,500), and gaming operations in San Pedro de Macoris, Boca Chica, and every other province and tourist destination in the country will pay about US$87 (DP3,000). (E-02.13.06)

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