On 5 December Law 766 - “Special Law for the Control and Regulation of Casinos and Gaming Rooms” - came into force in Nicaragua. Gambling businesses in the Central American country come under the jurisdiction of the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (INTUR), where some 14,000 gaming machines are registered. According to Omar Oporta, Director of Judicial Affairs at INTUR, there are 47 casinos and around 750 slots operations around the country.
The gaming industry in Nicaragua has been functioning for two decades and before the introduction of Law 766 had been controlled by the National Police and the National Lottery, which acted as regulator of the gaming machines installed in markets, pharmacies and local communities. The approval of Law 766 was much delayed in the National Assembly, where it took over 8 years to be passed.
Oporta added, “Before this law there existed a rule approved by the INTUR council for the regulation of casinos. In 2010, with the Reform of Fiscal Equity, we started to regulate slot machines through a Commission made up of National Police, the National Lottery, the Director General of Income and INTUR.”
Law 766 also creates a Casino Authority with inspectors of casinos and slots operations who will investigate the functioning of gaming tables and slot machines for tax purposes and ensure the return is a minimum 85% of monies played. They will be duly registered, homologated and authorized uniquely for each casino or slots room and they will not be permitted to change location without authorization from INTUR.
The inspection of gambling premises will have various hierarchies with inspectors from departmental delegations of the police, INTUR, and the Attorney General. Training has now commenced in the capital Managua of inspectors and INTUR personnel, which is scheduled to be completed by February 2012.
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Oporta concluded, “The fundamental changes are that players will be given security and we will limit harmful effects from gambling, protect our citizens, students and ensure minors do not have access to gambling premises. We want quality gaming for the tourists where there is harmony between the games, the players and above all to ensure transparency and the proper returns in prize money.”
Casinos and slots operations in Nicaragua must obtain two licences from INTUR: an operating licence valid for 20 years at an annual cost of US$2,000; and a functions licence with a fee of US$20 for each gaming machine and US$100 for each gaming table payable monthly to the Tax Department.
A Commission is created to deal with the destruction of illegal machines that have not been registered and licensed. Additionally, Article 53 of the Law prohibits the installation of gambling premises less than 400 metres from schools, churches, hospitals, public buildings, cemeteries, theatres, etc. That is to say, gambling businesses in Nicaragua must be in locations approved by the National Police and INTUR, and no longer in markets, pharmacies, commercial centres or private houses. (E-12.13.11)
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