LATAM

The Dominican Republic will be taking steps to tighten its control of its gambling licences, as the Ministry of Finance and Economy has authorised Resolution No. 184-2026.

The mandate seeks to introduce a new “Responsible Gambling Charter” that requires the signature of President Luis Abinader.

The charter will establish a new Central Self-Exclusion System as the principal safeguard for gambling activities in the Dominican Republic, which aims to become the first Caribbean nation to implement such a universal protection on gambling consumers.

Winning his re-election campaign in 2024, President Abinader pledged to modernise the gambling regime of The Dominican Republic as part of his administration’s broader economic overhaul to enhance investment and tax resources of the government.

Economic reforms

The latest reforms build on the Dominican Republic’s launch of a new online gambling licensing regime in 2024, under Resolution 136-2024, which established a formal framework for ..

A survey by Ipsos in partnership with Unico , an identity verification network, revealed that 11% of young Brazilians will have gambled online in 2025. The research was first published by the Estadão newspaper , in the Estadão Column , on Saturday the 9th. According to data obtained by the newspaper, the largest number of gamblers among young people are boys aged 16…

This week, Valentín Miranda, a deputy from Buenos Aires province, submitted a request for information from the government of Axel Kicillof, asking them to detail the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan to address problematic gambling among adolescents, launched in July 2024 with the aim of preventing, assisting, and eradicating online gambling among minors.  The radical legislator’s initiative seeks to…

In Brazil, senior figures within the PT government are aligning with the President’s push to significantly restrict online gambling, signalling a potential shift away from the current framework of the Bets Law (PL 2626/2023).

Another week of politicking has witnessed President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva once again target online gambling licences, framing the sector as a growing threat to Brazilian society and economic stability.

Speaking to broadcaster ICL, Lula delivered his strongest remarks yet, stating that he “would shut down bookmakers entirely if the decision were mine alone.”

Criticism of the Bets regime has become a central theme of Lula’s political messaging ahead of the 4 October election.

Yet the liabilities of the Bets regime offer a convenient deflection for Lula as the administration grapples with a broad range of economic challenges.

On the campaign front, Lula has yet to answer solutions for challenges ranging from public debt and inflation to cost-of-living con..

Lawmakers in Mexico are to examine tightening media rules to prohibit gambling advertising during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The directive is led by Jericó Abramo Masso, Member of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, who has drafted a bill which would severely limit operators’ flexibility around advertising, specifically during sporting events shown on open-source and pay-for TV.

According to Masso, an increasing number of complaints from parents report that their children are being subjected to gambling ads integrated into sports programming, which offer ‘falls narratives about gaining quick wealth’.

Under the current legislature, gambling ads need to first be approved by the Secretariat of Interior in order to air on TV, while also adhering to strict rules around the inclusion of problem gambling messaging and avoidance of promoting excessive participation.

However, Masso believes that rules should be tighter, with operators only allowed to market outside of family hours, meaning betw..

VBET’s Ariel Litvac has warned that the appetite for the Brazilian market is becoming increasingly selective as tax uncertainty elevates.

Speaking to iGaming Expert, he emphasised the importance of data-driven dialogue with the industry and policymakers, as a crucial election looms in the country.

How is the uncertainty surrounding taxation impacting the current performance of the Brazilian market?

There is broader legal uncertainty, not only tax-related. However, focusing specifically on taxation, the current environment delays investment decisions, increases unfair competition due to the illegal market and makes long-term planning more difficult. As a result, predictability decreases and expansion slows down.

Has the appetite for the market dwindled as a result of tougher taxation rates?

The appetite has not disappeared, but it has become more selective. Well-capitalised operators with strong governance structures are able to adjust their business models and products to mitiga..

Argentina’s provincial gambling authorities have launched a coordinated nationwide campaign to mark the start of Responsible Gambling Month this February.

The campaigns call on the need to expand public awareness on harm prevention and youth protection across the Argentine provinces.

Throughout the month, green-lit public buildings have been adopted as a unifying symbol to raise public awareness of gambling risks and safer-play behaviours.

Regulators across multiple provinces are rolling out training sessions for public officials, educators and community organisations, alongside outreach programmes designed to promote healthier gambling habits and early intervention strategies.

A central pillar of this year’s campaign is under-18 protection, with authorities expanding education around age-verification standards, limiting youth exposure to gambling content and strengthening referral pathways for families and schools concerned about risky behaviour.

“Responsible gambling is not jus..

Brazil’s Ministry of Health (MESP) has released a national guideline for medical professionals who administer care for those suffering from gambling harms.

The document expands on the country’s Unified Health System (SUS), and is aimed at professionals registered with the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS), offering practical advice on how to monitor and treat problem gambling behaviour.

All guidelines were prepared as a result of close collaboration between MESP and experts in behavioural anomalies, including representatives from the Department of Mental Health, Alcohol and Drugs, as well as the Secretariat of Specialised Health Care.

MESP’s statement on the pressing need of the 73-page document highlighted that admissions to the SUS related to pathological gambling have grown significantly between 2018 and 2025, giving special attention to online betting abuse cases that have led to deteriorating mental health in patients, as well as financial hardships.

“With this set of measures, the Ministry of Health reinforces its commitment to the protection of the mental health of the population, the organisation of the SUS response and the offer of comprehensive, humanised and accessible care throughout the country,” the MESP added.

Guidelines do “more than recognising a growing pattern”

The guidelines cover aspects such as warning signs and patterns of problem gambling, support tools for evaluation and treatment, suitable responses to the severity of each case, as well as best practices for efficient collaboration with Psychosocial Care Centres situated across Brazil.

“The document arises from the collective commitment to understand and take care of the new forms of psychic suffering that emerge in the contemporary context, such as problems related to gambling and their relationship with the digital landscape,” the authors stated.

“More than recognising a growing phenomenon, it recommends how to improve the psychosocial care of affected people, considering the impacts on daily life, bonds and public health.

“Care must recognise that the problems related to betting games are not limited to an individual and mental health issue. These problems also manifest themselves as an expression of social, economic and cultural vulnerabilities, demanding territorial, intersectoral responses and based on listening and co-responsibility.”

Brazil recently celebrated the first anniversary of launching its regulated betting market back in January 2025. Since then, the gambling market in general has been significantly altered to protect the country’s vast population, including the launch of a national self-exclusion registry.

However, initiatives like the latest problem gambling guidelines show that there is still work to be done in that direction. This will be one of the key points at the SBC Summit Rio conference, which will bring the region’s top voices together on 3 March.