Paraguay has taken a step towards gambling regulation reforms that would include ending the market’s monopoly after a bill was partially approved [on 26 November].
In early November, the executive branch of the government presented a bill to amend the current Paraguay gambling legislation (Law No 1,016/1997), including strengthening gambling regulator Conajzar’s position. It also sought to liberalize the country’s gambling market.
The bill aims to achieve this by boosting the powers of the National Commission of Gambling (Conajzar), placing it under the government-powered National Tax Revenue Directorate (DNIT).
The law currently states “exploitation of national games of chance will be carried out exclusively by public tender”, but these activities will be liberalized under the new bill.