The main objectives of the project are to strengthen the National Gambling Commission (Conajzar) and eliminate the monopoly in the market.
Paraguay.- In the second extraordinary session of the Chamber of Deputies, held on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 17, the bill "That modifies and expands Law No. 1,016/1997, which establishes the legal regime for the exploitation of games of chance" was sanctioned. The document returned to the Senate with some modifications, which were admitted, and the text will pass to the Executive for its promulgation.
Among the main variants, the strengthening of the National Gambling Commission (Conajzar); which, according to the approved text, will be integrated into the National Directorate of Tax Revenues (DNIT). This measure seeks to provide the commission with a solid executive arm, increasing its capacity to enforce its resolutions and assuming a more active role in the collection and supervision of gambling at the national level.
The full assembly constituted itself into a commission to issue an opinion on the matter. Deputies Adrián Vaesken (PLRA-Central), and Rocío Vallejo (PPQ-Capital), mentioned they did not agree with the modification of article 20.
In contrast, Deputy Yamil Esgaib (ANR-Capital), was in favor of the changes and noted that "the modification seeks to provide the commission with a solid executive arm, increasing its capacity to enforce resolutions and assuming a more active role in the collection and supervision of gambling at the country level." After the favorable opinion, the full assembly proceeded to the general study and approved the document, sanctioning it.
The regulation focuses on the modernization and stricter regulation of the sector, with the aim of increasing the tax revenues generated by gambling. The inclusion of Conajzar within the structure of the DNIT aims to optimize the mechanisms of collection and supervision, ensuring efficient use of the resources generated by the industry.
Another relevant aspect is the liberalization of the gambling market. It proposes eliminating existing monopolies, allowing greater competition and diversity of providers, at the national, departmental, and municipal levels.
This regulation is expected to promote competition and imply a significant change in the economy. Deputy Billy Vaesken, who had initially driven the initiative, had stated in the chamber: "This will mean that more people from abroad will come and invest in Paraguay, this will improve the working conditions of the lottery brokers and will generate more job sources, there will be more opportunities within the free market, it will foster competition and it is indeed a real change for the Paraguayan economy."
See also: The rising industry in Paraguay: Conajzar has already exceeded the collection of 2023 even with a month left to close the year
The project was sent to the Executive Power for its promulgation or veto. It is expected that the government of Peña will give the green light to the initiative, since it was encouraged from his office to optimize collection and strengthen Conajzar, granting it greater supervisory capabilities. With this merger with the DNIT, the Government hopes to leverage the collecting experience of this latter institution. The proposal also emphasizes the importance of improving the tools of Conajzar, an agency that, until now, has had limitations in imposing its resolutions and ensuring compliance with the law in the gambling sector.
