Gambling Age In Dominican Republic

Gambling in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a lively place for gambling, especially with all the tourists flocking to its beaches and resorts. Whether you’re walking into a glitzy casino or popping into a local betting shop, there are rules about who can join in. The country’s got a system to keep gambling fair and square, no matter if you live here or you’re just on vacation.

How Old Do You Have to Be?

You’ve got to be 18 to gamble here. That’s the deal for everything—casinos, betting on sports, buying lottery tickets, or playing games online. They’re strict about it, so expect to show your ID at casinos or betting shops. Online, they’ll ask for some kind of proof when you set up an account.

What’s on Offer?

There’s a bunch of ways to gamble in the Dominican Republic, and they all stick to the 18-and-up rule. Here’s the rundown:

Casinos

There are more than 30 casinos, mostly in touristy spots like Punta Cana and Santo Domingo. You’ll find slot machines, poker, blackjack, roulette—the works. These places are usually tucked inside big hotels or resorts, and they’re open to locals and tourists alike. You’ll need to flash an ID to get in, and if you’re from out of the country, they might want to see your passport.

Sports Betting

Sports betting is super popular, with about 1,000 betting shops scattered around. Locals go crazy for baseball bets, but you can wager on other sports too. Tourists are welcome to try their luck. The Casino Department and the Sports Secretariat keep these shops in check to make sure everything’s legit.

Lotteries

The Loteria Nacional runs the show for lotteries. There are over 24,000 spots where you can grab a ticket, and they’ve got both regular and electronic lotteries, which started up in 2008. They’ll make sure you’re 18 before handing over a ticket.

Online Gambling

You’ve been able to gamble online here since 2006, and they added some new rules in 2024 to keep things tight. That covers online casinos, sports betting, and other games you can play on your phone or laptop. When you sign up, you’ll need to send in an ID to show you’re old enough.

Who’s Running the Show?

The Directorate of Casinos and Gaming, part of the Ministry of Finance, handles most of the gambling rules. Lotteries are looked after by the Loteria Nacional, and the Sports Secretariat chips in for sports betting. There are laws like Law 351 from way back in 1964, updated a couple of times, and Law 139-11 that set the ground rules. In 2024, they rolled out Resolution 136-2024 to sort out online gambling better.

Sticking to the Rules

They don’t mess around with the 18-year-old rule. Casinos and betting shops will check your ID, and online sites use something called KYC to make sure you’re not too young. If a place lets someone under 18 gamble, they’re in for trouble—think hefty fines, losing their license, or even legal issues. In 2025, they shut down over 500 shady gambling websites to keep things clean.

Gambling at a Glance

Topic	Info
Age Limit	18 for everything
Gambling Types	Casinos, sports betting, lotteries, online games
Main Regulator	Directorate of Casinos and Gaming, Ministry of Finance
Lottery Boss	Loteria Nacional
Sports Betting Watchdog	Casino Department and Sports Secretariat
Big Laws	Law 351 (1964, updated 1998, 2006), Law 139-11, Resolution 136-2024
Casino Count	Over 30, mostly in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo
Betting Shops	Around 1,000
Lottery Spots	Over 24,000
Online Gambling	Legal since 2006, new rules in 2024