Gambling Age In Paraguay

Minimum Age: 18

Details and Explanation

Legal Age Requirement: In Paraguay, the minimum legal age for participating in gambling activities is 18. This applies to casinos, lotteries, and sports betting, as per the Gambling Law, enforced to protect minors from gambling-related risks.

Offline / Land-Based Gambling: Land-based gambling is legal, with casinos in Asunción and Ciudad del Este, offering slots, poker, and table games, aligning with your interest in extensive game catalogs. Lotteries and sports betting are widespread, requiring ID checks to enforce the 18-year-old age limit. The casino market, valued at PYG 500 billion annually, supports tourism, with a mega-casino in Ciudad del Este planned for 2025.

Online Gambling: Online gambling is unregulated, with no local licensing framework. Residents can access offshore sites offering casinos, sports betting, and poker via mobile platforms, contributing to a $30 million unregulated market in 2024. These sites operate outside Paraguay’s jurisdiction, leaving players without legal protections, aligning with unregulated markets you’ve explored. A 2017 sports betting tender by Conajzar expired in 2022.

Regulation and Oversight: The National Gambling Commission (Conajzar) regulates land-based gambling under the Gambling Law of 1997, ensuring fair play and anti-money laundering measures. No authority regulates online gambling, lacking the licensing rigor you’ve inquired about. Paraguay’s market, with 2024 tax reforms (7% on operators), supports a $200 million gambling economy, focusing on casino expansion.

Enforcement and Penalties: Paraguay enforces land-based regulations moderately. Operators face inspections, with violations like underage gambling leading to fines up to PYG 100 million or license revocation. Illegal gambling is prosecuted, and players engaging in underage gambling face fines. Online enforcement is minimal, maintaining a growing but fragmented gambling environment.