The initiative to reform Law N° 1016/1997, which establishes the legal regime for the exploitation of games of chance in Paraguay, was approved on Tuesday, November 26, in the Chamber of Deputies. The bill has been endorsed by President Santiago Peña, and its treatment in the Senate is scheduled for next week, where it is expected that the vote will also be positive.
Based on this proposal, the concessions of the betting pool and sports betting will be granted to the best offer presented in order to eliminate the existing monopolies, thus allowing greater competition and diversity of suppliers, both at the national, departmental, and municipal levels. One of the objectives is “the liberalization of the gambling market”, according to the document approved by the Lower House.
In addition, it aims to strengthen the National Gaming Commission (Conajzar), to improve its regulatory capacity and facilitate greater tax collection, starting with its transition from the Ministry of Economy to the National Tax Revenue Directorate (DNIT).
El proyecto de Ley que establece el Régimen Jurídico para la explotación de los juegos de suerte o de azar aprobado con media sanción en esta Cámara y remitido a @SenadoresPy, tiene la iniciativa del verdadero libre mercado enfatizó el presidente de @DiputadosPy, @raulatorre. pic.twitter.com/njhF22LMKd
— Radio Cámara Py (@Radiocamarapy) November 26, 2024
“The main variant of this bill, presented by the Executive, is the constant claim of a certain sector of the citizenship to de-monopolize games of chance,” stated Deputy Rocío Abed. She also mentioned that the proposal was analyzed in different commissions, such as that of Social Equity, taking into account the impact it has on sectors of society due to the destination of the funds from the gaming sector.
Meanwhile, Adrián “Billy” Vaesken mentioned a similar bill he presented almost a year ago and that he did it “representing the most humble people”, such as the lottery retailers. Regarding the initiative submitted by the Executive, he affirmed that it has “the same spirit” as the one he presented and that it will benefit the gaming industry, promote competition, and provide more income for the Directorate of Social Welfare and Assistance (Diben) and other public institutions.
Most importantly, according to Vaesken, is that the lottery retailers will have better working conditions, “because, with the end of the monopoly, the companies will be able to compete for them, who know how to sell and how to make the game successful from a business point of view.”
Response from the private sector and the unions
Representatives of associations of gaming operators and entrepreneurs of Paraguay, as well as members of the National Union of Workers Sellers of Quiniela, Bingos, Gambling and Related Games of Paraguay (Sintraquiba), who for a long time have been demanding the de-monopolization of the exploitation of the quinella and sports betting, attended the debate in the room.
Congressman Vaesken and Lorena Rojas (APOJA) with members of Sintraquiba
Lorena Rojas, President of the Association of Gaming Operators (APOJA), in an exclusive statement to Yogonet, said that this is a “ historical day” in the gaming sector in Paraguay and that the half sanction in the Chamber of Deputies is the result of a joint work of the private sector in coordination with Conajzar, the associations and the union Sintraquiba.
“We have been claiming the unconstitutionality of the monopoly for more than a decade through meetings, demonstrations, and more than six or seven bills that have been forgotten,” Rojas pointed out.
“President Santiago Peña finally decided to de-monopolize and today we are hoping to be able to achieve a quick amendment of the law before the end of the year and the parliamentary closing so that the call for bidding of the betting game is given in a new legislative framework without exclusivity,” she added.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2024/11/27/86735-paraguay-bill-to-end-gambling-monopoly-gets-preliminary-approval-in-chamber-of-deputies
