A gambling license in Paraguay is a state concession. The Comisión Nacional de Juegos de Azar (CONAJZAR) awards each nationwide game by public tender, and since Law 7438/2025, it can name up to three concessionaires per game instead of one.
Online gambling in Paraguay therefore has no open application window. An operator enters when a tender for its game is published, wins it, and signs the concession contract.
TL;DR
- Regulator: CONAJZAR, which now operates under the national tax authority DNIT.
- License type: A concession awarded by public tender. Nationwide concessions also need approval from the Executive.
- Cap: Up to three concessionaires per game.
- Online casino: Listed as an authorized game under the 2025 law. The CONAJZAR and DNIT notices we reviewed (through July 2026) show no online casino tender yet.
- Cost: Set in each tender. The 2026 lottery concessions were awarded at a 19% monthly canon, and corporate income tax is 10%.
Paraguay Gambling License at a Glance
| Quiniela (lottery) | Sports betting | Online casino | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Two concessions awarded April 17, 2026 | One exclusive concession | Authorized game, no tender published |
| Holders | TDP SA and the Daruma SAM–Caproni–Dataforge consortium | Daruma SAM (Aposta.la) | None |
| Term | 5 years (60 months) | Through 2028 | Set in the tender |
| Cost | 19% of monthly gross revenue, with a guaranteed minimum canon | Set in the 2022 tender | Set in the tender |
| Timeline | Roughly five months from tender opening in late 2025 to award | Tender 01/2022 | Depends on when CONAJZAR calls it |
Data verified as of October 2026. Confirm current tender status directly with CONAJZAR before planning a filing.
Who Regulates Gambling in Paraguay
CONAJZAR is responsible for licensing and overseeing games of chance through Law 1016/1997, modified by Law 7438/2025. After the modification, it functions within the Dirección Nacional de Ingresos Tributarios (DNIT) that evaluates the bidding terms prepared by CONAJZAR, makes payments of the canon, and performs inspections on behalf of CONAJZAR. The Executive signs off on nationwide concessions. After Decree 5971 in May 2026, a General Directorate of Gambling also exists as the technical body behind enforcement.
The law authorizes casinos, lotteries, bingo, quiniela, electronic games, sports betting, horse racing, lotteries, and online casinos. New game types start with a provisional permit and go to public tender after three years of operation, according to law firm Ferrere.
How Paraguay's Gambling Regime Has Moved
- 2022 – Tender 01/2022 awards the sports betting concession to Daruma SAM. Rival bidders challenge it, and CONAJZAR says the courts dismissed those claims at first instance and the second instance.
- January 2025 – Law 7438 takes effect, moves CONAJZAR under DNIT, and lifts the one-concessionaire model.
- 2025 – Decree 3846/2025 regulates the law and lets the CONAJZAR head order blocks of unauthorized sites and removal of their advertising.
- April 17, 2026 – Resolution 47/2026 awards two quiniela concessions under Tender 01/2025. Decree 5971 formalizes them in early May.
- July 2026 – CONAJZAR restates that Daruma SAM holds the only sports betting concession while it remains in force.
What a Concession License Holder Has to Show
The tender documents define the exact bar for each game, so read them before anything else. The 2022 sports betting tender asked for locally established companies with financial capacity and specific experience, and that is what the losing consortium contested. Winners of the 2026 round must post performance guarantees before the contract is signed, under section V of the tender terms. The income from gambling finds its way into government coffers via the canon that is divided equally between the municipalities, governorates, charity directorate DIBEN, and the Treasury.
Apart from gambling licensing, other areas include information transfer and technical standards, which featured prominently in the SAGSE Paraguay 2026 conference.
What a Software Provider Covers
A platform vendor does not hold the concession, and no vendor can stand in for it. The concessionaire owns the license and the relationship with CONAJZAR. A platform provider handles the product underneath – casino and sportsbook under one back office, local payment integration, and settlement in guaraníes. BSW’s custom platform can go live in one day once the legal authorization is in place, and the sportsbook and betting terminals fit cash-heavy retail networks.
How Paraguay Enforces Its Gambling Laws
Enforcement is active. CONAJZAR has ordered blocks on domains and platforms used to operate, sell, advertise, or take payments for unauthorized online gambling, including mirror domains on other extensions. Its head has said clandestine operation is punishable by up to five years in prison. In May 2026, police and prosecutors raided unlicensed venues in Amambay after a CONAJZAR complaint, one of the first operations under the new law.
What Actually Slows Down a Paraguay Entry
The tender calendar is the main brake. For online casinos there is no published date, and a call can arrive with short notice. Executive approval adds weeks after the award, as the quiniela round showed. Disputes over tender terms are the third factor, given the 2022 precedent. Operators who prepare the entity and financials in advance lose the least time when a call opens.
FAQ
Is gambling legal in Paraguay?
Yes, within the concession system. Casinos, lotteries, sports betting, and iGaming are authorized games, but only concession or permit holders may offer them. Unauthorized operation is a criminal offense under Law 1016/1997 and its amendment, with penalties of up to five years in prison.
How can operators apply for a gambling license in Paraguay?
By bidding in a public tender published by CONAJZAR for the specific game. Applicants buy the tender terms, submit financial, legal, and technical documents, and wait for the award and executive approval. There is no standing application form.
Who regulates gambling in Paraguay?
CONAJZAR, which operates inside the tax authority DNIT after Law 7438/2025. CONAJZAR awards concessions and supervises operators, while DNIT approves tender terms, collects the canon, and supports inspections.
What types of gambling licenses are available in Paraguay?
Concessions for nationwide games such as quiniela and sports betting, concessions for land-based casinos, and provisional permits for new game types. iGaming is authorized by law, but we have found no concession round for them yet.
What requirements must gambling license applicants meet?
They are set in each tender. Recent rounds required proven financial capacity, relevant experience, and performance guarantees before contract signing. The 2022 sports betting round favored locally established companies, so check entity requirements early.
How much do gambling licenses, fees, and taxes cost in Paraguay?
The canon is defined per tender. The 2026 quinella concessions pay 19% of monthly gross revenue, with a guaranteed minimum canon. Corporate income tax is 10%. Fees to take part in a tender vary by round.
What rules apply to online gambling, advertising, payments, and player protection in Paraguay?
CONAJZAR can order blocks of unauthorized sites, remove their advertising, and take action against related payment channels. Responsible gambling is a stated priority, and the amended law adds tools to route problem gambling cases to support.
How does Paraguay enforce its gambling laws against unlicensed operators?
Through domain blocking orders, equipment seizures, police raids coordinated with prosecutors, and criminal penalties of up to five years. DNIT’s tax intelligence units now work alongside CONAJZAR on these cases.
Which gambling operators are licensed in Paraguay?
Daruma SAM holds sports betting through Aposta.la. TDP SA and the Daruma SAM–Caproni–Dataforge consortium hold the quiniela. Land-based casinos include Casino Carnaval and Casino Acaray. CONAJZAR keeps a national register of concessionaires and operators.
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