2025 has been a decisive year for gambling regulation in Peru. With an operational regulatory framework and a booming digital sector, the DGJCMT has consolidated fundamental advances in formalization, player protection, and technical standards. In this interview with CASINO magazine, Peruvian regulator Yuri Guerra details the achievements and immediate challenges for 2026.
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What do you consider to have been the main advances and achievements of the DGJCMT during 2025?
On February 13, 2025, one year had passed since Law No. 31557 came into effect. During the first year, 60 companies were authorized to operate remote gaming and sports betting technology platforms. Likewise, during this period, 280 linked service providers were registered, and 9 international certification laboratories were accredited.
Peruvian and foreign companies submitted their applications to formalize and obtain the corresponding authorization to continue operating in Peru, a clear indication that the regulation of this activity has been successful. The entry into force of Law No. 31557 and its regulations provides security to bettors, with responsible gaming policies. It also allows for the formalization of the activity and the generation of a regulated economic movement with tax payments.
The Peruvian model for regulating gambling has served as a benchmark in the region for how responsible entertainment can be balanced with economic growth.
With a clear vision and a user-centric approach, Peru demonstrates that effective regulation can become a driver of development, generating benefits for both operators and society as a whole.
What lessons has the implementation of the regulatory framework for remote gaming and sports betting provided, and what will be the main adjustments or priorities for 2026?
The high volume and dynamism of the digital market demanded a rapid legislative and regulatory response (promulgation of the Law in 2022 and the Regulation in 2023, effective in 2024). The main lesson is that regulation must be agile and technologically neutral to encompass constant innovations, and none of this would be possible without inter-institutional coordination.
All of this has led Peru to become a regional benchmark in gambling-related regulatory matters (the third country in Latin America with comprehensive regulations), which reinforces the need to maintain high technical and operational standards.
The priorities of MINCETUR in 2026, as the regulatory body, will focus on optimization, continuous monitoring, and strengthening player protection, along with the proposal to amend the regulations of Law No. 31557.
Internationally, responsible gaming has gained prominence as a pillar of the industry’s sustainability. What strategies are being promoted to reinforce player protection in Peru?
The DGJCMT has established explicit and non-negotiable requirements for all authorized operators, ensuring that protection is the rule, not the exception (submission of a Plan to Prevent Gambling Addiction, staff training, platforms must have a button or quick link to the self-exclusion program and must establish gaming limits or temporary suspension of play, rigorous KYC methods to ensure the absolute prohibition of access to minors).
On the other hand, MINCETUR conducts awareness campaigns aimed at educating citizens about the risks and where to seek help, and maintains fluid coordination with the Ministry of Health to ensure that players seeking help or identified with problems are channeled to gambling addiction services.
In this way, the DGJCMT reinforces player protection, aligning the Peruvian regulatory model with international best practices for sustainability and social responsibility in the gaming industry.
Various operators have highlighted the attractiveness of the Peruvian market due to its stable and competitive framework. What trends do you observe in terms of investment, modernization of venues, and new players in the sector?
Peru has stood out as an example to follow in gambling regulation, achieving a balance between consumer protection, operational transparency, and the promotion of economic development. This regulatory framework covers various modalities, including slot machines, casinos, remote gaming, and online sports betting, consolidating itself as a model that promotes both security and sustainable industry growth.
Currently, Peru, through MINCETUR, has positioned itself as a prominent example in gambling regulation, adopting a balanced approach that prioritizes both consumer protection and economic development. The Peruvian regulatory framework covers a wide range of activities, including slot machines, casinos, remote gaming, and online sports betting, establishing standards that guarantee transparency, security, and trust.
In the case of casino games and slot machines, Peruvian regulation has implemented strict technical controls to ensure fair results and prevent fraudulent practices. Furthermore, responsible gaming measures, such as time limits and warnings about associated risks, have been introduced to protect the most vulnerable players. This has not only benefited users but has also generated employment and contributed to the country’s economic development.
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Recently, you were recognized by the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL). What does this represent on a personal and institutional level?
It represents a milestone of enormous significance for MINCETUR and for the country, as it not only validates institutional effort but also has a direct impact on the visibility and credibility of the Peruvian regulatory model before the international community of operators and investors.
This recognition elevates Peru’s profile by transferring the success of MINCETUR’s management from the local sphere to the global gaming elite, consolidating our jurisdiction as a safe, integral, and highly professional market for investment and operation of remote gaming and betting.
Beyond fiscal revenues, the gaming sector generates employment, innovation, and tourism development. How is its real impact on the economy and communities being measured and communicated?
As an expert in gambling regulation in Peru, and focusing on MINCETUR’s perspective, it is crucial to understand that the impact of regulation is measured and communicated through pillars that go beyond fiscal collection.
MINCETUR’s objective, as the governing body for tourism, is to integrate this formalized sector into the national economy under a vision of sustainable and responsible development.
MINCETUR communicates that its success is not only about revenue collection but is based on formalization, financial traceability, investment, and social responsibility, ensuring that the benefits of gaming return to society through tourism and sports.
In this regard, official figures for projected revenue (e.g., S/160 million annually) are disseminated in reports and press conferences, validating Law 31557 as a significant source of income that also finances national and international tourism campaigns and the improvement of tourist attractions, in addition to communicating that the betting sector contributes to the improvement of sports infrastructure and the development of athletes.
What topics do you believe will shape next year’s agenda? Where is the modernization of the regulatory framework heading in a context of global digital transformation?
For the upcoming year 2026, MINCETUR’s agenda, through the Directorate General of Casino Games and Slot Machines (DGJCMT), will focus on consolidating oversight and adapting to technology to maintain regional leadership.
The main topics that will shape the agenda and where the modernization of the regulatory framework is heading are:
a) Blocking of platforms operating without a Peruvian license (in coordination with entities such as the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
b) Increased monitoring of compliance with technical standards and real-time operation traceability, ensuring the correct settlement of prizes and the security of gaming software.
c) Reinforcement of compliance with the System for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism.
d) Modernization of the Regulatory Framework, aiming to maintain the technological neutrality of the law while adapting to the new realities of digital gaming.
Looking ahead to the new year, what is your message to operators, manufacturers, suppliers, and other stakeholders in Peru’s gaming ecosystem?
The Peruvian State demands a consolidation of legality and an unwavering commitment to social responsibility. All operators and suppliers are expected to rigorously comply with current regulations, especially ensuring effective player protection through robust self-exclusion and limit systems. Formalization is non-negotiable, and commitment to ethics and transparency is the only way for the sector to remain a strategic ally that contributes sustainably to the country’s development.
