Ecuador Explores Legalizing Gambling

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa is initiating a survey to gauge public opinion on political matters and the gambling sector. As part of these public consultations, he has presented eleven questions to the Constitutional Court, with the final query addressing the management of gambling.

Since 2011, Ecuador has imposed a ban on bingo halls and casinos, with no regulatory framework for online gambling. This has led to the emergence of a gray market for gambling activities. Noboa is contemplating the relaxation of restrictions on social casinos and the implementation of a national regulatory system to stimulate Ecuador's economy and generate new employment opportunities.

Advocates for the regulatory shift argue that lifting the ban could create jobs for approximately 25,000 Ecuadorians, especially in the 160 gambling establishments that were closed in 2011. Holbach Munieton, the president of the National Federation of Tourist Chambers of Ecuador, expressed support for lifting the ban, stating that allowing the reopening of casinos would have positive impacts not only on tourism but also on trade, industry, and various sectors of the state.

8 January 2024, 15:00

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