Peru revises online gambling regulations after its first year: lower fines, a cap of 10% of revenues and new obligations

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru (Mincetur) has published through Ministerial Resolution 382-2026-MINCETUR the draft supreme decree that modifies the regulations of Law 31557, the law that regulates remote gaming and remote sports betting. According to its explanatory memorandum, the reform is based on the experience of the first year of application of the regulation and has been prepared with the unions of the formal sector and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The most striking change is the reduction of fines. Now minor infractions are sanctioned with up to 50 UIT (about 71,500 euros), serious infractions with between 50 and 150 UIT (about 214,600 euros) and very serious infractions with between 150 and 200 UIT (about 286,100 euros). The UIT is the tax unit, the reference used by Peru to set penalties, and in 2026 it is equivalent to 5,500 soles (about 1,430 euros). The project proposes that minor offences should be punished with a warning or a fine of 1 to 11 UIT (from about 1,430 to 15,700 euros), serious offences from 1 to 35 UIT (up to about 50,100 euros) and very serious offences from 1 to 70 UIT (up to about 100,100 euros). For very serious offences, the cancellation of authorisation and disqualification for up to ten years or permanent are maintained.

The text also adds a ceiling: no fine may exceed 10% of the gross income that the offender obtained the previous year. The limit does not apply to recidivism or sanctions for unauthorized exploitation of platforms or betting rooms, that is, illegal gambling. The ministry justifies the change with the search for a range of fines "more in line with the reality of the sector so that they have a deterrent effect and are not overdeterrent".

The reform also specifies obligations for holders of authorisations and their suppliers. They affect the punctual payment of balances and prizes, the use of means of payment, responsible advertising, warnings about gambling addiction and access controls to prevent minors and self-excluded people from gambling. In supervision, the project replaces direct and permanent access to operators' systems with a model of structured reports, traceability, independent audits and access on specific request. In addition, it regulates the confiscation, abandonment and destruction of property linked to illegal gambling.

According to the explanatory memorandum, there are 4,559 authorized sports betting rooms in Peru. The project is in public consultation for 15 calendar days. Comments can be sent through the gob.pe/mincetur portal, at the ministry's parts table or to the email apuestasdeportivas@mincetur.gob.pe. The reform comes as the Peruvian Congress studies another project that raises the tax on each online bet to 5%.