In Bolivia, the lack of political decisions regarding gambling is leading to regulatory issues and lost tax revenue, particularly in the online sector
Bolivia, one of the largest countries on the South American continent, has a population of just 12.29 million people and a GDP of $65.85 billion.
Bolivia
Seventy-two percent of the population lives in urban areas, and the average life expectancy is 68–70 years. The Autoridad de Fiscalizacion del Juego is the regulatory authority responsible for the gambling sector in this South American country. The fundamental law governing gambling activities in Bolivia is Law 060 of 2010.
The Gambling Industry in Bolivia: An Overview
According to worldcasinodirectory.com, Bolivia has two licensed casinos, one bingo license, 38 gaming tables, and 54 slot machines. These gambling facilities are located in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, with Casino Flamingo being the largest establishment.
According to a report published on March 18 on the website of Bolivia’s gambling regulatory and control authority (aj.gob.bo), 1,226 licenses were approved in 2025, payments totaling 573 million bolivianos (the Bolivian national currency)—equivalent to approximately $80 million—were made to players from winnings recorded at gaming establishments. At first glance, Bolivia’s gambling sector had a very strong year in 2025.
The market appears to be active and growing. The same AJ press release states that “in the fight against illegal gambling, 82 illegal gambling establishments were raided, leading to the seizure of 119 gambling machines and the destruction of 230 illegal gambling machines and devices seized nationwide.”
It appears that Bolivian authorities have their hands full with illegal activity. Our observation, citing a report published on the institution’s website in November 2025 which states that many actions to combat the black market have also taken place in smaller cities, reveals that the phenomenon of illegal gambling is widespread nationwide. In addition to the capital, La Paz, cities such as Cochabamba and Santa Cruz rank among the top locations for illegal land-based gambling activities.
From what I can tell, people in Bolivia gamble for small amounts, so I don’t foresee any potential addiction issues in the near future.
Last year, the regulatory authority reported several cases of unlicensed bingo games being organized via social media. The mechanism was simple: players bought cheap digital tickets on TikTok and paid using bank transfers via QR codes. The ticket draw was then streamed live online.
These illegal games rely more on volume than on high stakes. People spend small amounts in an unregulated game that doesn’t exist physically, making it easier to control, and each player’s financial footprint is minimal. Yet the phenomenon is concerning.
However, there is a sense that the market is moving just as fast—if not faster—than the institutions meant to oversee it.
The Scourge of Match-Fixing in footbal
Bolivia has a problem with fair play in sports, particularly in footbal. One issue highlighted in online news reports about sports in Bolivia—closely tied to the betting industry, for example—is match-fixing in soccer. This has become a scourge in the country.
In September 2023, the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) suspended the 2023 Primera División championship and the Simon Bolivar Cup due to serious allegations of corruption. The president of the Bolivian Football Federation, Fernando Costa, reported widespread corruption involving players, referees, and club officials, which led to the cancellation of the tournaments.
Integrity issues persisted into early 2025, when five soccer players from Real Santa Cruz were involved in the manipulation of three soccer matches played in 2024.
More recently, Bolivia’s Gaming Control Authority (AJ) confirmed a large-scale operation against an illegal casino operation in Bolivia. The operation was disguised as a restaurant, and players were recruited to gamble via the WhatsApp app. In a market where inspections are frequent, the illegal operators also used an extensive network of surveillance cameras to avoid detection.
Online Gambling in Bolivia
Although online gambling is prohibited in Bolivia, there are limited licenses for land-based gambling, which, however, operate under strict regulations. This situation has led to the issuance of a single legal license in Santa Cruz and has likely allowed the gray and black markets to thrive and take advantage of existing loopholes.
Currently, there is a proposal to reform the legislative framework governing Bolivia’s gambling sector; however, although it was first introduced in 2020, it remains in a prolonged deliberation phase.
Most online gambling operators targeting Bolivian players hold licenses issued in other jurisdictions, such as Malta, Gibraltar, or Curaçao. These operators often comply with the regulations of the licensing authority, which may or may not be consistent with Bolivian law.
This lack of a clear licensing process has led to calls for the Bolivian government to establish a more robust and transparent regulatory framework, which could help regulate the sector, protect players, and generate tax revenue for the country.
At the heart of the potential legislative change is the inclusion of online gambling within the country’s legal framework. A key aspect in this regard is the ability to attract new investors to the sector, stimulate job creation, and generate wealth throughout the country.
In April 2024, Jessica Saravia Atristain, the former executive director of AJ (Bolivia’s current Minister of Justice), proposed a strict regulatory framework to the industry. One of the proposed plans called for commissioning a study to determine the size of the online gambling market, particularly in cities such as Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, La Paz, Tarija, and Sucre, where this sector has experienced spectacular growth.
Conclusion
The modernization of Bolivia’s gambling sector is absolutely necessary. In the land-based sector, the regulatory authority is cracking down on illegal gambling, closing venues, confiscating gaming machines, and destroying them, while in the online sector, operators already active in the country are awaiting legalization; however, they cannot obtain licenses or pay specific taxes and fees because the legal framework has not yet been established and approved by the authorities.
In conclusion, the lack of political decisions regarding the sector and the absence of a clear licensing process hinder the regulation and taxation of the sector and pose a real challenge for operators seeking to expand in this country.
Sources: igamingtoday.com, playerprotectionhub.com, statista.com, aj.gob.bo, igamingbrazil.com, sigma.world
