Peru considers online gaming legalisation
Licenced market could be worth $200m according to officials
Peruvian legislators have put forward a bill that would legalise online betting and egaming in the country.
The bill includes three specific objectives: a transparent, equal market, protection measures for vulnerable groups and the prevention of illegal gambling.
Games which are expressly permitted in the bill include virtual slots, virtual bingo, virtual card games, virtual roulette, virtual dice, fantasy sports, sports betting, including on electronic sports, bets on non-sports competitions; and any other game defined by the regulator, the Dirección General de Juegos de Casino y Máquinas Tragamonedas (DGJCMT).
Under the legislation, any operator wishing to enter the Peruvian market must first obtain a certificate of compliance from a regulated testing or compliance body and every egaming provider must be a legal entity registered in the Unique Taxpayers Registry (RUC) with fiscal domicile in the country. However, the server by which the operator offers egaming is not required to be domiciled in Peru.
All betting and egaming operators will be taxed at a rate of 10% of the gross profit from the operation of any betting and egaming activities.
The DGJCMT is given regulatory powers to issue, amend and revoke licenses where applicable, request documentation for inspection where applicable and to institute new regulations where needed.It is also given the power to sanction unlicensed operators and block the ISP’s of any egaming and betting operators targeting Peruvian citizens without first obtaining a licence.
Sanctions enforceable by the DGJCMT include cancellation of an operator’s licence, a fine of between PEN4,150 (£953) and PEN4.15m (£954,209) or disqualification to operate in Peru for a period of up to 10 years.
In addition, all advertising of unlicensed operators through any mass media is prohibited, with operators and advertising agencies subject to sanctions.
Officials have stated that the licenced Peruvian market could be worth as much as $200m, generating over $20m a year in taxes for authorities.