The Ministry of Finance of Uruguay has approved a resolution with orders to apply legislative principles to the governance of gambling.
The resolution has been drafted by the National Directorate of Lotteries and Pools (DNLQ) to ensure safer gambling protections are contained in the development of Uruguay’s new gambling regime.
The mandate to modernise Uruguay’s gambling laws and statutory framework is actively sought by the Frente Amplio (FA) government as an economic pledge made by President Yamandú Orsi.
The principles state that all legislative articles submitted to the General Assembly of Uruguay must explicitly include provisions addressing gambling addiction, protection of minors, self-exclusion mechanisms and digital safeguards for online audiences.
As such, the Ministry of Finance will reject any draft gambling legislation that fails to incorporate these minimum consumer protection standards, making safer gambling measures a precondition for laws to progress through parliament in Uruguay.
The tightening of governance comes amid rapid growth in online gambling participation, rising political sensitivity around consumer harm, and increasing concern over unlicensed offshore operators targeting Uruguayan players.
Since taking office in March 2025, President Orsi has sanctioned the launch of public hearings to design a new gambling regime aimed at modernising land-based casinos while formally regulating online betting.
The administration views reform as a tool to generate new tax revenues, upgrade regulatory IT infrastructure, generate foreign investment and strengthen the tourism economy — particularly in response to regulatory shifts underway in neighbouring Argentina and Brazil.
To support investment planning, Frente Amplio has established a Chamber of Casino Service Operators and Investors to advise on licensing opportunities across bingo, sports betting, casinos and gaming halls, excluding lotteries and pools.
Industry stakeholders have told the government that a comprehensive licensing regime could unlock more than $600m in economic investment and create up to 20,000 jobs. However, early legislative proposals have so far failed to meet those expectations.
One online gambling proposal introduced by Senator Felipe Carballo called for the creation of a state-run online gaming platform operated directly by the DNLQ, with only limited private-sector participation “through mixed-licence structures.”
The plan is understood to have underwhelmed senior Frente Amplio figures and President Orsi, with concerns that a hybrid model would fall short of the coalition’s broader investment-led development strategy.
Municipal Matters…
Meanwhile, tensions are rising around the future of Uruguay’s existing municipal casino contracts. In December, the National Association of State Casino Employees of Uruguay (ANFUCE) launched nationwide strikes across municipal casinos during the holiday period, citing labour protections and job security risks linked to the government’s reform agenda.
Union leaders have warned that renegotiation of municipal concessions without formal labour guarantees could trigger further industrial action as legislative changes progress.
As it stands, President Orsi has yet to endorse a draft bill submitted to the Assembly. While Frente Amplio aims to settle legislative proceedings in 2026, the launch of a new gambling regime will need to overcome deeply vested and entrenched interests, which suggests a long road remains before any regulatory settlement is reached.
