Paraguayan Casino and Card Room Gaming

The casino industry in Paraguay is run by a number of private operators under the regulation of the Comisión Nacional de Juegos de Azar (CONAJZAR). The Paraguayan government has historically collected a fixed monthly fee from each of the casinos operating in the country. In 2005, the tax structure was revised to help expose illegal gambling operations and contribute more resources to the enforcement of gaming laws.

Slot halls in Paraguay, while technically under the jurisdiction of CONAJZAR, only need permission from local government in order to operate. Slot halls are not allowed to offer table games or poker, but there is a large number that disregard this restriction and offer those games anyway. CONAJZAR is aware of the situation and is seeking to change gambling law to require these slot halls to register with CONAJZAR.

In September 2016, CONAJZAR passed a ruling banning slot machines from public places, convenience stores and other small businesses. Slot halls are now required to be located at least 500 meters away from any educational facilities.

In July 2017, president Cartes submitted a bill seeking to allow the government to operate gambling establishments and giving greater regulatory power to CONAJZAR.

Since then, Law 6903/2022 and related measures have gone further and formally banned slot machines from non-gaming venues such as bars, grocery stores and pharmacies, placing responsibility on municipalities to work with CONAJZAR to enforce the ban, seize and destroy illegal machines, and fine offenders.

In 2024–2025, Paraguay approved landmark reforms (Law 7348/2025 and related amendments) that clarified CONAJZAR’s powers under the National Directorate of Tax Revenue (DNIT), introduced prison terms of up to five years for illegal gambling, and opened the door to ending exclusive monopolies in sectors such as sports betting and Quiniela.