Gambling and Casinos in Peru

Casinos and online games in Peru

In Peru, online gambling does not have any type of regulation, but since it is not illegal, there are a large number of active casinos. Despite the legal vacuum, Internet betting has shown a significant boom in recent years.

There is no national body that controls internet casinos, but in Peru, there are operators with an international license from the Malta Authority, the Curaçao authority or the Isle of Man gaming supervision commission.

Online casinos in Peru offer the possibility of betting in soles or in foreign currency. The most prominent developers in the industry have a presence in the operators, such as Microgaming, Merkur, Habanero, Isoftbet, Playson, NetEnt or Rival Gaming.

In addition, you can find some of the best online casinos, such as LeoVegas, EuropaCasino, Betsson or Jackpot City. There are many slots options, as well as poker, bingo, baccarat, blackjack, roulette or sports betting.

Jackpot games such as Vegas Night Live, Mega Moolah or Divine Fortune stand out, as well as slot machines such as The Great Wall, Spin or Reels, Extra Chilli, table games such as Atlantic City Blackjack, First Person Baccarat or 3-Hand Casino Hold'em, just to give a few examples.

Live dealer casinos in Peru

Despite the lack of regulation, many live casino options can be found in Peru. There are prestigious providers, such as Evolution Gaming, Authentic Gaming, or Playtech.

There are a large number of operators that offer the live casino option, such as Inkabet, Rivalo, LeoVegas, Betfair or Betsson. Games like Evolution Live Casino, Three Card Poker, Crazy Time, Lighting Roulette, Cash or Crash or Casino Hold'em appear active.

Bitcoin Casinos in Peru

In Peru you can bet in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies in casinos like 22bet, Ruby Fortune, 888Casino or Jackpot City. All of these casinos are internationally licensed, either from Malta or Curaçao. Some operators allow you to bet directly in cryptocurrencies and others offer the possibility of exchanging them in wallets such as Neteller.

Physical casinos and slots in Peru

More than 500 casino rooms between large and small venues are available in Peru. All gaming establishments have poker, different slot machines, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, keno or bingo. In the capital, Lima, you will find the largest number of places, especially in the famous and tourist district of Miraflores, which has several casinos that are part of its charms.

All gaming venues are regulated by the Peruvian State, through the General Directorate of Casino Games and Slot Machines , a body dependent on the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism.

Games from the world's leading developers, such as IGT, Bally, Aristocrat, EGT, Novomatic, Microgaming or NetEnt, are available at casinos in Peru. At ChoiceCasino we leave you the list of the best, but you can highlight casinos in Lima, such as Fiesta, Golden Palace, Atlantic City or Majestic, as well as others such as Villa Fortuna in Arequipa, Coliseum in Trujillo, Mystic Slot in Cusco or Casino Las Vegas in Chiclayo.

What games of chance do Peruvians prefer?

Raffles and lotteries are very popular among Peruvians, as is the case with Tinka, Gana Diario or Kabala, which also has a secondary game that is very popular in the country. For its part, sports betting, both locally and on the Internet, has a large number of fans in Peru.

90% of sports bets correspond to soccer, the most popular sport in the country and the number of Peruvians who participate in bets has been increasing considerably, reaching the figure of 5 million in 2021.

In addition, Peruvians are lovers of bingo, keno, blackjack, roulette or slot machines that are very popular in the country, both in physical stores and in online casinos. Within which games like Prosperity Ox, White Rabbit Megaways, or 9 Masks of Fire stand out, just to give a few examples.

Contribution of games of chance to the economy of Peru

The games of chance industry has shown significant growth in Peru and that ends up in large contributions to the coffers of the State. In 2019, the year before the pandemic, the average gaming sale reached $1.6 billion.

According to a report from the General Directorate of Casino Games and Slot Machines of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, 54% of this amount is related to the operation of casinos and slot machines, 22% to sports betting, 6% to the lottery, 5% to horse racing, while 13% is for illegal gambling.

Data from representatives of the gambling sector in Peru, indicate that the annual contribution is 400 million soles to the State. Of this amount, 310 million go to the provincial and district municipalities, in addition to the Peruvian Sports Institute (IPD) and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. For its part, the remaining value corresponds to the Selective Consumption Tax (ISC). In short, from the industry they pay up to 5 different taxes to the Peruvian State, in the midst of a regulation that has been changing in recent years.

Taxes paid by casino players

In Peru there is a gaming tax, which applies to bingo, raffles, raffles or the like. Even in the law there is talk of video games and pinball. The tax rate is 10% of prizes on all games of chance. That discount is made by the company before giving the money to the winner. Likewise, Peruvians and residents must indicate their earnings in the annual income statement.

Self-exclusion and prevention of pathological gambling

Since 2012, Peru has Law 29907, for the prevention and treatment of gambling in casinos and slot machines. With this law, the creation of the registry of people prohibited from accessing establishments intended for the exploitation of casino games was carried out.

The registry includes players who register voluntarily and "those whose ability to judge is affected, which is determined by a Medical Board at the request of the family," says the law.

For voluntary registrations, the minimum period of stay is six months, which are automatically renewable for the same period. The development of a Biennial National Program for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of gambling addiction is also established in the law.

On the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, in the section on gambling, there is information on the inspection and control of slot machines, the law on gambling and its subsequent regulations.

In addition, you can download the format for voluntary registration in the registry, as well as registration at the request of the family.

In the case of online gambling, you do not have the same control, since there is no formal regulation, but each operator offers the player the possibility of placing time or money limits on the game, as well as the option of momentary self-exclusion or definitive.

History of legal gambling in Peru

As in other South American countries, gambling has always generated controversy and controversy in Peru, between people who support it and others who reject it. After a long period outside the law, casino games were regulated in 1979, but it was in July 1990, when the State authorized the presence of slot machines, with the legalization of the installation in hotels.

In February 1991, the first arcade with slot machines was installed in Lima, while the following year, a new law was created, increasing taxes from 3% to 20%.

During those years, casinos began to be installed little by little, which gained great popularity and the industry grew in Peru. The regulatory laws of the games were changing in the country, since in 1999 a controversial law was approved in the parliament, which ended in a judicial process until 2006, when a reorganization of that regulation was carried out.

As of that year, and with the presence of the General Directorate of Casino Games and Slot Machines, another air was given to an industry, which came to experience moments of institutional disorder and tax evasion.

In 2009, new laws were enacted in Peru to prevent the financing of terrorism or money laundering in the gaming industry, while in 2011, a decree was passed that requires the external audit of all slot machines and games. gaming casinos.

In short, since 2006, there has been a reorganization of the industry that has allowed its growth in a legal way, thanks to the fight against clandestine gambling. This consolidation has only been seen in physical casinos, since there has been no regulation of online gambling.

Characteristics of the gaming industry in Peru

The gaming industry is an activity that generates in Peru, more than 1,000 million dollars a year and directly has more than 70 thousand workers. In recent times there has been a growth and consolidation of physical casinos in the country, which are fully regulated and supervised by the General Directorate of Casino Games and Slot Machines.

There are more than 550 gaming rooms in Peru and 20 casino rooms. Most of the establishments are located in Lima. For its part, online gambling, despite experiencing a great boom, still does not have any type of regulation in the country, so there is no national body that supervises, authorizes or controls internet operators.

Given this situation, Peru has a legal vacuum similar to that of other countries in the region, which is why the main online casinos in the world have a presence, with licenses from Malta or Curaçao. There have been several discussions in the national congress and there is a legalization project, which could be approved very soon.

Industry representatives have indicated that a fully regulated market could generate more than 2,000 million dollars for the country, leaving revenues for the State of more than US$200 million annually, figures that speak of the growth and expansion that can occur in Peru.

An example of the importance and relevance of the gaming industry in Peru is that every year the international fair, Peru Gaming Show, is held with exhibits from the main companies in the sector.

In ChoiceCasino you will find the main legal casinos in Peru, both physical and online. To help other players choose the best casino, we ask you to comment on your own experience with some of the operators.

It is not the responsibility of ChoiceCasino, the service provided by legal casinos listed on the web, or any player reviews. Any problem, inconvenience or complaint about any of the gaming establishments must be directed to the General Directorate of Casino Games and Slot Machines. On the website of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, you can get all the necessary information.