🇧🇴For operators · Tax, marketing & compliance
Bolivia for operators: no online regime
Bolivia's 2010 gambling law creates a grey market for online gaming, as it lacks a specific licensing process. The AJ licenses land-based venues and tolerates offshore sites, but actively pursues illegal local operations. A major tax reform to eliminate the 30% operator and 15% player taxes is advancing in 2026.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Bolivia is available on request. Request it
Annual GGR110M USDOperator tax30%Active licensees0(Online Licenses Issued) / ~6 (Land-Based Permits Only)Framework2010
Product by product
| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| Online betting · Online casino · Online poker | Unregulated |
| Lottery | Licensed |
Regulator and player protection in Bolivia
Regulator
Application authority and enforcement body
Mandatory RG controls
No limit imposed on players
Deposit limits or reality checks the law requires operators to offer
Advertising stance
Limited
Whether you can run TV / sponsorship / paid-social campaigns
Heads-up for operators
3 items · last change 8 Oct 2026
Bill PL 265/2025-2026, filed in the Chamber of Deputies on 26 February 2026, would replace Law 060 with a new Ley de Juegos de Azar: it would close the Autoridad de Fiscalización del Juego (AJ), make the Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas Públicas the competent authority, and treats the gambling tax and the participation tax as abolished ('extintos'). Its outcome after filing is not known.
Potential Approval of Gambling Tax Elimination
The tax elimination bill is advancing through the legislature in 2026. If passed, it would remove the primary fiscal barriers for potential future regulation and investment.
Source: 1
Bill to Eliminate All Gambling Taxes Proposed
The executive branch submitted a bill to Congress to abolish the 30% operator tax and the 15% player tax as part of a major pro-investment fiscal reform.
Source: 2
Not yet in force: drafts, laws adopted without a start date, and sections of the law still to be commenced. An item moves to the timeline below on the day it takes effect.
Licence Types in Bolivia
5 licence types are listed for Bolivia; each says who issues it and what it covers.
| Licence | Regulator | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casino Licence | AJ | Unspecified | For full-scale land-based casino establishments. |
| Slot-hall Licence | AJ | Unspecified | For venues operating gaming machines. |
| Bingo Hall Licence | AJ | Unspecified | For physical bingo operations. |
| Promotional Gaming Authorisation | AJ | Per-event | For business promotions involving prize draws or chance. |
| National Lottery | State Monopoly | Statutory | Operated by Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia y Salubridad (LONABOL). |
Licensing model
Bolivia's online gambling regulation works under a 'ghost statute'. The governing law, Law No. 060 of 2010, was enacted before online gambling became widespread. Its Article 9 contains broad language covering games via 'digital, technological, or electronic' means, but it lacks a specific licensing framework for online-only operators, so no local online licences are issued and the position is a legal grey area.
Gambling tax: 30% of GGR
Detail
Licensed operators pay a 30% Impuesto al Juego (IJ) on gross income. A bill proposed in late 2025 and pending legislative approval in 2026 seeks to eliminate this tax entirely to attract foreign investment and combat the unlicensed market.
Year-1 cost: fee schedule not yet published
Bolivia does not offer licences for online gambling. For land-based operations, the primary legislation (Law 060) and the regulator's website do not provide a public schedule of fees.
| Line item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Land-based Casino Licence Fee | no published fee schedule Source3 | The regulator (AJ) does not publish a fee schedule for casino licences. |
| Online Casino Licence Fee | Not available | Bolivia does not have an online casino licensing framework. |
| Online Sports Betting Licence Fee | Not available | Bolivia does not have an online sports betting licensing framework. |
| Lottery Licence | State monopoly | The national lottery is operated by the state-owned LONABOL. |
| Operator GGR Tax | 30% on gross income Source4 | Applies to licensed land-based operations. A bill to eliminate this tax is pending in 2026. |
Year 1 estimate
Year 1 cannot be totalled: gov fee schedule not published
No online licences are offered, and fees for land-based operations are not publicly available.
Which foreign licences Bolivia accepts
All 8 foreign licences listed here are tolerated in Bolivia.
ToleratedMalta (MGA) · United Kingdom (UKGC) · Gibraltar (GRA) · Isle of Man (GSC) · Curaçao · Kahnawake (KGC) · Anjouan (AGB) · Alderney (AGCC)
The AJ does not actively block sites with this licence unless they engage in local marketing, but the licence has no legal standing in Bolivia.
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses allowed
Inducement ads: Channel-restricted
As there is no specific licensing regime for online gambling, explicit regulations for bonuses and promotions do not exist. Foreign operators function in a legal grey area, and while bonuses are offered, any business promotion technically requires authorization from the gaming authority (AJ).
What the player can claim
- Welcome bonus
- Allowed
- VIP schemes
- Allowed
- Loyalty schemes
- Allowed
- Cashback
- Allowed
While loyalty programs are generally allowed in the unregulated market, a 2024 resolution on business promotions prohibits the transfer of points from such schemes to other activities.
What the operator can advertise
- Channels off-limits
- Public social media platforms by influencers and 'tiktokers'
- Messages ads may not give
- Risk-Free
- Guaranteed Win
- Penalties
The AJ can impose sanctions for unauthorized business promotions. In 2024, it issued fines totaling approximately 314,000 USD to illegal gambling operations.
Illegal gambling operations can lead to criminal charges, payment blocking, and site suspension.
Enforcement actions are directed at shutting down entirely illegal operations rather than policing the advertising and promotional conduct of specific operators for bonus violations.
How Bolivia enforces against unlicensed operators
The AJ's enforcement is active for a grey market, but its focus is narrow. It aggressively pursues any gambling operation with a physical footprint in Bolivia (illegal slot halls) and has extended its actions to criminal proceedings against local individuals running online operations via social media. It does not systematically block all offshore sites, but it has demonstrated the capability to do so.
- October 2023: Coordinated with state agencies to suspend access to 27 unlicensed offshore betting and casino websites.
- July 2025: Initiated criminal proceedings against organizers of an illegal online sports betting platform that used a website and WhatsApp groups.
- September 2025: Initiated administrative proceedings against more than 20 illegal 'virtual bingos' promoted on social media.
- Ongoing: Conducts regular raids on illegal land-based gambling dens, seizing hundreds of unauthorized gaming machines annually.
Sources9
Enforcement cases in Bolivia: 4 recent
Material regulator actions, court rulings, and high-profile fines from 2016–2026 against operators serving Bolivia. Each entry includes the technical failure and a one-line read-across for other operators in the market.
- September 2025
Unnamed virtual bingo operators
Grey-MarketAdministrative proceedings initiatedOperating more than 20 illegal virtual bingos promoted via social media and messaging apps.
Read-across: Indicates the regulator is actively monitoring social media and messaging channels for illegal gambling promotions, which raises the risk for operators using these platforms.
- July 2025
Unnamed domestic online platform
Grey-MarketCriminal proceedings initiatedOperating an unlicensed online sports betting platform using a website, WhatsApp groups, and QR code payments.
Read-across: Signals an escalation in enforcement: the regulator now pursues criminal charges against illegal online operators within Bolivia.
- 2024
Various Unnamed Operators
Grey-MarketFine Bs2.1M (approx. $314k)A collection of fines levied against various unauthorized land-based and online gambling operations throughout the year.
Read-across: Represents a multi-year high in collected fines, which shows increased overall enforcement intensity against all forms of illegal gambling in the country.
- October 2023
27 Unnamed Offshore Operators
Grey-MarketWebsite access suspendedOperating online casino and betting sites without a license from the national regulator (AJ).
Read-across: Demonstrates the regulator's capability and willingness to coordinate with other state agencies to execute technical blockades against offshore operators.
Market size: 0.11B USD (2025)
Gross gaming revenue in Bolivia is approximately 110 million USD annually. The most popular form of gambling is Football (soccer). A culturally distinctive product in this market is Unregulated digital sports betting and casino verticals dominated by international offshore platforms alongside a state-monopolized national lottery..
Market breakdown by vertical
- Land-based0.0055B USD5.0%
- Sports betting0.0605B USD55.0%
- Casino0.022B USD20.0%
- Lottery0.022B USD20.0%
Source: Slotegrator Province Profiles. Splits: online-casino 20.0%, sports 55.0%, land-based 5.0%, lottery 20.0%.
GGR figure10
Licensed operators: 0 (Online Licenses Issued) / ~6 (Land-Based Permits Only)
As of 8 Oct 2026, 0 (Online Licenses Issued) / ~6 (Land-Based Permits Only) are on the register in Bolivia. Size your entry against this base before committing capital.
Notable licensed operators
Traps operators hit in Bolivia
Specific operational risks that have caught new entrants in this market. Each item is country-specific. Generic gambling-ops issues (KYC, RG tools) are not included unless they have a local twist.
Assuming 'Grey Market' Means No Enforcement
While Bolivia lacks an online licensing regime, the AJ actively monitors and pursues operators who establish any form of local presence. This includes using local payment processors, advertising on Bolivian social media, or using local agents, which can trigger website blocking and criminal proceedings.
Sources11
Promoting via Social Media and Messaging Apps
The AJ has explicitly targeted illegal gambling operations promoted via Facebook, WhatsApp, and other social channels. Operators using these platforms to acquire Bolivian players are at high risk of being identified and becoming targets for administrative or legal action.
Sources9
Use of Cryptocurrency for Payments
The Central Bank of Bolivia strictly prohibits the use of cryptocurrencies. Any operator facilitating crypto-based deposits or withdrawals for Bolivian players is violating national financial regulations, creating significant legal and operational risk beyond just gambling laws.
Sources12
Timeline: rules in force
- July 2025
Criminal Proceedings Launched Against Illegal Online Operation
The AJ escalated its enforcement by initiating criminal charges against a locally-run online sports betting ring that used social media and QR code payments.
Source: 9
- October 2023
AJ Blocks 27 Offshore Gambling Websites
In a significant enforcement action, the AJ coordinated the suspension of access to 27 international online betting and casino sites operating without a local licence.
Source: 9
- November 2010
Law No. 060 Enacted
The 'Ley de Juegos de Lotería y de Azar' was passed, establishing the foundational legal framework for land-based gambling and creating the regulator (AJ).
Source: 3
Operator myths vs reality in Bolivia
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythA Curaçao or Malta licence is sufficient to operate legally in Bolivia.Reality
No foreign licence has legal standing in Bolivia. While the AJ tolerates offshore sites that keep a low profile, it will take action, including ISP blocking, against those deemed to be actively targeting the Bolivian market.
Sources9
- MythBecause there is no online licensing, the AJ has no power over online operators.Reality
The AJ has proven its ability to block websites (as seen in October 2023) and pursue criminal charges against any part of an online operation it can reach within Bolivia's borders (as seen in July 2025).
Sources11
- MythThe proposed 2026 tax elimination means Bolivia is about to regulate online gambling.Reality
The tax reform is a standalone fiscal measure to encourage investment. While it makes the market more attractive and could be a precursor to regulation, the government has not yet announced concrete plans to create an online licensing framework.
Sources13
Markets that work like Bolivia
Compared on what our records hold for each country: whether online casino, betting, poker and lottery are licensed, state-run or banned, the licensing model, what the operator tax is levied on and its band, how most advertising channels are treated, and how foreign licences are treated. A point we hold for only one of the two countries counts for nothing.
- GambiaAI overview
Online casino, betting and poker unregulated; lottery licensed; GGR tax 30–40%; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly tolerated.
- SurinameAI overview
Online casino, betting and poker unregulated; lottery licensed; GGR tax 30–40%; foreign licences mostly tolerated.
- Burkina FasoAI overviewEswatiniAI overview
Online casino, betting and poker unregulated; lottery licensed; tax on GGR; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly tolerated.
- MaliAI overview
Online casino, betting and poker unregulated; lottery licensed; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly tolerated.
Methodology & sources
This page is a Quick AI overview: a summary of public information, not yet checked against the law or the regulator. Treat it as a starting point. It has not yet been through our Deep AI Scan.
How we researchAsk us to run the Deep AI Scan for Bolivia
Documents cited on this page
- 1iGaming Today News
- 2Bill PL 265/2025-2026 (Tax Reform)
- 3Law No. 060 of November 25, 2010
- 4Law No. 060 of November 25, 2010, Art. 28
- 5Mundo Video - Record Fines in 2024
- 6Compliance Latam - Business Promotions
- 7Mondaq - Bolivia Advertising Guide
- 8Correo del Sur - Suspension of Online Pages
- 9Correo del Sur - Guide to Online Gambling Regulation in Bolivia (2026)
- 10Slotegrator Province Profiles
- 11La Región - The Legal Situation of Online Casinos in Bolivia
- 12Wise.com - Payment Methods in Bolivia
- 13iGaming Expert - Bolivia to End Ineffective Gambling Taxes
Looking for the player guide?
For consumer-facing information about gambling in Bolivia (tax on winnings, where to play legally, self-exclusion options), see the Bolivia player guide.
Disclaimer. This page reflects the law as we understood it on 8 Oct 2026. Rules change: always check the current position with Autoridad de Fiscalización del Juego (AJ) (Gaming and Lottery Control Authority). We are not a legal adviser.