Peru blocks 36 unlicensed gambling sites as enforcement push intensifies

Peru's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) has ordered internet service providers to block access to 36 remote gambling and sports-betting platforms that were operating without a license. The directive was executed by Mincetur's General Directorate of Casino Games and Slot Machines in coordination with the Ministry of Transport and Communications, under the authority of Law No. 31557.

The regulatory framework for online gambling took effect in February 2024 via Supreme Decree No. 005-2023-MINCETUR. It mandates that both domestic and foreign operators targeting Peruvian players obtain a license, register their technology, and adhere to rules on player protection, advertising, and tax obligations. Blocking powers are a core enforcement tool designed to keep unlicensed sites from competing with authorized operators. Licensed remote gambling is also subject to taxes administered by Peru's tax authority, Sunat.

Alongside the digital crackdown, Mincetur carried out physical inspections in the municipalities of Ancón, Pomalca, and Catacaos. Working with the Peruvian National Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office, authorities seized 39 slot machines from four unlicensed establishments. In a separate Ancón location, one machine was confiscated after being made accessible to minors. Peruvian law prohibits any gambling equipment intended for children or adolescents, including its manufacture, assembly, import, and sale.

Mincetur reports that it has ordered the closure of 14 sports-betting outlets and six slot-machine halls so far. Regional enforcement actions have also taken place, such as the closure of an unauthorized betting shop in Juliaca in March, where 15 computers were impounded.

The enforcement effort marks a shift from Peru's initial licensing and formalization phase into ongoing supervision of digital platforms, retail venues, and service providers. Mincetur maintains public registers of authorized gaming locations, platforms, and registered suppliers.

Under Peru's Penal Code, promoting or participating in illegal gambling can lead to administrative penalties and prison terms of one to four years. Separately, Peru's consumer protection authority has opened 13 preliminary investigations into influencer-driven gambling promotions between March and June 2026. The probes are examining whether the advertised platforms hold Mincetur authorization and whether paid content includes the mandatory disclosures and gambling warnings.