The Bolivian gaming regulator issued 1,226 local gambling licenses throughout the year 2025, a matter that was conveyed in a regulatory update on March 18, the day of the announcement. Unfortunately, the regulator did not reveal how the licenses were divided between B2C and B2B.
On the other hand, Autoridad de Juegos (AJ) revealed that it had already consumed more than 90 percent of its annual budget. The vast majority of the money was directed towards obtaining more effective control of the industry and stepping up enforcement activities all over the country.
Besides, most of the budget was dedicated to activities such as the regulation of lotteries, various gambling operations supervision including raffles, and business promotion at the national level. Furthermore, the organization distributes prizes to the value of 573 million bolivianos, which roughly translates to 82.8 million US dollars, through promotions and raffles within a year.
The regulator says that license issuing in such a large quantity has revealed the “interest of the administrators in performing their activities within the legal framework”. The report was presented at a virtual hearing on March 18, done in compliance with Bolivia’s constitution which mandates public institutions to present an account of their performance and use of public resources.
Strong Focus on Cracking Down on Illegal Gambling
Enforcement activities against the illicit market were ramped up considerably during the 12-month timeframe. The AJ executed raids on 82 illegal gambling dens, confiscated 119 gaming devices and dismantled 230 machines and other illicit gambling equipment without authorization in various parts of the country.
Special interventions were also carried out in the outskirts of Cochabamba, where the authorities closed down a number of illegal gaming spots that were operating without any official oversight.
From the operational perspective, the regulator has been able to get its processes certified by ISO 9001:2015 after undergoing an external audit by ICONTEC from Colombia. This milestone is a significant step that will lead to improved and standardized regulatory practices not only at a local level but also in the broader Latin American region.
Market Growth and Ongoing Challenges
Bolivia’s gambling sector has expanded very rapidly during recent years and it was mainly retail lotteries and raffles that have been fueling this growth. Besides, there was also a sizable rise in promotional business activities. Nonetheless, the integrity of sports betting can still be called into question and signals a requirement for very strong regulatory supervision.
Especially in football, the issues were brought to the fore again in February when the players of Club Real Santa Cruz were allegedly involved in a match-fixing scandal.
