Why Open an Online Casino in Peru?
It is no coincidence that Peru is on the iGaming industry's radar. The past decade has brought significant economic change and improved gaming regulation in the country, both offline and online, positioning it as an attractive market for iGaming companies.
Peru was one of the fastest countries in Latin America to recover from COVID, showing continued Growth Domestic Product (GDP) increase of 4.7% in 2024. The country’s GDP per capita is expected to increase by 19.45% in 2030 when compared to the average registered in 2025, and is projected to keep rising as foreign investment pours in. Peru’s strong economic recovery, young digital-savvy population, and clear online gambling legislation are making it a strategic country for iGaming businesses expanding in Latin America.
Key Insights
- Licensing is non-negotiable: All operators and their B2B partners must be licensed/registered with Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Turismo (MINCETUR); unlicensed operations face bans and heavy fines.
- Regulations: Peru’s online casino and betting market is now fully regulated, with Laws 3155, 31806 and Supreme Decree 005-2023-MINCETUR in force since February 2024.
- Crypto is a no-go: Cryptocurrency payments are not allowed under current law; only fiat is permitted.
- Strong Market Growth: With over 1 billion euro in annual online gambling volume and over 80% internet penetration, Peru is among the fastest-growing iGaming markets in Latin America.
- Local Hosting & Compliance: Servers, data, and all player information must be hosted in Peru; software must be certified by labs like GLI or BMM.
- Player Preferences: Football betting, mobile-first experiences, and cash-based local payment solutions (like PagoEfectivo).
The Evolution of Gambling in Peru: a Historical Overview
How to Open an Online Casino in Peru | SOFTSWISSCloser to the present day, there were two significant moments in the evolution of casinos and gambling in Peru. In 2006, the Casino and Slot Machine Gaming Activity Law was enacted and approved with many new conditions, including increased taxes. In 2009, new regulations were issued requiring casinos, halls, and companies to conduct internal audits and designate funds to combat the financing of crimes such as money laundering or other illicit activities.
Finally, on 13 August 2023, the long-awaited Law N 31557, which regulates online casinos and betting businesses, was published. This way, Peru's iGaming situation changed utterly, joining the list of regulated countries in LatAm, such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Panama.
The iGaming Market in Peru
Starting an online casino in Peru can be very attractive because Peruvians have been playing and betting for years. Peru currently has a well-established land-based gambling market.
Today, there are more than 20 casino halls with 250 gaming tables. In terms of slot machines, there are more than 700 registered gaming halls with almost 75,000 slot machines, distributed in various locations, including 60 hotels and 150 restaurants. The physical gaming industry, in 2022, produced an average of 122 million euro and generated more than 87,000 formal jobs in the country.
iGaming in Peru, or the Peruvian online gambling market, is of particular interest. On the one hand, the numbers show that the Peruvian population has a strong gaming culture. Even more vital is the passion for sports, mainly football. The enduring popularity of sports betting in Peru is evident in the robust numbers of the iGaming industry, with promising forecasts for future growth.
In 2024, the revenue from online casino games and sports betting reached over 291,90 million euro. This figure is expected to grow 6.19% from 2024, reaching 390 million euro by 2029. These figures place Peru among the top 5 markets in Latin America that generate the most money from the iGaming industry.
The growth of the iGaming industry in Peru is significantly influenced by advancements in technical and technological infrastructure. This progress began when the pandemic underscored the connectivity gap in Peru. Many students and workers in remote areas and urban centres lacked access to the internet or devices, leaving them out of the education and employment system.
To reverse the situation, the State opted to invest in telecommunications infrastructure and expand the areas of connectivity. Additionally, they launched assistance programs in collaboration with other organisations, such as Todos Conectados, Conecta Selva and Cultivo Talento Digital.
How to Open an Online Casino in Peru | SOFTSWISSThe INEI's National Household Survey (ENAHO) for the year 2022 provided valuable data for the iGaming industry in Peru:
- 79.2% of households in Metropolitan Lima have access to the internet.
- 58.4% of homes in the rest of the country have internet access.
- 95.4% of households in the country have at least one technological device to access the internet.
Other results from 2024 show an average growth of 19% in internet connections over the previous year.
Peru Gaming Regulations
How to Open an Online Casino in Peru | SOFTSWISSThe laws that regulate each activity are the following:
- Law No. 27153 – Regulates the exploitation of Casino Games (1999).
- Law No. 21921 – General Law on Lottery Branches (1977).
- Law No. 10293 – General Law for Sports Event Gamblers (1945).
- Law No. 31557 – Modified by Law No. 31806 (2023) and Supreme Decree 005-2023 MINCETUR (2023), regulates remote gaming and remote sports betting (2022).
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR) supervises the laws related to casino games and betting on sporting events. The lawyers of Programa Integral Nacional para el Bienestar Familiar (INABIF) are in charge of regulating lottery activities.
Law No. 31557
The legality of online gambling and online casinos in Peru is a reality. Law No. 31557 officially came into force on 9 February 2024.
MINCETUR opened registrations for gambling houses and casinos to apply for authorisation between 13 February and 13 March 2024. More than 150 companies submitted their applications for the operating licence.
If applicants prove that they comply with all regulations, they will be able to operate legally, and Peruvians will be able to gamble in a transparent and safe environment.
Some of the most essential measures of Law No. 31557 are the following:
- All operators wishing to offer services in Peru, whether domestic or foreign, must register by complying with the process stipulated by law.
- Online casinos and remote sports bookmakers could be heavily sanctioned and banned if they operate illegally.
- All companies, whether domestic or foreign, will have to pay a special gaming tax, at 12% of the net profit.
- MINCETUR reserves the right to block websites, IP addresses, URLs and/or computer applications that offer remote gambling and sports betting services that are not authorised on a national level.
- Tax revenues from iGaming companies will be allocated as follows: 40% to the public treasury, 40% to tourism development, and 20% to mental health promotion.
Most Popular Payment Methods for Online Casinos in Peru
How to Open an Online Casino in Peru | SOFTSWISSThe most commonly used payment methods are the following: