SANTO DOMINGO – The growth of cruise tourism in the Dominican Republic is entering a new phase of regulation. The Ministry of Finance and Economy has submitted a draft resolution for public comment that proposes requiring a mandatory license for first-class cruise ships that operate casinos or gambling halls while sailing or in Dominican waters.
The initiative seeks to incorporate these gaming spaces within a regulatory framework similar to that which governs land-based casinos, with fiscal, financial and anti-money laundering controls.
License per vessel and specific control
The draft proposes that every first-class —with a capacity for more than 2,000 passengers— that has a casino on board and remains at least six hours in Dominican waters must have a license granted by the Directorate of Casinos and Gambling.
Each license will allow the operation of only one gaming room per vessel and may not be shared or transferred to other ships, even if they belong to the same operator. Access to the gaming room will be restricted to passengers on board, with no entry for the local public.
This approach seeks to ensure that each floating casino is individually assessed, audited, and monitored, in line with market demands and regulatory concerns.
Resources, guarantees and operation
The proposal regulates, in a single scheme, the main financial and operational requirements:
- Issuance of license and bond:
- RD$1,000,000 for cruises with between 2,000 and 3,499 passengers.
- RD$1,500,000 for ships with 3,500 passengers or more.
- Performance bond of RD$20,000,000 or its equivalent in dollars before the Directorate of Casinos and Gambling as a guarantee of legal, tax and payment obligations.
- Validity and renewal:
- The license will be valid for five years.
- Its renewal will cost 50% of the rate in effect at the time of application.
- Annual rates per transaction:
- RD$600,000 if the casino has between 1 and 20 tables.
- RD$700,000 for between 21 and 40 tables.
- RD$800,000 if it exceeds 41 tables.
- Each license will allow up to 15 entries per year to Dominican waters; for each additional entry, RD$15,000 will be paid.
- All rates will be indexed to 100% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Anti-money laundering control and permanent supervision
The draft explicitly states that cruise ship casinos pose a potential risk for activities such as money laundering and terrorist financing. For this reason, operators would be subject to Law 155-17 on money laundering, with obligations such as:
- Compliance programs and suspicious transaction reporting.
- Continuous supervision by the authorities.
- Restriction of licenses to companies linked to high-risk jurisdictions according to international organizations.
Each operator will also be required to submit a responsible gaming plan before commencing operations, with measures to prevent problematic gambling-related behaviors.
Oversight and scope
Dominican authorities, including the Directorate of Casinos and Gambling and the Dominican Port Authority, will have permanent inspection powers over gaming rooms on cruise ships operating in national waters.
This framework makes floating casinos formally regulated and monitored activities, in line with the rules that already apply to casinos in top-tier hotels.
The document states that, if approved, these rules will not only strengthen fiscal supervision, but will also reinforce the integrity of the Dominican financial system and the credibility of the tourist destination in international markets.
A growing industry that demands order
Cruise tourism has shown remarkable growth in recent years. In 2025, the Dominican Republic welcomed more than 2.8 million cruise passengers, solidifying its position as one of the most important cruise destinations in the Caribbean and contributing to the country's record number of visitors.
Globally, the industry also continues to grow: international associations project that more than 37.7 million passengers will sail on cruises during 2025, with growth expected through 2026.
