Are regulatory headaches fueling the underground market in Peru?

Traffic is moving in the right way but there are still better weapons to be used to stop the black market in Peru.

These efforts were due to the regulation of the iGaming business in August 2022, as the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) reported a 40% decline in illicit online gambling activities in the country in May 2025

However, with the country’s main operators still expressing worries about the efficiency of the rule in tackling the unlicensed sector, Gonzalo Pérez, CEO of Apuesta Total, said he believes there is need to do more.

“We’re pushing for an effective crackdown on illegal gambling,” Perez said. When there is informal rivalry it creates a disturbing imbalance.”

He highlighted the need for the authority to be more proactive in increasing awareness: “There should be a broad campaign to inform the public which platforms are authorized. “Education from the regulator is crucial.”

Pablo Viana from RetaBet also said that the bureaucratic friction created by the strict regulation will lead in the end to unfair competition, despite Mincetur (Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism) having tools such as the prohibition for certified providers to offer their games to illegal operators.

“Players notice immediately if their wallets are impacted. “The regulated operators are at a disadvantage with the selective consumption tax compared to platforms which do not pay taxes and invest in technology and therefore can offer more competitive conditions”, he stated. 

“Over-regulation ends up rewarding the non-compliers,” he said. There is a very thin line which, if crossed, encourages unlawful gaming. “We need regulation but not at the cost of competitiveness.”

Gonzalo Pérez, when asked about the measures that should be applied to payment and content providers to avoid them continuing to fuel the illegal market, praised Mincetur’s strategy to pressure certified providers not to offer their products to unauthorized platforms, under threat of being blocked.

It's an interesting measure. It seems unreasonable that a formal and informal activity should have the same content. “It is one of the most effective ways to block illegal gambling other than blocking URLs,” he said.

Political uncertainty continues in Peru, following the ouster of former President Dina Boluarte last October. 

The political unpredictability could be key as the country continues to build its gambling framework, with many in the market still looking for clarification on taxation.

There has to be some clarity on the ISC rate, which is the tax on selective consumption which is paid on every bet put.