Haiti establishes national gambling regulator
Haiti has established a national authority to regulate gambling and directed operators to make tax, licensing and other payments exclusively through the country’s tax administration.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced the creation of the Autorité nationale des jeux de hasard et d’argent (ANJHA) in a public notice dated 5 October. The authority will be responsible for regulating, monitoring and supervising gambling activities nationwide, including casinos, betting and borlette banks.
The ministry said the changes are intended to combat money laundering, illicit financial flows and terrorist financing. It will also aim to bring “more order, transparency and security” to the sector.
Part of a set of decrees
Three decrees published in Haiti’s official journal, Le Moniteur, on 21 August provide the legal basis for the reform. The decrees established the regulator, set operating rules and created a tax regime specific to the gambling sector.
The provisions cover licensing, operators’ obligations, protections for minors and players, anti-money-laundering measures and penalties for breaches.
As outlined by the decree, the regulator will be established in Port-au-Prince with flexibility to open up offices elsewhere too. The regulator’s responsibilities will include publishing a list of authorised operators, conduct awareness around responsible gaming and ensure compliance.
The measures followed earlier government discussions about establishing a national gambling authority and introducing dedicated tax rules. Draft proposals were considered at a Council of Ministers meeting on 11 August, before the decrees were published.
Payments through DGI
Operators have been instructed to make payments through the Direction générale des impôts (DGI), the sole administration authorised to collect taxes, duties, fees and other sums due under the new rules.
The ministry said payments, including those for licences and authorisations, must be made through official DGI channels and supported by a receipt. The tax administration described its role as administering fiscal obligations.
The government has presented the overhaul as part of a wider effort to improve transparency and reduce financial crime. ANJHA’s mandate places it at the centre of licensing, player safeguards and financial controls.