• The Paraguayan Association of Gambling Operators (APOJA) has proposed the creation of a “.bet.py” domain to clearly distinguish licensed gambling sites from illegal ones.
• The proposal comes as Paraguay undertakes a major overhaul of its gambling laws, ending a long-standing monopoly system to create a competitive, licensed market.
• APOJA warns that without clear differentiation, players, and particularly minors, are vulnerable to unregulated black market sites that lack any consumer protections.
• The government’s reforms have already restructured the national regulator, CONAJZAR, and have begun to attract international operators like Betsson.
• The industry’s proposal is a proactive measure to enhance player safety and support the government’s goal of building a modern and transparent market.

As Paraguay moves to liberalise its gambling market, the country’s leading operator trade body has put forward a key consumer protection proposal: the creation of a dedicated “.bet.py” internet domain for all licensed operators.

The Paraguayan Association of Gambling Operators (APOJA) argues that such a measure is essential to help players easily distinguish between safe, regulated websites and the dangerous, illegal black market. The proposal is a constructive intervention by the industry as the government continues its consultation on a new, modern regulatory framework.

The Backdrop: A Market in Liberalisation

This push for clearer consumer signposting comes at a pivotal moment for Paraguay. A decree passed earlier this year by the government of President Santiago Peña has initiated a historic overhaul of the country’s gambling laws, officially ending the previous monopoly system for sports betting and lotteries.

The reforms have also restructured the national regulator, the National Gaming Commission (CONAJZAR), bringing it under the authority of the National Directorate of Tax Revenue (DNIT). The goal is to create a more competitive and transparent market, a move that has already attracted major international operators like the Swedish-listed Betsson, which secured a casino licence last year.

Protecting the Vulnerable

APOJA president, Lorena Rojas, warned that as the legal market opens up, it’s crucial to implement tools to protect vulnerable consumers from the sprawling black market. “There’s no oversight on illegal websites,” she stated, highlighting the ease with which users can deposit funds and the lack of basic safeguards.

“Illegal platforms don’t require identification, they don’t have self-exclusion systems, and most seriously, they don’t prevent minors from participating,” Rojas added. The association is urging legislators to align online rules with the country’s stricter land-based laws to ensure consistent player protection.

A Call for a Safe and Sustainable Market

APOJA’s proposal is being framed as a supportive measure to help the government achieve its own stated objectives. By creating a unique and easily recognisable domain for licensed operators, the government can improve channelisation to the legal market, enhance consumer trust, and make it easier for authorities to identify and block illegal sites.

With the new framework expected to be fully implemented by early 2026, the adoption of a digital marker like the “.bet.py” domain would be a strong signal to the international industry that Paraguay is serious about building not just an open market, but a safe and well-regulated one.