Carlos Liseras (CONAJZAR): “Responsible gaming is our administration's priority"
Paraguay’s gambling regulator is moving to modernise and formalise the sector. Carlos Liseras, CONAJZAR’s president, lays out the details in an exclusive for SiGMA News: inter-agency deals and fresh legislation. The focus is on tightening controls on illicit operations while attracting regional investment. Overall, Paraguay’s shaping up as a competitive, regulated hub for gaming in Latin America.
Responsible gaming as Paraguay’s regulatory priority
Paraguay’s National Gambling Commission – CONAJZAR has placed responsible gaming at the centre of its operations, rolling out tougher controls on licensees and authorised operators. It’s also strengthening enforcement of compliance with the country’s existing rules.
This administration is doubling down on Resolution No. 258/2020 from the Secretariat for the Prevention of Money Laundering – SEPRELAD as a cornerstone. “The regulator’s stepped up massively across the board in its remit, responsible gaming practices are top of mind for us right now; we’ve hardened controls and inspections on every concessionaire, reminding them they’re duty-bound to stick to the laws governing this sector, especially SEPRELAD’s Resolution No. 258/2020,” explains lawyer Liseras in his conversation with SiGMA News.
Paraguay advances full-scale sector regularisation
External inter-agency cooperation is central to Paraguay’s regulatory progress. CONAJZAR signed a deal with ALEA, Argentina’s State Lotteries Association. Its leadership also visited Coljuegos in Colombia.
They picked up insights on local laws and national operations. Liseras flags SiGMA’s potential role here. “Collaboration is absolutely vital for swapping experiences, tech, and the rules shaping our field. CONAJZAR’s got a cooperation pact with ALEA (Argentina’s State Lotteries Association); the head’s also headed to Colombia, touring Coljuegos facilities, taking training on that country’s gambling laws, its powers and prerogatives for hitting its goals, plus operations across Colombian turf,” Liseras said.
Paraguay: central location unlocks vast markets
The country offers several competitive advantages over other Latin American rivals. First, it has the region’s lowest tax burden. Second, it provides political stability and steady macroeconomic growth. Third, it creates a welcoming spot for foreign capital. And fourth, it offers strong legal security. The head of Paraguay’s Gambling Commission runs through the big draws:
“In Latin America, competitiveness is the name of the game everywhere; Paraguay offers investors in gambling a heap of upsides for several reasons:
- The region’s lowest tax burden
- Political stability and a booming macroeconomy
- Prime conditions and climate for foreign investment
- The legal security on offer
- Paraguay has turned into a key meeting point lately for folks from every nationality and continent. It’s right in the heart of South America, surrounded by nearly 250 million people in the region
- De-monopolisation of gambling, especially the national lottery and sports betting.
- Don’t forget the Paraguayan people’s hospitality and their stunning natural wonders.”
Modern legal framework targets digital clandestinity
Law No. 7438/2025 and its Decree No. 3846/2025 mark a regulatory leap forward. They grant CONAJZAR’s chief sweeping executive powers, making it easier to block rogue websites outright.
Illegal operators can face prison sentences of up to five years. For this reason, coordination is carried out with financial institutions to enable operational accounts. Liseras puts it like this: “CONAJZAR’s new Law No. 7438/2025 and its implementing Decree No. 3846/2025 are among the most modern today, due to their regulatory approach and the authority they grant to the head of the regulatory body to fulfill its objectives. A special chapter specifically addresses the power to order the blocking and shutdown of online platforms or clandestine websites used for illegal gambling, which in Paraguay is punishable by up to five years in prison.”
CONAJZAR is a key player in the national ecosystem
Since this team took over in August 2023, they’ve driven deep structural shifts, battling clandestinity with blocks, court actions, arrests, and convictions.
They’ve woven in chapters on fighting money laundering and illicit finance, too. Simultaneously, the monthly fee is expected to reach millions in 2025.“Since this regulator crew was given the go-ahead in August 2023, we have implemented and successfully advanced significant changes and advancements in Paraguay’s gambling laws. Launched a full-scale campaign against clandestine operations, blocked suspicious websites, filed complaints with the Public Ministry, apprehended and imprisoned those operating illegal gambling in a variety of ways, incorporated sensitive topics like responsible gaming, and fought against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism financing, and money laundering. We have also steadily increased monthly fee collections, reaching multi-million figures in 2025. All of this suggests that everything was done correctly, and CONAJZAR will surely be a major player in Paraguay’s gaming industry during the next five years.” Liseras tells SiGMA News.
Paraguay and LatAm on the industry’s radar
Paraguay stands out among South America’s neighbours with one of Latin America’s most competitive tax loads, a key advantage.
The country offers specific perks for sector players: affordable tax setup, regulatory certainty, prime South American location (regional market of ~295 million), and the removal of monopoly control on betting and quinielas. All of this, plus the locals’ warmth and one-of-a-kind natural tourist spots. Brazil’s hosting of BiS SiGMA South America in April (São Paulo) is a must-hit for operators and regulators to chew over shared industry outlooks.
This article was first published in Spanish on 12 February 2026.
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