Online bingo operates in a legally permissive environment in Ecuador, as the government does not explicitly ban online gambling activities despite the 2011 constitutional prohibition on land-based casinos and bingo halls (1). Online betting and gaming have operated in a legal grey area since 2020, when a state attorney ruled that sports forecasting and online betting were legal activities separate from prohibited land-based gambling (1). President Daniel Noboa has clarified this status through executive decrees establishing a regulatory framework that treats online gambling as a legitimate activity requiring licensing and taxation (2).
Under Executive Decree 487, effective January 2025, online gaming operators including those offering bingo must obtain a Sports Betting Operation License valid for five years from the Ministry of Sports, with an annual cost of $307,850 (2). All operators are subject to a 15 percent income tax on gross gaming revenue minus player winnings, and players must pay 15 percent withholding tax on their monthly prizes when winnings exceed total bets (2). These regulations come into effect July 1, 2025, and operators failing to comply will have their websites blocked by the government (2).
"It's not illegal. One of the benefits of doing this right now is to give them security or labour security by approving this activity in Ecuador. Previously, it has been regarded as a grey area that some people think is legal, and others thought was illegal, but through this tax we are clarifying that."
Players in Ecuador can legally participate in online bingo through registered operators, and the government recognizes both resident and non-resident operators (1). As of September 2024, Ecuador had 65 registered sports betting operators, demonstrating active market development under the new regulatory regime (2). The Ecuadorian government has lifted its ban on gambling and sports betting advertising, signaling broader regulatory acceptance of the online gaming sector as the country aligns with regional Latin American gambling liberalization trends (1).
Source:
https://www.vixio.com/insights/gc-ecuador-announces-taxes-online-gambling-both-operators-and-players
https://sigma.world/news/ecuador-introduces-sports-betting-licence/
Last updated: 31-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
