Only one form of online gambling is legal in Ecuador: sports betting. Under Executive Decree 487 (19 December 2024), licensed sports-betting operators are regulated by the Ministry of Sports and taxed by the SRI. Online casinos, slots, poker and table games remain illegal, and land-based casinos have been prohibited since a 2011 national referendum (the ban took effect in March 2012). Ecuador is fully dollarised, and cryptocurrency is not an authorised means of payment. Treat any offshore online casino targeting Ecuador as unregulated and legally prohibited.

Ecuador draws a sharp line. In a May 2011 plebiscite promoted by then-president Rafael Correa, voters backed prohibiting casinos and gambling halls; the ban took effect in March 2012 and shut the land-based sector. That prohibition still stands. In May 2026, the Attorney General (Official Letter 16528, 4 May 2026) reaffirmed that casinos and gambling halls remain banned even when routed through non-profit foundations, with the only recognised exception being the Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil. (Proposals to re-legalise casinos have been floated in recent years but have not become law; a casino question that had been discussed was not among the questions ultimately put to voters in the November 2025 referendum.)

Against that backdrop, sports betting is the exception. Executive Decree 487, issued in December 2024, established the sports-betting operating licence (LOPD) as the required permit, granted by the Ministry of Sports.

VerticalStatus in Ecuador (2026)
Online sports bettingLegal, licensed (LOPD), taxed
Online casino / slots / pokerProhibited
Land-based casinosProhibited since 2012
National lottery / bingoLegal (Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil)
Crypto as paymentNot authorised

Regulator and licensing

The Ministry of Sports (Ministerio del Deporte) issues sports-betting licences. The LOPD is valid for five years and carries a substantial annual fee tied to Ecuador’s Unified Basic Salary (SBU) - set at 655 basic salaries, reported at roughly USD 307,850 for 2025 (rising with the SBU in subsequent years). Both resident and non-resident operators must hold the licence to serve Ecuadorian bettors legally.

Licensed vs offshore

A licensed operator holds an LOPD from the Ministry of Sports and remits Ecuadorian tax. Many international brands market to Ecuador from offshore; those offering casino or slot products are operating outside Ecuadorian law, and even offshore sportsbooks without an LOPD are non-compliant. Offshore sites offer no local consumer-protection recourse, so verify licensing before depositing.

Payment methods locals use

Ecuador uses the US dollar exclusively, which simplifies deposits. Common rails include:

  • Debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club)
  • Bank transfers via major banks such as Banco Pichincha and Banco Guayaquil
  • Local wallets: DeUna, PayPhone and BIMO

Crypto gambling status

The Central Bank of Ecuador states that cryptocurrencies are not legal tender and not an authorised means of payment (2024), citing the Organic Monetary and Financial Code (arts. 94, 98 and 99) and related JPRM resolutions. Buying or selling crypto as a speculative asset is not prohibited, but the Central Bank has said that using it as a means of payment can be referred to the Attorney General’s Office for investigation. In practice, crypto gambling is a legal grey area with real enforcement risk and sits outside the dollarised payment system regulators recognise.

Tax on winnings

For legal sports betting, a 15% withholding tax applies to prizes paid to players. Operators separately pay a single 15% income tax on their gaming income (total income minus prizes paid, where the 15% was withheld). The SRI has also confirmed that 15% VAT (IVA) applies to sports-betting and related digital services (Circular NAC-DGECCGC26-00000004, clarified April 2026). Prohibited casino or slot winnings have no lawful framework at all.

Safer gambling

Ecuador does not operate a dedicated national gambling helpline. If betting is causing harm, contact your bank to block gambling merchants, use operator self-exclusion and deposit limits, and seek support through the public health system (Ministerio de Salud Pública) or a licensed mental-health professional.

18+ only. Gambling involves risk; never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Sources