Haiti establishes national gambling regulator to fight money laundering
The new authority will regulate all gambling activities and require all payments to go through the tax administration.
PORT-AU-PRINCE · Haiti has created a new national regulator for all gambling activities, including casinos and betting shops. The Autorité Nationale des Jeux de Hasard et d’Argent (ANJHA) was announced by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in a 5 October notice. The ministry said the move is designed to combat money laundering, illicit financial flows and terrorist financing. It also aims to bring "more order, transparency and security" to the sector. All operator payments for taxes, licences and fees must now be made exclusively through the country's tax administration.
The legal foundation for the new regulator comes from three decrees published on 21 August in Haiti's official journal, Le Moniteur. These decrees established the ANJHA, set its operating rules and created a specific tax regime for gambling. They cover licensing requirements, operator obligations and protections for minors and players. The rules also include anti-money-laundering measures and penalties for any breaches. The government had previously discussed the reforms at a Council of Ministers meeting on 11 August.
The ANJHA will be based in Port-au-Prince but can open other offices across the country. Its duties will include publishing a list of approved operators and conducting responsible gaming awareness campaigns. The regulator is also tasked with ensuring industry compliance with the new rules. The government has positioned this regulatory overhaul as a key part of a broader initiative to improve transparency and curb financial crime.
Operators are now required to make all payments through the Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI). The ministry stated that payments for licences and authorisations must use official DGI channels and be supported by a receipt. The DGI is the sole administration authorised to collect the taxes, duties and fees outlined in the new decrees. The tax administration described its role as administering the sector's fiscal obligations. With its central role in licensing, player safeguards and financial controls, the ANJHA is now the core of Haiti's regulated gambling framework.