Peru Gaming Show wraps up with criticism of consumption tax and discussion of World Cup betting activity

The 2026 edition of Peru Gaming Show (PGS) concluded with a second conference cycle focused on the tax framework applied to the gaming industry, featuring strong criticism of the Selective Consumption Tax (ISC), and discussions around the expected impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on sports betting.

The academic program began at 10 a.m. with a presentation by Gonzalo Rosell, president of the Association of Online Sports Betting and Related Activities (APADELA), who addressed the current state of Peru’s gaming and online sports betting industry.

During his presentation, Rosell emphasized the harmful effects of the ISC on iGaming, describing it as a tax “applied to the wagered amount in a sector with margins as low as 2%,” resulting in what he called “confiscatory tax levels.”

He accused Peru’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration (Sunat) of failing to understand “the consequences of the tax legislation they approve,” while also criticizing the lack of dialogue with the industry.

According to Rosell, Peru has successfully developed a strong operational and technical regulatory framework, but “the tax aspect is undermining all the positive work” achieved by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur). He added that the consumption tax also benefits illegal gambling operations.

“The ISC is a major disincentive for players to use licensed betting operators. [...] I call on the MEF to modify the tax burden and stop the decline of formal operators,” he warned.

Next to speak was José Luis Pérez, director of Authorization and Registration for Casino Games and Slot Machines, who outlined Mincetur’s enforcement actions regarding Peru’s land-based gaming sector.

The official highlighted the role of gaming inspectors, who are responsible for verifying operators’ compliance with regulations, drafting inspection reports, identifying potential administrative violations, and supporting closure or seizure actions.

Later, tax attorney Constante Traverso reviewed Peru’s gaming regulatory framework 25 years after its creation, focusing on the tax regime and, like Rosell, strongly criticizing the implementation of the ISC for both land-based and online gaming.

In his remarks, Traverso contrasted the approaches of Mincetur and the MEF, accusing the latter of lacking “receptiveness” toward industry proposals and of generating “a crisis not only for businesses, but also for employment and tax revenue” within the gaming sector.

World Cup 2026 and illegal gambling

The day also featured a panel titled “Fighting Black-Market Gambling in Online Gaming,” with participation from Neil Montgomery, founding partner at Montgomery Studio; Tatiana Vásquez, founding partner at Vásquez Asociados; Karen Sierra Hughes, GLI’s VP for LATAM, the Caribbean and Spain; and Vanessa Cabrera, director of Control and Sanctions at DGJCMT – Mincetur.

Moderated by Carlos Fonseca, CEO of Gaming Law, the discussion examined the factors driving illegal online gambling markets and potential solutions from operators, industry stakeholders, and regulators.

Discussing Brazil, Montgomery warned that high licensing fees encourage the rise of illegal operators. As measures to combat informality, he stressed the need to monitor financial flows from abroad and to strengthen consumer education efforts.

Karen Sierra highlighted the importance of classifying illegal gambling as a criminal offense punishable by prison, while also reinforcing institutions that support regulatory enforcement, such as courts and prosecutors’ offices.

Vanessa Cabrera explained that Mincetur is addressing the issue comprehensively and has managed to reduce illegal offerings “through supervision and enforcement, while also working to ensure suppliers stop offering products to illegal operators.”

“As regulators, we not only go after illegal operations, but also the structure behind them, which is why we supervise unauthorized platforms,” Cabrera said.

Tatiana Vásquez referred to Colombia’s case and argued that proper regulation leads to effective channelization. Like Cabrera, she stated that combating illegal gambling must “include the entire online gaming ecosystem, not only operators, but also suppliers, payment methods, affiliates, and laboratories,” under a shared responsibility model.

The conference cycle concluded with the panel “Payment Methods as Elements of Security and Operational Efficiency. Are Payment Systems Ready for the 2026 World Cup?”, moderated by ProntoPaga CEO Sebastián Salazar.

During the session, Apuesta Total’s Payment Methods Manager Andrea Zolezzi said the Peruvian betting operator “clearly understands that the 2026 World Cup will be a high-demand moment for the industry” and that preparations have been underway “for months to ensure transaction stability.”

“At Apuesta Total, we have a wide variety of users with different profiles, and we’ve expanded our payment offering so customers feel comfortable. We’ve not only focused on technology, but also on user experience, redesigning deposit and withdrawal landing pages,” she explained.

She also noted that the company has been working closely with payment providers to deliver “a more robust system” for the tournament period. “We have prepared so that the customer experience during the World Cup is fully user-friendly and secure,” she emphasized.

Betsson’s Senior Payments Manager Carlos Portugal said the industry has spent years investing in infrastructure and fraud prevention “to support demand peaks” like those expected during the World Cup.

“We are now operating at a much more dynamic level, not only with payment providers but also with banks and fintech companies. A far more knowledgeable and flexible industry has emerged,” he said.

Analyzing the regional regulatory landscape, Portugal warned that “each market and country has its own challenges and progress,” adding that “there is no copy-and-paste formula, and it is a mistake to think regulations can simply be adapted without dialogue.”

On that point, Salazar criticized Chile’s lack of iGaming regulation, accusing the country of “inaction that severely harms the system and operators’ credibility,” while also limiting tax revenue.

Zolezzi stressed that creating new regulations requires “joint work between all involved parties.” She added that while governments and operators may have different objectives, they are not opposed, since both ultimately “seek to combat informality.”

Finally, Kushki’s Country Manager for Peru and Ecuador, Carlos Alcántara, underlined the importance of studying developed markets when addressing fraud and cybercrime, adding that such measures “must benefit the end user.” 

Meanwhile, PayValida General Manager Guillermo Johanson Bettocchi argued that “organized crime must be confronted as an organized industry” capable of coordinating internally.

PGS 2026 - Conferences