El Salvador moves to regulate land‑based casinos with timeline to March 2027

El Salvador's National Charity Lottery (LNB) has opened a formal process to expand regulatory oversight of land‑based gambling, aiming to bring casinos and gaming halls under national regulation by March 2027. Javier Milián, president of the National Charity Lottery (LNB), told SBC Noticias that the organisation is preparing a reform of its Organic Law to licence machine operators and suppliers and to provide stronger guarantees to players and investors.

What the LNB proposes

Milián said the current framework lacks licensing for establishments: municipalities grant operating permits but these "have limited legal scope and do not provide all the necessary guarantees for the activity to be carried out properly." The LNB's reform would see the entity assume regulation of land‑based casinos and gaming halls and introduce certification requirements so "the machines entering the country have the necessary certifications."

Market context and timelines

The LNB reported projections that the iGaming market could grow by 80% in 2026, with online casino accounting for the majority of regulated activity. The organisation has set March 2027 as the target date for the regulatory overhaul that would expand national oversight to land‑based venues.

There is a presidential election scheduled for February 2027, and legislative and municipal elections are also taking place. The LNB acknowledged the possibility that a change of government could disrupt implementation, while noting that at this stage there is no strong indication opposition parties will campaign specifically against the gambling reforms. The LNB also flagged the risk that intensified lobbying from established sector participants could influence the process.

Next steps and stakeholders

The reform effort will require drafting amendments to the Organic Law, consultations with municipalities and operators, and the design of licensing and certification criteria for machine operators and suppliers. The discussion links with broader regulatory coverage of online activity: the LNB's projection points to online growth even as land‑based oversight remains municipal in practice today. For industry coverage, see the regulation section and reporting in news.

"We want to guarantee to players that the machines entering the country have the necessary certifications," Javier Milián, president of the National Charity Lottery (LNB), told SBC Noticias.