The Chamber of Deputies has not sent the bill that regulates the installation of slot machines to the Senate, amid the controversy generated by its approval. Deputy Juan de los Santos, who operates several sports betting businesses, asked the Senate to reject the bill and claimed that he had kept a passive attitude during the discussion and approval of the bill in the Chamber of Deputies. The bill’s promoter, Radhames Castro defends it by saying that there is no legislation in the country to regulate the installation and operation of slot machines. The proposed legislation limits the operation of the machines in sports betting agencies, but this is opposed by slot machine owners who say they have made large investments in these machines and were at risk of going bankrupt. Meanwhile, the District Attorney Jose Manuel Hernandez Peguero, said he would begin to protest against the Chamber of Deputy’s decision to declare the modification of Law 351 on casinos and slot machines urgently. He said that he would go to the Senate with volunteers from neighborhood prosecution offices to deliver a document against the bill’s approval.
Yesterday, the President of the National Council for Children and Adolescents, Kirsys Fernandez, said that slot machines contribute to delinquency. The controversy about slot machines began when a minor committed suicide after losing RD$800 in a sports betting business. He was supposed to use the money to buy shoes. Since then, the District Attorney, the Church, community associations and several other institutions have expressed their opposition to this form of betting.