Are There Any Casinos in Guatemala? Gambling Laws in 2026

Are There Any Casinos in Guatemala in 2026?

Guatemala occupies an unusual position in Central America’s gambling industry. Although the country’s legislation restricts conventional casino operations, commercial gaming establishments have existed, particularly around the capital, Guatemala City.

Five casino-style properties are listed in Guatemala. However, this figure should not be confused with an official count of licensed, operational casinos.

Guatemala does not maintain a publicly accessible national casino licensing register comparable to those found in many regulated gambling jurisdictions. Consequently, determining how many venues are actively operating is difficult.

There is also an important distinction between a traditional casino offering roulette, blackjack, and other table games, and a gaming establishment primarily consisting of electronic gaming machines or video lottery terminals.

The presence of gambling equipment, casino signage, or a commercial business registration does not, by itself, establish that an establishment has permission to conduct casino gambling.

How Many Casinos Are There in Guatemala?

Casino City’s Guatemala directory identifies the following five gaming properties:

These 5 casinos are directory listings, not verified operating licences or confirmations of current opening status.

These establishments represent a mixture of casino-branded locations and video lottery operations. The directory does not establish which venues, if any, are legally authorised to offer traditional casino gambling in 2026.

Some gambling websites estimate that Guatemala has between six and ten casinos. However, those figures are not supported by an independently verified national register. For factual reporting, five directory-listed establishments is a more defensible figure than claiming a definitive national total.

Most recognised Guatemala City casinos are to be found in the country’s principal commercial and tourism centre.

Are Casinos Legal in Guatemala?

The short answer is no: Guatemala does not provide a conventional legal licensing system for commercial land-based casinos, and its Penal Code establishes criminal penalties relating to gambling houses.

The principal legislation is the Código Penal, Decree 17-73, which came into force in 1973. Two articles are particularly important.

Article 477: Illegal Gambling Establishments

Article 477 establishes penalties for owners, managers, administrators, and others responsible for houses offering games of chance.

The penalties are:

• Imprisonment of one to five years.
• Fines ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 Guatemalan quetzales (GTQ).

Article 478: Attendance at Gambling Establishments

Article 478 concerns individuals who attend gambling houses and establishes fines ranging from 200 to 2,000 quetzales.

A further provision, Article 479, addresses unauthorised lotteries and raffles.

These provisions explain why identifying a casino operating in Guatemala is not equivalent to identifying a legally licensed casino.

The law on paper and the practical operation of gambling establishments are not necessarily the same thing.

The relevant legislative text is available through Guatemala’s Organismo Judicial.

Why Have Casinos Operated Despite Gambling Restrictions?

The existence of casino-style businesses alongside prohibitive gambling legislation raises an obvious question: how have such establishments operated?

One explanation is the distinction between commercial registration, local administrative permissions, and specific authorisation to offer gambling.

An establishment may be registered as a business without possessing a valid legal entitlement to operate conventional casino games.

Historically, Guatemala has also experienced inconsistent enforcement and disputes concerning electronic gaming machines.

The lack of any real Guatemala gambling regulations has created a market in which casino games and video lottery terminals have operated despite the prohibition on casinos.

However, individual establishments’ legal positions cannot be established solely from industry directories or advertising.

The existence of an operating venue should therefore never be presented as proof that Guatemala has legalised conventional casino gambling.

Guatemala Gambling Regulations in 2026

Guatemala gambling regulations attracted renewed political attention during 2025, particularly over the proliferation of slot machines in small shops and other commercial premises.

On 23 September 2025, lawmakers introduced Legislative Initiative 6645, proposing amendments to the Penal Code.

The proposal addressed several issues:

• Unauthorised electronic gaming machines.
• Gambling equipment accessible to children.
• Businesses disguising gambling machines as other devices.
• Virtual games presented as lottery products.
• Tax offences associated with unauthorised gambling operations.

On 5 November 2025, the congressional Governance Committee issued a favourable report, allowing the legislation to continue through the approval process.

Importantly, committee approval does not mean that a bill has become law.

As of 17 October 2026, the official congressional progress record reviewed for Initiative 6645 shows committee approval but does not establish final enactment.

The proposal is principally concerned with strengthening enforcement rather than introducing a comprehensive system for licensing commercial casinos.

Are Online Casinos Legal in Guatemala in 2026?

The position concerning online casinos in Guatemala is more complicated than the rules governing physical gambling establishments.

Guatemala has no comprehensive online casino licensing framework or dedicated domestic regulatory authority responsible for authorising internet casino operators.

Nevertheless, offshore gambling platforms are accessible to Guatemalan consumers, and some international operators accept customers from the country.

The principal legal uncertainty arises because Articles 477 and 478 were written to address physical gambling establishments rather than modern internet gambling platforms.

Their application to overseas websites and individual online players remains uncertain.

Consequently, it would be misleading to describe online casino gambling as fully legal and regulated in Guatemala. Equally, the absence of a dedicated online gambling statute does not establish that every activity is expressly prohibited.

Players using international websites also lack the protections associated with a locally licensed gambling market, including a dedicated domestic complaints and dispute-resolution system.

A foreign gambling licence does not automatically authorise an operator under Guatemalan law.

What Gambling Is Legally Permitted in Guatemala?

Although commercial casino gambling is restricted, not every form of gambling is prohibited.

A notable exception is Lotería Santa Lucía, a longstanding charitable lottery associated with the Benemérito Comité Pro Ciegos y Sordos de Guatemala.

Certain lotteries, raffles and similar prize activities can operate through specific legal authorisations.

This distinction is important: permission to operate an authorised lottery does not provide general permission to run roulette tables, blackjack games or commercial slot-machine casinos.

Guatemala therefore possesses some legally recognised gambling activities without having a comprehensive regulated casino industry.

The Future of Casinos in Guatemala

Whether Guatemala eventually introduces a comprehensive casino licensing framework remains uncertain.

The government’s recent legislative activity has concentrated on unauthorised gaming machines, protecting minors and addressing associated criminal and financial risks.

A future regulatory framework could clarify operator licensing, taxation, consumer protection and enforcement responsibilities. However, such possibilities should not be confused with approved government policy.

For now, Guatemala remains a country where commercial gambling establishments have existed without the legal clarity associated with internationally regulated casino markets.

Conclusion

So, are there any casinos in Guatemala? The most accurate answer in 2026 is that five casino-style gaming properties appear in Casino City’s directory, but their current operational and legal status cannot be confirmed from those listings.

Guatemala’s Penal Code continues to restrict conventional casino gambling, while online gambling operates without a comprehensive domestic licensing framework. Proposed legislative reforms demonstrate continuing concern over unauthorised gaming machines, rather than a confirmed move towards casino legalisation.

For visitors, researchers and casino historians, Guatemala illustrates the difference between the existence of gambling establishments and the legal authorisation to operate them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any casinos in Guatemala?

Yes. Casino City lists five casino-style gaming properties in Guatemala, although their current operating status and legal authorisation have not been independently verified.

How many casinos are there in Guatemala in 2026?

Five establishments appear in Casino City’s directory. However, Guatemala has no verified national register establishing the total number of currently operating casinos.

Are casinos legal in Guatemala?

Conventional commercial casino gambling is prohibited under Guatemala’s Penal Code. Articles 477 and 478 establish penalties for operators and attendees of gambling houses.

Are there casinos in Guatemala City?

Yes, casino-style establishments have historically been concentrated around Guatemala City. Directory listings include Fantastic Casino locations and Guatemala Princess Casino.

Are online casinos legal in Guatemala?

Online casino gambling lacks a comprehensive domestic licensing framework. The application of existing gambling prohibitions to offshore websites and individual online players remains legally uncertain.

Can tourists gamble in Guatemala?

Tourists are not exempt from Guatemala’s gambling laws. The existence of an advertised gaming venue does not establish that the gambling offered is lawful.

Are slot machines legal in Guatemala?

Slot machines are a major focus of government enforcement and proposed reforms. The legality of an individual installation cannot be assumed from the fact that the machines are publicly accessible.

Does Guatemala have a gambling regulator?

Guatemala does not have a dedicated authority issuing comprehensive commercial casino and online casino licences. Different government institutions oversee particular authorised activities and enforce existing legislation.

Is the lottery legal in Guatemala?

Yes. Certain lotteries are legally authorised, including the longstanding charitable Lotería Santa Lucía.

Is Guatemala planning to legalise casinos?

No comprehensive casino legalisation has been confirmed. Legislative Initiative 6645 concerns stronger controls and penalties relating to unauthorised gaming machines and other gambling activities.

Reference List:

Congreso de la República de Guatemala. (2025, September 24). La iniciativa busca sancionar el uso de tragamonedas. https://www.congreso.gob.gt/noticias_congreso/14460/2025/3

Congreso de la República de Guatemala. (2025, November 6). Sala emite dictamen a iniciativa que regula los juegos de azar. https://www.congreso.gob.gt/noticias_congreso/14798/2025/3

Congreso de la República de Guatemala. (2025). Iniciativa de ley número 6645: Reformas al Código Penal. https://www.congreso.gob.gt/detalle_pdf/iniciativas/6315

Organismo Judicial de Guatemala. (n.d.). Código Penal, Decreto Número 17-73, artículos 477–479. https://jurisprudencia.oj.gob.gt/Expediente/frmContenido.aspx?BUSCAR1=&MARCADOR=&NOTAID=&OPCION=2&PARAMETRO=108540

Casino City. (n.d.). Directory of Guatemala casinos and gambling facilities. https://www.casinocity.gt/casinos/

Casino City. (n.d.). Guatemalan casino and card room gaming. https://www.casinocity.gt/casino-and-card-room-gaming/

Prensa Libre, C-Studio. (2026, August 5). ¿Cómo es la regulación de los casinos online en Guatemala? https://www.prensalibre.com/c-studio/como-es-la-regulacion-de-los-casinos-online-en-guatemala/

Casino News Daily. (n.d.). Gambling in Guatemala: Laws, lotteries and online gambling. https://www.casinonewsdaily.com/guatemala/