Is Poker Legal in Peru? MINCETUR Casino Laws & Tax 2026
Last updated: May 28, 2026
Live poker is fully legal in Peru at casinos licensed by MINCETUR (Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism) under Laws No. 27153 and 27796. Lima alone has 20+ licensed casinos, concentrated in the upscale Miraflores and San Isidro districts. Online poker occupies a gray zone: Peru has enacted no online gambling law, yet offshore sites operate freely without enforcement. A 12% impuesto a los juegos applies to land-based casino wins over S/1,000. Peru is also a regular stop on the APT (Asian Poker Tour) circuit, making Lima one of South America's most active live tournament destinations.
Peru Poker Legal Status by Activity
Peru's gambling landscape is straightforward for land-based play: MINCETUR-licensed casinos operate legally in Lima and other major cities. The online space is murkier — Peru has not enacted any online gambling law, leaving offshore sites in a regulatory gray zone that is neither explicitly permitted nor actively prosecuted for players.
Peru's Casino Regulatory Framework — MINCETUR
Peru's casino regulation is managed by MINCETUR — the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism — a somewhat unusual placement that reflects Peru's classification of casino gaming as a tourism-related industry. The foundational law (No. 27153, enacted 1999) was significantly strengthened by Law No. 27796 in 2002, which raised minimum capital requirements, added anti-money laundering provisions, and created the current inspection regime.
All casinos in Peru must obtain a MINCETUR license before operating. The application fee is PEN 60,000 (~$16,000 USD) and applicants must demonstrate minimum capitalization, propose a minimum of 10 gaming tables, and pass background checks for all principal owners. Annual MINCETUR inspections verify table counts, machine certifications, and compliance with anti-money laundering obligations.
Online Poker in Peru — Regulatory Gray Zone
Peru has enacted no specific online gambling legislation. Neither MINCETUR nor any other Peruvian agency has established an online poker licensing framework. This creates a gray zone where offshore sites operate freely from a player perspective — PokerStars, GGPoker, 888poker, and partypoker are all accessible from Peru without requiring a VPN.
The practical result: Peruvian players can and do play on major international poker sites. Peru has produced several internationally recognized poker players, including multiple WSOP (World Series of Poker) competitors. Lima's private poker clubs — concentrated in the Miraflores and San Isidro neighborhoods — also provide a social poker environment that supplements the licensed casino scene.
No Online License Exists
Peru has not established any online gambling licensing regime. No Peruvian-issued online poker license exists for operators. MINCETUR's authority covers land-based casinos only.
Offshore Sites Accessible
PokerStars, GGPoker, 888poker, partypoker all accessible from Peru without VPN. No ISP-level blocking of gambling sites. Growing Peruvian player base on international networks.
No Player Enforcement
SUNAT has no enforcement mechanism for online gambling winnings from offshore sites. No known prosecution of Peruvian players for playing on offshore online poker sites.
Mobile Growth
Peru's smartphone penetration exceeds 70%. Mobile-based online poker is growing rapidly. Lima's young professional demographic drives demand for mobile poker apps.
The lack of online regulation means Peruvian players have no consumer protection recourse against offshore operators. Deposit disputes, bonus issues, and withdrawal problems must be resolved through the operator's own dispute process or the licensing jurisdiction of the operator (often Malta MGA or Gibraltar). This is a meaningful risk consideration for players choosing offshore sites.
Tax on Poker Winnings in Peru — 12% Impuesto a los Juegos
Peru applies a 12% impuesto a los juegos (games tax) on casino winnings. This tax is withheld at source by the licensed casino operator on individual wins that exceed S/1,000 (approximately $270 USD). The tax is administered by SUNAT (Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administración Tributaria), Peru's national tax and customs authority.
For online poker winnings from offshore sites, SUNAT has no practical enforcement mechanism. Peruvian players winning on PokerStars or GGPoker face no withholding at source and no known enforcement action for failing to self-report those winnings. However, the impuesto a los juegos technically applies to games of chance, and a professional poker player with persistent, substantial income could theoretically be assessed under Peru's general income tax rules as business income — though no precedent for such enforcement exists as of 2026.
Tax Summary — Peru
- ·Rate: 12% impuesto a los juegos on casino wins over S/1,000 (~$270 USD)
- ·Withheld at source: casino operator deducts tax from the winning payout
- ·Administrator: SUNAT (Peruvian tax authority)
- ·Online poker: no withholding; no SUNAT enforcement mechanism for offshore sites
- ·Professional players: persistent income could theoretically attract business tax assessment
- ·Foreign tourists: same 12% withholding applies on qualifying wins
Live Poker Rooms in Lima, Peru
Lima's casino scene is concentrated in two upscale districts: Miraflores and San Isidro. These neighborhoods house the majority of Lima's licensed casinos, offering poker tables ranging from low-stakes cash games to high-roller rooms. The Miraflores beachfront area has the highest density of casinos in the city, making it Peru's de facto poker hub.
APT Lima — Peru's International Poker Tournament History
The Asian Poker Tour (APT) Lima stop has established Peru as a significant destination on the international poker tournament circuit. APT Lima was first held in 2015, making it one of the earliest major international tournament stops in South America. The event is primarily hosted at Casino Fiesta in Miraflores — Lima's largest dedicated poker room.
The Main Event features a buy-in of approximately $1,100 USD, accessible enough to attract strong local and regional participation. The 2024 APT Lima edition drew over 300 players — a record attendance for the event and a sign of the rapid growth of Peru's poker community. Satellite events at Lima casinos allow local players to qualify for the Main Event at a fraction of the direct buy-in.
Beyond APT Lima, individual Lima casinos run their own tournament series throughout the year. Casino Marina and Casino Fiesta both host monthly tournament schedules with buy-ins ranging from S/100 to S/1,000. Peru has also produced internationally competitive poker players — several Peruvian nationals have competed at the WSOP (World Series of Poker) in Las Vegas and achieved notable results.
2015
APT Lima Founded
~$1,100 USD
Main Event Buy-In
300+ players
2024 Attendance
Casino Fiesta, Miraflores
Primary Venue
Frequently Asked Questions — Poker in Peru
Is poker legal in Peru?
Yes — live poker is fully legal in Peru at MINCETUR-licensed casinos. Peru's casino framework (Law No. 27153, amended by Law No. 27796) explicitly permits poker as a table game at licensed venues. Lima has over 20 licensed casinos offering poker, concentrated in the Miraflores and San Isidro districts. Online poker exists in a gray zone: Peru has no specific online gambling legislation, and offshore sites are freely accessible, but no Peruvian-issued online poker license exists. Home games in a purely social, non-commercial context are tolerated in practice but technically unregulated.
What tax applies to casino winnings in Peru?
Peru applies a 12% impuesto a los juegos (games tax) on casino winnings. The casino operator withholds this tax at source on individual wins over S/1,000 (approximately $270 USD). The tax is administered by SUNAT (Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administración Tributaria), Peru's tax authority. Online poker winnings from offshore sites are technically outside SUNAT's enforcement reach, and no withholding mechanism exists for offshore wins. Professional poker players whose income is persistent and substantial could potentially be assessed as business income under Peruvian tax law.
Is online poker legal in Peru?
Online poker in Peru exists in a gray zone. Peru has not enacted specific online gambling legislation, and MINCETUR has not issued any online poker licenses. Offshore sites including PokerStars, GGPoker, and 888poker are fully accessible from Peru without requiring a VPN. SUNAT has no mechanism to enforce or tax online gambling winnings from offshore sites. This regulatory gap means that while online poker is technically unregulated rather than explicitly illegal for players, no consumer protection framework exists for Peruvian online poker players.
Where is the best poker in Lima?
The best poker in Lima is concentrated in the Miraflores and San Isidro districts. Casino Fiesta in Miraflores is widely regarded as Lima's premier poker room — it is the largest poker room in the city and serves as the primary venue for APT Lima tournament events. Casino Marina in San Isidro offers an upscale poker experience with VIP rooms. Thunderbird Casino is popular for its 24/7 availability and active cash game scene. The JW Marriott Casino is popular with international visitors. All venues require national ID (DNI) for Peruvian nationals or a passport for foreign tourists.
Does Peru have poker tournaments?
Yes — Peru has an active tournament poker scene anchored by the APT (Asian Poker Tour) Lima stop. APT Lima was established in 2015 and has become a regular international tournament stop. The Main Event has a buy-in of approximately $1,100 USD, and the 2024 edition attracted over 300 players. Beyond APT, individual Lima casinos run their own tournament series throughout the year. Casino Fiesta and Casino Marina both host regular weekly and monthly tournament schedules. Peru has also produced international poker players who have competed at the WSOP (World Series of Poker) and won bracelets.
What is MINCETUR?
MINCETUR stands for Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Turismo — Peru's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. MINCETUR is the government ministry responsible for licensing and regulating Peru's casinos under Laws No. 27153 and 27796. The ministry issues casino licenses, conducts annual compliance inspections, sets minimum operating requirements (including the minimum of 10 gaming tables for a full casino license), and enforces gaming regulations. The application fee for a casino license is PEN 60,000 (~$16,000 USD). MINCETUR also oversees Peru's broader tourism sector, which is why casino regulation falls under its remit — casinos are classified as tourism-adjacent entertainment.
Can tourists play at Peruvian casinos?
Yes — foreign tourists are fully welcome at all MINCETUR-licensed casinos in Peru. A valid passport is required for entry and identification. Tourists pay the same 12% impuesto a los juegos on wins over S/1,000 as Peruvian nationals, with the tax withheld at source by the casino. Most major Lima casinos in Miraflores and San Isidro cater significantly to international visitors and business travelers. English is commonly spoken at hotel casinos like the JW Marriott Casino Lima. The legal gambling age in Peru is 18 years old.
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