Lottery tickets are legal in Nicaragua under the National Lottery of Nicaragua, a government institution that operates lottery games throughout the country. The National Lottery regulated slots located in neighborhoods, markets and drug stores in the whole country before the enactment of Law 766 in 2011 (2). The organization's primary mission is to generate profits and resources for social projects led by government institutions, with proceeds supporting sports programs and child protection initiatives developed by the Nicaraguan Institute of Sports and the Ministry of the Family.
The Ministry of Finance currently oversees gaming regulation in Nicaragua, with the Financial Analysis Unit serving as the local tax collection agency. The National Lottery delivered USD 687,538 in February 2025 to strengthen sports programs and child protection, with equal distributions of USD 343,769 each to the Nicaraguan Institute of Sports and the Ministry of the Family (1). The lottery has set a goal for 2025 to achieve donations exceeding USD 9.4 million, surpassing the historic figure of USD 9.3 million reached in 2024 for social purposes.
"National Lottery's mission is to generate profits and resources for these social projects led by MIFAN and IND, so we can especially attend to the elderly as protagonists, to children from the CDI and also to the athletes who have been bringing so much glory to Nicaragua."
The legal gambling age in Nicaragua is eighteen years, applying to both physical and online lottery participation (2). Virginia Lorena Molina Hurtado serves as general manager of the National Lottery, overseeing operations and profit distribution ceremonies. The lottery operates through a network of concessionaires and resellers who distribute tickets throughout the country, with all profits from sales supporting government social programs rather than private enterprises, ensuring that lottery revenues directly benefit Nicaraguan communities and vulnerable populations.
Source:
https://www.pasa365.com/en/main/info/news/detail/692380773872836951
https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2011/12/15/13166-first-casino-law-comes-into-force-in-nicaragua
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
