Paraguay gaming regulator resigns amid sports betting drama

The head of Paraguay’s gambling regulatory body has resigned amidst a growing controversy over the awarding of a monopoly sports betting concession to a politically connected company.

On Wednesday, Javier Balbuena announced that he was stepping down after more than four years as president of the National Commission of Games of Chance (Conajzar). Basilio ‘Bachi’ Núñez has been named Balbuena’s successor.

Balbuena (pictured) used his personal social media accounts to inform the nation that he was retiring “with the conviction of having fulfilled my duties and having laid firm foundations for the orderly development of the field.” Balbuena insisted that the decision to step down was “100%” his own, although not everyone sees things in such absolute terms.

Balbuena was increasingly under fire for last December’s decision to award the country’s monopoly sports betting concession to Daruma Sam SA, a local firm that operates under the Aposta.la brand. Daruma’s president is reportedly close friends with a key adviser to Paraguay’s President Horacio Cartes.