Overview of the Puerto Rican Online Gambling Landscape
Almost three quarters of the total population in Puerto Rico have access to the Internet, so it is not surprising that online gambling is the preferred form of wagering in the unincorporated US territory. Currently, Puerto Rican players can only play at offshore online casinos though, as online casinos are not regulated under the existing legal framework.
However, Puerto Rico evidently wants to regulate online casinos similarly to US states, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, allowing players residing within their borders to legally join online casinos. The benefits of such a move would be tangible.
For instance, according to a 2019 study commissioned by the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, the legalisation of online and retail sports betting would provide the government with an additional $87 million in revenues by 2024. Legalising online casinos will no doubt have a similar effect.
Online Gambling Regulation in Puerto Rico Explained
Puerto Rico has a booming land-based casino sector, boasting over twenty lavish casino resorts. Despite that, a large portion of the population in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico turns to playing casino games online at VPN-friendly casinos accepting players from the country. Here’s a brief overview of the legal gambling scene on the smallest island of the Greater Antilles:
- Gambling became legal in Puerto Rico in 1948, making the unincorporated US territory one of the first states to legalise land-based casinos in the US.
- The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission (Comision de Juegos del Gobierno de Puerto Rico) oversees and licenses online and land-based gambling operators.
- When the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 was overturned in 2018, the Puerto Rico Government could legalise sports betting.
- Retail and online sports betting, e-sports, fantasy contests, brick-and-mortar casino gambling, slot machines, and horse racing betting are all legal and regulated in Puerto Rico.
- Even though online casinos still operate in a legal grey area, significant efforts are being made to put gambling sites within a legal framework so that all wagering activities in Puerto Rico are properly regulated.
Even though some forms of online gambling, specifically online sports betting, were legalised with the Gaming Commission Act No. 81 of June 29, 2019, Puerto Rico will only have a fully regulated market once it puts online casino sites within a legal framework. Until then, Puerto Rican bettors and casino enthusiasts will continue to frequent offshore websites.