A Look at the Puerto Rican Online Gambling Environment
Almost 75% of Puerto Rico's Population have internet accessibility, making it unsurprising that online gambling has become a favored activity in this US territory. However, Puerto Rican participants can currently only engage on offshore online casinos since online casinos fall outside the current legal framework.
Yet, it's evident Puerto Rico desires to govern online casinos in a way similar to US states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which would permit residents to legally partake in online casino activities. The advantages of such regulation are noteworthy.
An example is the 2019 report from the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, which showed that legalizing both online and physical sports betting would generate additional income for the government. $87 million in revenues by 2024 . It stands to reason that legalizing online casinos would produce a comparable impact.
The Current State of Online Gambling Regulation in Puerto Rico
Although Puerto Rico cradles a flourishing land-based casino industry, with more than twenty sumptuous resorts, many residents of the Commonwealth favor playing casino games on the internet at VPN-friendly casinos which accepts players from Puerto Rico. Here's an encapsulated look at the gambling landscape in the smallest of the Greater Antilles:
- In 1948, gambling received legal status in Puerto Rico, positioning the territory as one of the pioneering US regions to legalize brick-and-mortar gambling establishments.
- The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission ( The Gaming Commission of the Government of Puerto Rico ) exercises oversight and issues permits for both online and offline gambling operators.
- The overturning of 1992's Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018 allowed Puerto Rican authorities to legalize sports wagering.
- Retail and online sports betting , along with e-sports, fantasy sports contests, traditional casino gaming, slot machines, and horse racing wagering, all being lawful and regulated in Puerto Rico.
- Even though internet casinos are still operating under ambiguous legal status, there are significant initiatives aimed at integrating gambling platforms into an established legal framework to ensure all gambling activities are regulated in Puerto Rico.
Even though specified forms of internet wagering, notably online sports betting, have been officially sanctioned due to the Gaming Commission Act No. 81 of June 29, 2019 , Puerto Rico will only achieve a fully regulated market once online casino operations are formalized within a legal structure. Until that time, players from Puerto Rico will continue exploring international websites for casino gaming.