Puerto Rico Sports Betting

Retail sportsbooks and online sports betting are legal in Puerto Rico. A handful of sportsbooks at casinos and mobile betting apps are open for business today, but many more are coming soon.

Licensed Puerto Rico sports betting sites may accept customers 18 or older and operate under the Gaming Commission’s supervision. In addition, daily fantasy sports and online horse racing wagering are legal and regulated in Puerto Rico.

Legal Puerto Rico Betting Sites

18/21+ and present in Puerto Rico. Gambling Problem? Call the ASSMCA PAS line at 1-800-981-0023.

Puerto Rico Online Sports Betting Overview

Puerto Rico online sports betting began in June 2023 with the launch of the BetMGM Sportsbook app and website.

The main things bettors need to know about betting on sports online in Puerto Rico include:

• Customers must be 18 or older to bet online in Puerto Rico (but some online sportsbooks maintain a 21+ policy)
• Fans can use Puerto Rico sports betting apps and websites from anywhere in the commonwealth
• Signing up for an online betting account requires a one-time, in-person ID verification check at a local casino

Puerto Rico Sports Betting Apps

Each of the following online sportsbook apps either already has operations in Puerto Rico or will soon.

The Puerto Rico online sports betting market is shaping up to be more competitive than most, with relatively inexpensive licensing fees and a reasonable tax structure. As a result, bettors can look forward to many online sportsbooks coming to Puerto Rico and offering competitive bonuses to new customers.

Puerto Rico Sportsbook Promo Codes

Puerto Rico Betting Bonuses

Puerto Rican betting bonuses incentivize new customers to sign up for accounts, make deposits, and place wagers. Nearly all sportsbooks offer online betting bonuses, typically taking one of several formats:

• First Bet Refunds: The most common type of promotion, first bet refunds invite new customers to register, deposit funds, and place a real-money wager. If it loses, they’ll receive a 100% refund paid as site credit or bonus bets.
• First Deposit Match: Few online sportsbooks offer first deposit match bonuses; new customers qualify by making a deposit and receive an extra percentage in bonus funds. For example, a 20% deposit bonus would offer $20 extra to someone who deposits $100.
• Odds Boosts: Most sportsbooks offer regular odds boosts to existing customers; for example, the sportsbook may temporarily increase the odds on a hometown MLB team from +120 to +250.

Puerto Rico Sports Betting Bonus Regulations

Section 5.13 of Puerto Rico’s sports betting regulations requires sportsbooks to thoroughly and prominently disclose the rules governing all promotional offers, including any withdrawal restrictions.

Interestingly, one provision prohibits operators from adding wagering requirements to bonus funds customers have already received.

Section 5.13(2)(a) states that bonuses and promotional payouts must appear in players’ accounts as “restricted player funds” and may be wagered as described in that offer’s terms – nothing abnormal there. However, the following paragraph states that “winnings from restricted player funds must be able to be withdrawn without being subject to any further wagering requirements.”

Sportsbooks can still attach wagering requirements to betting bonuses before releasing funds to customers, but the provision ensures bettors won’t be surprised by additional rollover requirements after receiving their bonuses.

How To Bet Online In Puerto Rico

Legal Puerto Rico sports betting apps and websites allow bettors 18 or older to begin the registration process from anywhere on the island. However, customers must complete a one-time identity verification check in person at each sportsbook’s local casino partner.

For example, new BetMGM Puerto Rico customers must visit Casino del Mar to register. After registering, customers can bet online from anywhere in Puerto Rico.

So, fans can get started by visiting any recommended online sportsbook on this page to sign up for an account through its website or mobile app.

1. Follow any link on this page to visit that sportsbook’s website from your desktop computer or mobile device
2. Click or tap the “join now” or “sign up” button (usually displayed prominently on the homepage)
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to supply your name, address, etc.
4. Create a username and password
5. Check your e-mail inbox to verify your e-mail address (Puerto Rico law requires sportsbooks to verify each customer’s e-mail address and mobile phone number)
6. Complete verification in-person at your sportsbook’s nearest retail location
7. Download the mobile app (optional)
8. Log in and select “deposit” to fund your betting account

Puerto Rico laws require online sportsbooks to verify every customer’s age and identity, prohibit restricted persons from registering, and comply with federal anti-money laundering laws.

As a result, licensed Puerto Rican betting sites must collect the following information from all new users during registration:

• Legal name
• Date of birth
• Social Security Number (just the last four digits in most cases)
• Residential address
• E-mail and mobile phone number (operators must verify both)

For most new customers, signing up for an online betting account takes less than five minutes. The most common stumbling block for new users is that the sportsbook may have trouble confirming their identities – which bettors can resolve by snapping a picture of their photo ID and e-mailing it to customer support.

Puerto Rico Sports Betting Deposit Options

Customers can fund their Puerto Rico online betting accounts with a standard array of deposit methods. At most sportsbooks, bettors can usually choose from credit cards, debit cards, cash-based methods, electronic transfers, and e-wallets like PayPal.

PRGC Regulations Section 9.6 B authorizes sportsbooks to accept the following deposit methods:

• Cash deposits made directly with the sportsbook
• Personal and cashier’s checks
• Credit cards
• Debit cards (but not prepaid debit cards)
• Instant bank transfers / ACH transfers
• Deposits at sports betting kiosks
• Any other method approved by the PRGC

Puerto Rico law also requires online sportsbooks to inform players of the following once each year and whenever their cumulative lifetime deposits total $2,500 or more:

• They have reached the notification threshold of $2,500
• They may establish responsible gambling limits or close their account
• They can call the ASSMCA PAS (Puerto Rico Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration) helpline at 1-800-981-0023

The law also orders Puerto Rico betting apps and websites to require multi-factor authentication whenever customers deposit or withdraw funds. Typically, that involves receiving a text message or e-mail with a five or six-digit code that customers must provide when initiating a funds transfer.

Additionally, sportsbooks may offer customers the following withdrawal methods:

• Cash withdrawal at the sportsbook
• Personal and cashier’s checks
• Wire transfers
• Credits to customers’ credit and debit cards
• ACH and online bank transfers
• Cash withdrawals at kiosks
• Any other method approved by the PRGC

Bettors should also note that Puerto Rico sports betting laws require operators to only issue bank transfer payouts to accounts held in the customer’s name and assigned to the same address they provided when registering. That means bettors must provide accurate information when registering or they’ll have problems cashing out their winnings.

The law also touches on operators’ obligations regarding withdrawal requests. Specifically, sportsbooks must honor customers’ withdrawal requests within a reasonable timeframe unless it has a good-faith suspicion that the customer has engaged in fraud, collusion, illegal behavior, or improper activity. “Reasonable timeframe” and “improper activity” are too vague to be of much use for bettors, but at least sportsbook operators know that the PRGC is watching how they handle withdrawals.

Retail Puerto Rico Sportsbooks

Two retail sportsbooks are open in Puerto Rico, and many more are on the way. Today, bettors can visit the following sportsbooks to place wagers, watch games, and order from full food and drink menus:

• BetMGM Sportsbook at Casino del Mar
• MetroBets with Caesars Sportsbook at Casino Metro

More Puerto Rico Sportsbooks Coming Soon

Puerto Rico will eventually have many locations to bet on sports due to low licensing fees and regulations that allow the following types of businesses to apply for sports betting licenses:

• Casinos
• Hotels
• Inns (paradores)
• Racetracks
• Off-track betting parlors (OTBs)
• Former cockfighting arenas (galleras)

Additionally, the PRGC may authorize sports betting in any other venue “that the Commission determines that provides security for all the parties that intervene in the industry to avoid tax evasion, money laundering and any other criminal conduct,” with two limitations:

• The PRGC cannot authorize additional locations en masse by naming an industry; e.g., the PRGC can’t mass-authorize all gas stations or all restaurants to offer sports betting
• The PRGC cannot authorize new locations within 100 meters of schools, churches, and drug/alcohol rehab facilities without their written permission

Puerto Rico Esports Betting

Puerto Rico’s sports betting law addresses esports betting in more detail than legislation in most jurisdictions. The law acknowledges and authorizes three types of esports betting:

• Betting as spectators: Fans place bets on esports events at retail sportsbooks and licensed sports betting sites – no different than betting on football or baseball
• Skill-based gaming: Players compete against the house in games that combine chance with skill
• Peer-to-peer esports wagering: Players compete against each other for money in esports matches and place wagers through intermediaries that pay winners and keep a commission

Licensed Puerto Rico online sportsbooks may only offer wagers on esports matches or tournaments sanctioned by a governing body recognized by the PRGC. Additionally, operators may offer skill-based gaming and peer-to-peer wagering with prior approval from the PRGC.

Puerto Rico Sports Betting Law

Puerto Rico legalized sports betting in July 2019 via HB 2038, creating the Government of Puerto Rico Gaming Commission Act (the Act).

The law legalized online sports betting, retail sportsbooks, and daily fantasy sports in Puerto Rico for fans 18 or older. In addition, the law created the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission (PRGC) to regulate sports betting, horse racing wagering, and games of chance.

The PRGC immediately got to work crafting all the necessary regulations to implement the new law. The PRGC regulations span more than 140 pages, covering “all administrative licensing, oversight, supervision, and regulator procedures” related to Puerto Rico sports betting.

Puerto Rico’s sports betting laws aim to protect consumers, ensure the integrity of sports, encourage responsible gambling, and generate revenue for the state. To that end, licensed Puerto Rican betting sites must undergo extensive background investigations, submit to regular audits, demonstrate their technical security standards to the PRGC, establish procedures to prevent money laundering, and much more.

Key Puerto Rico Sports Betting Rules

The three main things bettors need to know:

• Fans must be 18 or older to bet on sports in Puerto Rico
• In-person and online sports betting are legal in Puerto Rico
• Customers must complete registration in person at a nearby casino

Sportsbooks may offer wagers on:

• Professional sports events
• Esports events and tournaments
• College sports
• Olympics and other international events
• “Special events,” defined as “any game or event that generates sports bets, including, but not limited to, esports and fantasy games, the duration of which do not exceed thirty (30) days.”

Sportsbooks may not offer wagers on:

• Events designed for participants under 18
• Events organized by educational institutions at the high school level or lower
• Horse races
• Lotteries, electronic lotteries, and drawing games

To support responsible gambling, all licensed operators must:

• Provide a way for customers to self-exclude for hours, days, indefinitely, or permanently
• Submit plans to support responsible gambling to the PRGC for approval
• Create policies and provide training for employees to detect and respond to signs of problem gambling
• Direct customers who express concerns about their gambling habits to the PRGC self-exclusion form
• Publicly display responsible gambling messages and resources
• Not extend credit to bettors

Puerto Rico Sports Betting Taxes and Licensing Fees

Taxes:

• Online sports betting operators: 12% on gross income
• Retail sportsbooks: 7% on gross income

Licensing Fees:

• Principal Operators and Internet Wagering Platform licenses: $50,000
• Point of Sale or Branch Licenses: $2,500
• Horse racetracks receive a 50% discount on license fees for the first ten years to support Puerto Rico’s horse racing industry
• License fees waived for former cockfighting venues for ten years to incentivize owners to comply with Puerto Rico’s cockfighting betting ban

Where Puerto Rico Sports Betting Revenue Goes

The Puerto Rican government distributes tax revenues collected from sports betting as follows:

• Before anything else, sports betting tax revenues cover all PRGC expenses
• 50% of revenue to guarantee payments to pensioners
• 15% of revenue to the Puerto Rico Police
• 10% to the Municipal Improvement Fund
• 5% to the Sports and Recreation Department to support sports in Puerto Rico
• 5% to the Joint Committee on Legislative Donations to support sports-related non-profits in Puerto Rico
• 10% to support children’s education in Puerto Rico
• 5% to support gambling education and addiction services

Puerto Rico Daily Fantasy Sports

Puerto Rico legalized and regulated daily fantasy sports in 2019 through the same legislation that authorized sports betting. Previously, Puerto Rico law did not address fantasy sports, and none of North America’s major DFS operators offered DFS contests in the commonwealth.

Now, fantasy sports operators like FanDuel and DraftKings may apply for licenses to offer real-money games in Puerto Rico. Additional consumer protection regulations require Puerto Rico DFS sites to:

• Prohibit anyone under 18 from participating
• Prevent their employees and employees’ same-household family members from participating in any DFS contests that offer cash prizes to the general public
• Prevent the sharing of confidential information that could impact DFS contests before that information becomes publicly available
• Provide means for players to self-restrict from participating in DFS contests
• Provide mechanisms for customers to establish daily, weekly, and monthly limits on deposits, entry fees, and time spent logged in
• Segregate customers’ funds from operational funds or maintain a reserve at least equal to all customers’ funds
• Hire a third party to conduct an independent audit once a year

Under the current law, Puerto Rico fantasy sports sites pay a 12% tax on gross income and must pay licensing fees based on their revenue:

• Operators with nationwide revenue greater than $10 million: $10,000 annual licensing fee
• All other DFS operators: $1,000 annual licensing fee

Puerto Rico Horse Racing Betting

Pari-mutuel horse racing wagering is legal and ubiquitous in Puerto Rico. Fans can watch and wager on horse races through legal online racebooks, more than 500 off-track betting facilities (OTBs), and at Hipódromo Camarero, the commonwealth’s only horse racetrack.

Puerto Rico Online Horse Racing Betting

Advance-deposit wagering (online horse racing betting) is legal in Puerto Rico via licensed ADW websites and mobile apps.

Hipódromo Camarero offers online horse racing betting and a mobile racebook app under the Gana Donde Sea brand. Fans can visit the Hipódromo Camarero website or head to ganadondesea.com to sign up for accounts and bet online today. Bettors can download the Gana Donde Sea app here.

New York-based Interbets also offers legal online horse racing betting in Puerto Rico at interbets.com. Readers can learn more about Interbets here:

• Interbets Review

Puerto Rico Agencias Hípicas (OTBs)

The second-most convenient way to bet on horse races in Puerto Rico is through any of the commonwealth’s 500+ agencias hípicas, a.k.a. off-track betting facilities (OTBs).

Puerto Rico OTBs are everywhere, so fans are usually not far from the nearest location to bet on horse races. Fans can find agencias hípicas at gas stations, bars, restaurants, standalone buildings, and strip malls.

Most Puerto Rico OTBs are small operations tucked into existing businesses, and their quality varies. However, some standalone agencias hípicas provide a more welcoming atmosphere dedicated to horse racing, with lots of TVs and comfortable seating.

Hipódromo Camarero provides a full list of off-track betting locations here:

• Agencias Hípicas en Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Online Gambling

Despite legalizing online sports betting, Puerto Rico does not appear close to legalizing online casinos or poker sites. Even after Puerto Rico legalized sports betting, the first online sportsbooks didn’t open until nearly three years later.

In short, it will likely be quite some time before legal online gambling comes to Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Online Lottery

Players can buy Puerto Rico Lottery tickets online at Jackpocket.com or through the Jackpocket app from anywhere on the island.

Loterías de Puerto Rico does not offer online ticket sales directly, but Jackpocket fills that void by purchasing tickets from authorized retailers on behalf of customers.

Readers can play the Puerto Rico lottery online by signing up for Jackpocket accounts, logging in, choosing a game, picking their numbers, and paying for their orders. This is the easiest and safest way to buy lottery tickets online in Puerto Rico.

Once Jackpocket acquires customers’ official Puerto Rico Lottery tickets, it scans and uploads copies to customers’ accounts, so they can log in anytime to verify their purchases.

Puerto Rico Sports Betting FAQ