How Puerto Rico Became the Premier Las Vegas Alternative

Over the decades when casinos (both online and offline) and sports betting (both online and offline) were illegal across U.S. states, Las Vegas became a mecca for gambling. Nevada was the only state that had a robust legal betting framework and the city benefited. However, during that same time, Puerto Rico also supported casinos and became a low-key alternative to Vegas.

In this article, you can read about how Puerto Rico is the casino destination you should think about. Furthermore, we’ll also discuss how the Caribbean island is also exploring online sports betting and casinos in a way that could boost the economy. Because of its embrace of online casinos, venues like Cherry could soon be available to customers in Puerto Rico, allowing access to casino games like roulette and slots online.

For the last 25 years, casinos and sports betting in the United States has been limited by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). While PASPA was lifted in 2018, the country’s gambling framework remains nascent. During all this time, Puerto Rico has taken a different stance.

While the country is an American commonwealth, its laws are independent and the message on gambling has been clear: Puerto Rico is open for business. People who live on the island or visit it could head to casinos legally, and over the years Puerto Rico has become an often overlooked casino jewel.

While gambling is legal, it has been regulated under some clear rules. All betting lines in Puerto Rico must be handled by a resort or hotel, all casinos are non-smoking venues, and all players must be 18 or older to gamble.

As you might expect, the capital city of San Juan is the best place for casinos. Indeed, the city is home to some of the top resorts in the country, but there are also smaller hotels and casinos that are worth checking out. Certainly, for the casino aficionado, San Juan is a good place to base yourself in Puerto Rico.

However, the city should not be you only port of call. Other destinations, such as Ponce, Caguas, Rio Grande, and Mayaguez have resort casinos that are interesting choices. It’s also worth remembering that the betting market is a major boost to Puerto Rico’s often struggling economy. Therefore, the country has been actively exploring online sports betting.

Online casinos were introduced via a new bill that was launched by then Governor Ricardo Rossello. Through online sports betting alone, the country believes it will make between $44 million and $62 million in annual revenue. Not only are online casinos available but select venues will soon be able to provide online sports betting to customers.

Below are the legal online casino destinations in Puerto Rico: