Best Puerto Rico Sportsbooks April 2024
| Online Sportsbooks · US Sports Betting · Puerto Rico |
Puerto Rico is a US territory, and the US federal laws apply there. Among other things, this meant that until 2018, sports betting was illegal under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). When the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018, it opened the door to Puerto Rico legalizing sports betting in 2019.
Former Governor Ricard Rossello signed a bill legalizing sports betting in 2019, and the newly-formed Gambling Commission, in consultation with Gaming Laboratories International, drew up an initial set of regulations.
On November 8, 2021, the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission released request forms for sports betting and fantasy contest operators looking to do business on the Caribbean island.
BetMGM was the first sportsbook to launch thanks to its partnership with The Casino del Mar, which received a license from the PRGC on February 11, 2022. This lead to BetMGM opening their retail sportsbook at the resort. Caesars subsequently followed with its Dec. 21, 2022 retail launch at Casino Metro in San Juan.
Now, both BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook have launched their online sportsbooks in PR!
When more Puerto Rico sports betting apps get off the ground, Puerto Ricans will have access to a range of top sportsbooks. Betting on professional sports, esports, and fantasy sports will provide a new dimension to gambling in Puerto Rico.
IS ONLINE SPORTS BETTING LEGAL IN PUERTO RICO?
Yes! BetMGM launched its online sportsbook on June 8, 2023 which was followed by Caesars' launch on July 6, 2023.
Overall, it's been slow going in Puerto Rico, with the PRGC (Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, operating through the Tourism Board) with only two legal sportsbooks operating on the island.
Retail betting previously launched with BetMGM's Casino del Mar location, opened in February 2022 and Caesars Sportsbook at Casino Metro in Dec. 2022. Here's a breakdown of legal betting and potential options in Puerto Rico:
CONTENTS
- Most Likely Puerto Rico Sportsbooks
- Puerto Rico Betting Laws
- PR Sports Betting News
- Future of Puerto Rico Sports Betting
- Puerto Rico Sports Betting: Events and Betting Markets
- Puerto Rico Casinos
- Puerto Rico Sports Betting FAQ
- Final Thoughts on Betting in Puerto Rico
TOP PUERTO RICO SPORTSBOOKS
As the online sports betting in PR continues to grow, these are some of the best Puerto Rico sportsbooks and apps that are legally-available online now.
BETMGM
With its international reach, BetMGM became the first in-person and mobile sportsbook operator in Puerto Rico on June 8, 2023.
The King of Sportsbooks is a major brand as is a popular platform for US bettors and is an established name in the sports betting industry.
Back on September 3, 2021, BetMGM partnered with La Concha Resort's Casino del Mar to offer mobile and in-person sports betting.
And on February 11, 2022, BetMGM launched retail sports betting, with the opening of a retail sportsbook at the San Juan-based beach resort.
CAESARS SPORTSBOOK
Caesars Sportsbook became the second mobile sportsbook in Puerto Rico after launching on July 6, 2023!
Caesars originally opened its in-person sportsbook at the Casino Metro in the Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino in San Juan back on Dec. 21, 2022.
Puerto Rican residents will need to register in-person at the Casino Metro to be able to legally place bets on the Caesars Sportsbook mobile app.
Previously, the PRGC interim executive director Jaime Rivera-Emmanuelli announced in late 2022 that seven operators were given license to do retail betting in PR, and Caesars was among those awarded a license! We're eager to see what Caesars does in Puerto Rico, and looking forward to exciting promos!
FANDUEL
With daily fantasy sports included under legal sports betting (in most jurisdictions), FanDuel is knocking on the door to roll out its platform. It’s a popular sportsbook across US states, with various sports and betting markets to suit all interests.
FanDuel took a big step towards this goal when it signed an agreement with The CAGE Companies, which is an organization operating and managing video gaming terminals, systems, and gaming content across South America and the Caribbean. FanDuel hopes that, through this partnership, it can add Puerto Rico to the list of jurisdictions where its sportsbook is live sometime in 2024.
PUERTO RICO BETTING LAWS
PR sports betting became legal in July 2019, and BetMGM and Caesars are the only two major sportsbooks to open their platforms on the island.
Former Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced signed Senate Bill 1534 into law before stepping down from office on Jan. 6, 2021 after serving a 16-month term. Current Governor Pedro Pierlusi then took office afterwards and had to lead the charge of preparing PR for legal sports betting.
One of the amendments in Senate Bill 1534 is that bettors register in person rather than on any Puerto Rico betting sites. While this shift from the global norm may seem odd, it’s a small price to pay for access to legal PR sports betting, esports, and fantasy sports.
Governor Pierlusi set up an advisory group to assist in rolling out sports betting. Together, the advisory group, the Gambling Commission, and Gov. Pierlusi identified and set up the necessary infrastructure and initiatives to promote Puerto Rico betting.
Here's what we do know about sports betting in PR so far:
- The Puerto Rico Gambling Commission will handle licensing and regulating the industry.
- Sports betting and online gambling are legal in PR. BetMGM and Caesars are the only two sportsbooks that are legal in Puerto Rico.
- Unlicensed gambling operators can be charged with a crime for advertising betting websites.
- Caesars Sportsbook launched its online app on July 6, 2023.
- BetMGM launched its online sportsbook in PR on June 8, 2023.
- Caesars reached a partnership with Casino Metro in San Juan in Dec. 21, 2022.
- MGM has a standing agreement with the La Concha Resort's Casino del Mar in Puerto Rico, and they launched retail sports betting on February 11, 2022.
Simply, the situation in PR regarding online sports betting is still underway and is being led by MGM and Caesars Entertainment. For now, any websites advertising online gambling in the US territory should be avoided, as they're not licensed or required to offer player protections by law.
FUTURE OF PUERTO RICO SPORTS BETTING
PR sports betting will provide the boost that the economy needs. Tax on bets placed in person or on the betting apps could reach millions of dollars, and the licensing fees for Puerto Rico betting sites are another welcome funds injection.
As the islanders finally got access to Puerto Rico online sports betting during the summer of 2023, we should continue to see a rush of activity as players register with PR sportsbooks. The simultaneous launch of sports betting, esports, and fantasy sports provides multiple options for players who already enjoy gambling at one of PR’s many casinos.
The initial goal for the launch of PR sports betting was the start of the MLB season in 2021. While it missed that self-imposed deadline, the island was still able to get sports betting up and running by Feb. 11, 2022 with BetMGM.
PUERTO RICO SPORTBOOKS: EVENTS AND BETTING MARKETS
Although sports betting in Puerto Rico has only two live sportsbooks, there’s no harm in considering the options you’ll have available. Puerto Ricans can wager on a substantial number of sports and events.
MOST POPULAR SPORTS TO BET ON
Baseball is by far Puerto Rico’s most popular sport. The island has over 100 active MLB players, and BetMGM and Caesars offer great betting markets on baseball. Users can find plenty of MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL, and soccer options on both live Puerto Rico sportsbooks.
Additionally, tennis, golf, motor racing, and football are among the staples at all sportsbooks. Puerto Rico betting sites follow these trends, enabling you to wager on the top sports and events on desktop and Puerto Rico sports betting apps.
Other sports available for betting are:
- Rugby Union
- Table Tennis
- Boxing
- Volleyball
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Athletics
POPULAR PUERTO RICO EVENTS
With Puerto Ricans enjoying similar sports to Americans, they’re likely to support the same sports events. These include international tournaments like the Soccer World Cup, Rugby World Cup, and golf Majors. Puerto Rico sportsbooks will also attract betting on the Grand Slam tennis tournaments and F1 motor races.
Puerto Rico online sports betting sites expectedly field competitive odds for the major leagues, especially baseball, due to the significant support for this sport. Other popular events for PR sports betting are:
- Super Bowl
- Kentucky Derby
- Olympic Games
- Championship boxing
- UEFA Champions League
- World Baseball Classic (WBC)
PUERTO RICO CASINOS
Betting in Puerto Rico is not a new concept. Although Puerto Rico sports betting is still a work in progress, casino gambling has been a legal activity since the late 1940s. Its popularity is evident in the 15 facilities around the island. More casinos are expected to partner with new sportsbooks to bring apps and sites to the masses.
Horse racing is also popular there, and Puerto Ricans have bet on horses since before WWII. Horse racing fell outside of PASPA and was never considered illegal. It will undoubtedly remain popular, reaching a broader audience through Puerto Rico sportsbooks.
PUERTO RICO SPORTS BETTING FAQ
IS SPORTS BETTING LEGAL IN PUERTO RICO?
Puerto Rico sports betting became legal in 2019, and officially launched on Feb. 11, 2022 at Casino del Mar in San Juan. This was followed by Caesars opening up their in-person sportsbook at the Casino Metro in Dec. 21, 2022.
While online sports betting took a while to launch, BetMGM and Caesars were finally able to launch online in 2023 on June 8 and July 6, respectively. More sportsbooks are expected to join the PR sports betting market in 2024 and beyond.
CAN I PLACE BETS ON MY PHONE IN PUERTO RICO?
The law legalizing sports betting in Puerto Rico allows for this at on-site casinos and mobile through Puerto Rico sports betting apps. Mobile gambling officially began on June 8, 2023, when BetMGM launched their online sportsbook in Puerto Rico.
WHAT SPORTS CAN I BET ON IN PUERTO RICO?
While not all Puerto Rico betting sites will offer the same sports, classic American sports will be abundant: baseball, basketball, fútbol, American football, and hockey. You can also wager on boxing, tennis, cycling, football, golf, and more.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON BETTING IN PUERTO RICO
With sports betting continuing to roll out across the US, it was only a matter of time before it hit the US territories. Puerto Rico sports betting finally launched, albeit not as quickly as many Puerto Ricans would like. However, the stage is set. As more progress is made with regulations, interest in Puerto Rico online sports betting will increase dramatically.
You can look forward to more of the top sportsbooks launching in Puerto Rico in 2024 and beyond. With attractive welcome offers and exciting betting markets, Puerto Rico sports betting will hit the ground running when more sportsbooks join the market.
When participating in Puerto Rico sports betting, responsible gambling is essential to your enjoyment. It’s easy to lose control of your bankroll, so always ensure that you remain focused and clear-headed. Know what responsible gambling measures are in place at Puerto Rico betting sites, and don’t be afraid to set limits on your gambling.