Gambling in Puerto Rico
With several casinos built along the seaside, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an exotic gambling destination frequented by millions of tourists every year. Its world-class casino industry generates a significant part of the state’s income. This is why the Casino Committee of the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association makes sure the gambling market is tightly regulated.
Puerto Rico’s Games of Chance Act contains clauses as old as 1948, as well as more recent amendments introduced to regulated video-lottery terminals in off-track betting parlors. According to Puerto Rican gambling laws, casino games can only be played in resort hotels. Players can bet on horse races at the Camarero Racetrack and the state also offers traditional and electronic lottery games.
However, the current law doesn’t cover Adult Entertainment Machines and this has lead to the uncontrolled spread of illegal slot machine parlors, which take a bite out of casino profits. Several legal gambling venues have closed and total revenues have seen a significant drop. Casino owners have been very vocal about these problems and asked the Puerto Rican regulator to make current laws clear and more flexible.
