Population: 9.700.000
Active players: 1.500.000
Currency: Lempira (HNL)
Regulated gambling products: Casino games, lotteries, sports betting
Operator types: Casinos, lotteries, bookmakers, unlicensed online bookies & casinos
Designated authority: No designated authority
Status: Semi-regulated
Τhe Republic of Honduras is a Central American country bordered by Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador. Its capital and largest city is Tegucigalpa, with a total population of nearly 10 million. Sports are very popular, especially football, basketball and baseball. The national football team (Los Catrachos) has participated in three World Cups (1982, 2010 and 2014).
Gambling in Honduras has been regulated since 1977; however, the law framework is vastly outdated. No amendments or new laws have been voted on since and, obviously, there are no references to the online sector. As a result, online betting is unmonitored in Honduras and perceived to be totally legal. Players are increasingly placing bets at online bookies; they are in search of better odds and more betting options than the sole local operator is offering.
Betting in Honduras - 5 things to know
- The legal gambling age is 18
- The land-based sector has been regulated since 1977
- There are many brick and mortar bookies and a few casinos
- Many international bookies accept Honduran players
- Online gambling in Honduras falls under no law framework
Best betting sites in Honduras
Many operators accept local bettors and the offering is quite rich; so, we list the best online bookies in Honduras to make your choice easier. Their welcome offers, along with the extensive coverage of all the major football leagues globally make them stand out from the competition.
Online betting in Honduras: The law framework
To put it simply, gambling is legal in Honduras. Still, by that we mainly mean lotteries, land-based casinos and bookmakers. There is no designated authority in place, just the local Institute of Tourism which overlooks all procedures. LEY DE CASINOS, JUEGOS DE ENVITE O AZAR, decree 488 of 1977 is still the only existing piece of gambling law. As one may easily guess, it does not include any chapters regarding the online sector. Gambling online in Honduras is still left out of the law framework.
However, for players who want to place a bet, Honduras offers many options. Sports betting takes place within the numerous bookmakers' stands and shops. There are no licensed local bookies, with the exception of Betcris, which is actually Costa Rican. Nonetheless, it operates many betting shops throughout Tegucigalpa and other major cities. There is also no clear framework or procedure for an entity that wishes to obtain a license. Getting in touch with the Institute of Tourism is the only known step towards that. The tax for either casinos or bookmakers, stands at 20% on their GGR.
Yet, with no laws on online betting in Honduras; players freely reach out to any bookmaker they want. Authorities are too busy with everyday crime in the country. Literally no one seems to care or even take notice if Hondurans place their bets with offshore bookies. Lastly, there are no reports of monitoring or prosecuting bettors at any point.
You need to be over 18 to participate in any type of gambling. Moreover, the authorities neither block access to online operators, nor they seem eager to regulate the online sector. It is generally considered legal though to gamble online. There are many South American online bookmakers in Honduras that you might come across. To put it simply, you should avoid them. Most of them are scam, and since there’s no regulatory body, you won’t be able to claim anything if a problem comes up. What you should do is simply stick to the betting sites we list in our analysis. These are all licensed by respectable authorities from around the world. If any dispute comes up; their customer support will, in most cases, be available 24/7 at your disposal.
Banks do not block transactions. So, players use bank wires and credit cards when gambling online. However, top e-wallets like ecoPayz and Sticpay accept local registrations, providing fast and secure transactions. Cryptocurrencies on the other hand are extremely popular in the Honduran online gambling scene. So popular that in August 2021 the first crypto ATM, ‘la bitcoinera’, made its appearance in Tegucigalpa. More and more bookies are also using cryptocurrency payments. So, familiarize yourself with it if you haven’t done it already and just keep betting on.
The tough situation in which the country finds itself as we speak cannot be overlooked; both politically and economically. From that scope, online bookmakers in Honduras are not actually expecting any changes; at least imminent ones. The country needs to address many issues before the government seriously considers regulating its online gambling sector. On the other hand, players enjoy totally free access to Honduran online bookies. Moreover, the rapid growth of the use of cryptocurrencies among locals portrays a familiarity towards new technologies. The local gambling sector definitely has potential. Time will show if the state chooses to appropriately regulate it and benefit from it or not.
The complete list of bookmakers in Honduras
The local offering is very rich. So, we hereby list all online bookies in Honduras. These are all legitimate and licensed operators. Go on and pick the ones that suit your likes. Plus, while you’re at it, enjoy their bonuses and their competitive odds on the top betting markets.