Best Dominican Republic bookmakers

Population: 10.900.000
Active players: 2.000.000
Currency: Dominican peso (DOP)
Regulated gambling products: Sports betting, casinos, lotteries
Operator types: Lottery, casinos, bookmaker shops, licensed and unlicensed online bookies & casinos
Designated authority: Dirección de Casinos y Juegos de Azar
Status: Regulated

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean country on the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles archipelago. It occupies the eastern part of it, while sharing the island with Haiti. After being under Spanish occupation, it enjoyed a short spell of independence before falling under French and US ruling. Since 1978, the country has moved steadily towards democracy. Spanish is the official language, while Santo Domingo is the capital and largest city.

Sports are very popular, especially baseball, football and boxing. Juan José Soto Pacheco, the "Childish Bambino", is an outfielder for the MLB Washington Nationals; along with Boston Celtics’ Al Horford, they are the most recognisable Dominican athletes.

Gambling in Dominican Republic has been part of everyday local culture for many years; it was as early as 1967 when it had its first proper set of regulations. The sector has flourished ever since, making it one of the top gambling-friendly destinations in the Americas. For locals and tourists who wanna place a bet, Dominican Republic offers many choices. All forms of gambling are legal and many international bookies accept local players.

Dominican Republic gambling - 5 things to know

• The legal gambling age is set at 18
• All forms of gambling are legal 
• There are many bookmaker shops and brick and mortar casinos
• Only PokerStars has acquired a local betting license up to date
• There are numerous international operators welcoming both locals and tourists

Dominican Republic best betting sites

Thankfully for local bettors, there is a wide choice of international operators that accept local sign-ups; so, we list the best Dominican Republic bookmakers who stand out for the various offers and special bets they offer, as well as for the extensive coverage of the biggest sporting events from around the globe.

Gambling in the Dominican Republic: The law framework

The local gambling sector is the biggest throughout the Caribbean; being legal in all its forms. It was first regulated in 1967 through law 351; which mainly referred to the operation of casinos. Online gambling received its first regulation in 1999 through law 24-98. Sports betting in Dominican Republic was made legal in 2006, when online gambling licensing also started.

However, only one company has applied for and operates under a local Dominican Republic bet online license; and that is PokerStars. To receive one, applying companies must undertake a thorough audit; also, gaming systems must be open to third-party checks; all rules and results of games, deposits and pay-outs must also be open for inspection by the respective services.

Moreover, the fact that the state applies no restrictions at all to non-locally licensed entities, probably plays its role. The Dirección de Casinos y Juegos de Azar is the regulator; it operates under the Secretary of State for Sports and Physical Education and Recreation. Last but not least, players must be at least 18 to participate in any type of gambling; including betting online at Dominican Republic bookmakers.

Essential information for bettors

Betting in Dominican Republic is legal. Sports betting can be enjoyed both at bookmaking shops or online; however, you must be at least 18 to enter premises or sign up at an online bookie.

What’s more, these international bookies we list offer a much wider betting variety; they cover more markets and offer more betting options. There is nothing to actually be careful about apart from avoiding scam sites. There are various dodgy online betting Dominican Republic sites that players should keep off. Sticking to our list of bookies is the easiest way to make sure you’ll experience a safe betting environment.

How to deposit at online bookies

Since no restrictions are in place, bank wires and credit cards are very popular when betting online; however, almost every sports betting site in Dominican Republic provides more elaborate payment methods; like e-wallets Skrill and Neteller, both accepting local sign ups, while offering a reliable and fast transactions platform. Note that PayPal does not allow gambling related payments in the region.

As for the crypto market, it is neither legal nor illegal in this beautiful country; however, reports state that it shows constant signs of rise in the area. The internet penetration is high, so, more and more locals are practicing online gambling in Dominican Republic; meanwhile, they are familiarizing themselves with cryptos too. A rising number of bookies are offering it as a payment method too; so, you just might want to keep an eye on it.

The future of online betting in Dominican Republic

The sports betting Dominican Republic scene is already booming; the prevailing question though, is when and if international operators will care to obtain a local license. The point is that, with the existing lax laws, players are already visiting any Dominican Republic online bookies they want.

That, along with the rather complex licensing process that is in place, is keeping big names out of the local market. Sooner or later we will know if reinforcing the economy through taxes and licensing fees is within the state’s agenda. In the meanwhile, players will just keep enjoying the services of Dominican Republic bet online providers.

The full list of bookies in the Dominican Republic

Sports betting in the Dominican Republic offers many different options. To make it easier for you, we’ve gathered-and hereby list-all the available bookies in one place. These, as we always vouch, are all totally legitimate operators. Make your picks and enjoy a safe betting experience.