The Cayman Islands are located in the Greater Antilles and comprise three islands, in the south of Cuba and next to Jamaica and Honduras. The capital is George Town of Grand Cayman. They were a territory of Jamaica from 1958 to 1962, before reverting to direct British rule in 1962 onwards after the independence of Jamaica. They constitute a self-governing British Overseas Territory; considered a worldwide-famous financial haven since it does not inflict any kind of taxes on any income or deposits.
Locals love basketball, football, cricket and rugby; partly deriving from the influence the English have had on the islands. Gambling in the Cayman Islands is illegal, and it has actually been alike ever since 1963 when the first local law was enacted. In the Cayman Islands, sports betting is still very popular; local players usually opt for online operators to quench their gambling thirst.
Cayman Islands Best Betting Sites
The fact that the local law framework does not explicitly include the online sector has left plenty of room for operators to reach local players. The offering is quite rich, so we're listing the best Cayman Islands bookmakers to help you choose. They come with various special bets and welcome offers while providing wide coverage of the biggest sports events and competitions from around the globe.
The Cayman Islands Online Gambling - 5 Things to Know
- 1 There are no bookmaker shops or casinos
- 2 All forms of gambling in the Cayman Islands are illegal, apart from some types of raffles
- 3 The online sector is typically out of the law’s agenda; however, still considered illegal
- 4 There is no designated gambling authority in place
- 5 No international bookies have yet applied for a local betting license
General info
⏩Population: 71.000
⏩Active players: 10.000
⏩Currency: Cayman Islands dollar (KYD)
⏩Regulated gambling products: Raffles
⏩Operator types: Cruise ship casinos, raffles, unlicensed online bookies & casinos
⏩Designated authority: No designated authority
⏩Status: Regulated
Is Gambling in the Cayman Islands Legal?
All forms of gambling are illegal in the Cayman Islands with just a couple of exceptions; non-profit, fundraising raffles that bring money back to the local society, and gambling aboard cruise ships. These ships drift to international waters, so, typically, people gamble outside of the Caymans. Gambling has been illegal ever since 1963; that was the year when the first Act came to life in the islands.
As regards the online sector, things are a bit vague here. The law refers to ‘any form of commercial gambling’; yet there is no reference to sports betting in the Cayman Islands. And that's logical since there was no online sector back in 1963. Still it is treated as being illegal too. Players can typically be prosecuted if caught gambling online in the Cayman Islands.
However, this is not actually happening. According to reports, the authorities mainly just try to block sites from reaching out to local players. Sometimes they succeed, but the enforcement is not that strict in this case either. Players themselves are not the authorities' main target.
In early 2016 the authorities introduced an amendment to the 1963 Cayman Islands gambling law; yet nothing practically changed. It basically just allowed a broader network of raffles retailers; again under the scope of fundraising, to give back to sports facilities, youth structures etc. All forms of what we typically mean by gambling remained illegal.
Sports betting still remains popular, though; many locals choose international bookies, and so do tourists. Notably, the laws only apply to locals; so if you're a tourist in this beautiful place, it's totally legal for you to place your online bets with any bookmaker of your choice.
Essential Info for Bettors
All forms of land-based gambling are illegal; however, there are quite a few gambling houses and casinos that submerge from time to time. I believe we do not need to stress any further the fact that these premises are all illegal; they should only land you in trouble, so simply stay away from them.
Players who decide to opt for online bookmakers in the Cayman Islands should be cautious, both in terms of keeping it private, as well as avoiding various scam sites that exist online. The best way to do so is by just picking any of the ones we list, all being totally trustworthy operators. To top that up, the online Cayman Islands betting sites we list provide a really wide sports coverage on every sport and competition one might bargain for.
To sum up, use a VPN to keep your online betting as private as possible. Avoid any bookmaker shops you might come across or any self-proclaimed bookies; these are all illegal. Lastly, follow our suggestions; this way, you’ll ensure you won’t end up risking not getting your winnings paid by any dodgy operators.
Available Deposit Methods in the Caymans
Betting in the Cayman Islands does not leave players with many options. Going online is actually a one-way road, while players wonder how to fund their accounts and withdraw their winnings. Given the fact that gambling is illegal, traditional methods should probably be avoided; using credit cards as well as bank wires, simply lead straight back to the player; therefore, it’s a ‘no’.
Thankfully, almost every Cayman Islands online betting site provides alternatives like e-wallets; top choices like Skrill, Neteller and ecoPayz are all awaiting local sign-ups; while offering fast and secure transactions. Definitely, the best option for someone that values privacy while enjoying a high-level service.
Lastly, crypto betting in the Cayman Islands is also very popular among players. The VASP Law (Virtual Asset Service Providers) is also in place since November 2020, attracting various cryptocurrency businesses. With plenty of bookmakers already providing crypto betting, Caymanians could not be indifferent.
When you're gambling in the still massively uncharted waters, you must keep an eye out for betting scams since the country takes no action against the emerging number of online schemes. The main giveaway in countries with a similar approach is that though you are not at risk of facing legal consequences for gambling, you will receive no protection.
The Future of Sports Betting in the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands bet scene is vanishing in the illegality of the sector as a whole. It would not be easy or clever to try to predict what the future will bring; however, sports betting has been slowly incorporated into a few US states’ gambling legal frameworks.
And that leaves a spec of chance that it might just be the case for the Caymans too. If that eventually happens, local betting sites in the Cayman Islands could also emerge. Up till then, though, these are all just assumptions. As it stands, international bookies remain the only viable option for local players, which is, without a doubt, a good option.
Gambling in Neighbouring Countries
Given the fact that the region attracts tourists from all over the world, with gambling at the heart of it all, it would not be strange for residents of one island to take a boat to another looking to gamble legally in casinos and bet shops.
For a better understanding of gambling in the region, you must look at each country's laws and applicable restrictions. The following are the most popular destinations you might be considering if you reside in the Cayman Islands:
⏩ Trinidad and Tobago: This Caribbean and West Indies island is one of the most popular destinations for land-based gambling in the region. However, the Trinidad betting sites remain unregulated, and many international bookmakers offer their services to 180,000 local gamblers without surveillance or protection.
⏩ Jamaica: has regulated its gambling market as early as 1965, though locals have access only to sports betting and lotteries, and casinos are outlawed. But the country still offers its residents and tourists access to the Jamaica betting sites without restrictions.
⏩ Cuba: comes from a completely different political background, though the restrictions are quite similar to the Cayman Islands. You will not be able to find either casinos or bookies, as gambling is totally illegal. However, the Cuba online bookmakers are quite numerous, and you can play without issues as long as you use a VPN to bypass the blocking of websites' IPs.
⏩ Mexico: has a gambling authority that controls all gambling on its land, except for online betting. Even though you can find regulated websites with local licenses, Mexican betting sites with a grey approach have the lion's share of the local online market.
Based on the first-and still only-local gambling law, all forms of it are illegal here. The online sector is not particularly mentioned anywhere, yet still, it is typically illegal too. However, the authorities mainly try to block international Cayman Islands bookmakers, rather than target players; so, with a bit of caution, players can access many reputable online bookies after all.
Bet365, being among the most popular international bookies, happily accepts Caymanians. With a wide coverage of all major football and basketball events from around the globe, it also provides you with special features like live cash out, live betting and many special bets. Surely one of the best Cayman Islands bookmakers one can choose.
The ‘Can you gamble in the Cayman Islands?’ question is a very popular one. While gambling in general is illegal in all its forms, there are safe and legitimate sportsbooks one can access. Using a VPN is advised; then, on avoiding scam sites, the solution is easy. Just stick to our Cayman Islands bookies list, all of which are totally safe and trustworthy operators.
Having established itself as one of the most reputable international operators, 1xBet accepts local punters. With a 98%+ payout on the biggest football leagues and plenty of special bets on every major sporting event from around the world; you will definitely find what you’re looking for.
PayPal does not operate in the Cayman Islands; thankfully, Skrill and Neteller are both available, as is ecoPayz, filling up the gap and offering fast and secure online transactions. You should not forget to use a VPN software while placing your bets, since online gambling in the Caymans is technically illegal too.