Belize, its official name being “British Honduras” until 1973, is a country on the northeastern coast of Central America. The British colonized the country in the 17th century, up until 1981 when Belize eventually gained its independence. English and Spanish are the official languages. Sports are popular in the local community, with football and basketball drawing the largest fanbase.
Gambling in Belize has a long history; officially regulated since 1995. A few casinos are also present, while the Belize sports betting market is also very vivid welcoming locals and tourists. Lastly, the country also offers local licensing too; the funny thing is that local players can only legally bet online with international operators. If a bookie holds a local license, it may not offer its online services to Belizeans.
Best Betting Sites in Belize
Online betting in Belize offers many options. So, to make your choice easier, we list the best bookmakers in terms of the sports events and markets they cover, as well as the offers and special bets they provide.
Betting in Belize - 5 Things to Know
- 1 All forms of gambling are legal, land-based and online
- 2 Locally licensed bookies cannot offer their services to local players
- 3 There are casinos and bookmakers shops
- 4 The legal gambling age is set at 18
- 5 International bookies legally accept Belizean players
General info
⏩Population: 420.000
⏩Active players: 70.000
⏩Currency: Belize dollar (BZD)
⏩Regulated gambling products: Lotteries, casino games, sports betting
⏩Operator types: Casinos, bookmaker shops, online bookies, unlicensed online casinos and bookies
⏩Designated authority: Belize Computer Wagering Licensing Board
⏩Status: Regulated
Gambling in Belize: Is it Legal?
The Belize gambling scene is legal and overall well-regulated. It was actually one of the first countries to regulate online gambling as early as 1995. There are two main relevant pieces of legislation; the Computer Wagering Licensing Act of 1995 and the Gaming Control Act of 2004.
The first one also brought along the ‘Belize Computer Wagering Licensing Board’, which is still in charge. Brick-and-mortar casinos are also legal, accepting both locals and tourists. All forms of gambling are legal in the country (i.e. sports betting, casino, lotteries, poker).
Belize works as a licensing authority, too, despite not being regarded as being among the top ones in the market. In any case, bookmakers in Belize initially had to pay a BZD 100,000 licensing fee and have a USD 500,000 deposit. However, in 2004, the Prime Minister reduced that to just BZD 30,000 (USD 15,000). The amendment also stated that applicants must maintain a customer support centre within the country; still, though, they are able to host their servers anywhere they like.
One peculiarity is that online gambling Belize providers can not offer their services to local players. At the same time, though, Belizeans are totally allowed to access and play at international bookmakers and/or casinos.
Essential Info for Bettors
For players looking to place a bet, Belize is actually a good place to be. All forms of gambling are legal here, including the online sector. You should keep in mind that locally licensed bookmakers do not accept local players; on the other hand, considering their poor overall quality, it’s a good thing, after all.
While many top-notch international Belize bookmakers are out there, we are here to make things even easier for you; by listing every single online bookie, you may play at. Moreover, these are all reputable operators, guaranteeing a safe betting experience. Not much else to worry about, just enjoy your gambling, being all legal and joyful.
How to Deposit at Online Bookies
When looking to bet online, Belize does not disappoint. Funding one’s betting account also comes with quite a few options; credit cards and bank wires are, of course, very popular, and thousands of players prefer them.
Still, though, Belize betting sites offer more reliable options; like e-wallets. And while PayPal and Skrill are not available, there are some decent options to turn to. EcoPayz and Jeton are both accepting local sign-ups, offering fast and secure transactions.
Last yet not least, there is cryptocurrency betting. An increasing percentage of online sports betting in Belize is actually taking place through cryptos; and that keeps increasing, as this emerging money exchange platform is drawing more and more users. Caution is always advisable here since it is still more like an ‘uncharted waters’ kind of thing.
The Future of Online Gambling in Belize
Betting in Belize is a popular everyday local pastime. Gambling has some deep roots over here and both the public and the state seem to embrace that fact. This is why both the brick-and-mortar and the online sectors are attracting thousands of players.
What the future could bring is an even more clear law framework regarding online procedures. For instance, it’s interesting to see if locally licensed operators will eventually accept local players or not. In any case, it will most probably continue to be a friendly environment for both players and operators.
Gambling in the Neighbouring Countries
If you are a bettor, it is smart to learn about gambling rules in nearby countries. Even though right outside of Belize, Guatemala, for example, may have very different gambling laws. To make sure you are following local rules and regulations, and avoiding scams, here is a description of gambling near Belize:
⏩ Mexico: All gambling activities in the country are governed by the Mexican Federal Law of Games, but online betting is not fully regulated. Some bookies have acquired a local license, but most players prefer Mexican betting sites that operate independently.
⏩ Guatemala: has completely unregulated gambling. It is theoretically illegal, although you can find unlicensed land-based bookies and casinos. This makes betting sites in Guatemala completely unmonitored and free to access.
All forms of gambling are legal here; gambling online has particularly been legal and regulated since 1995. Therefore, accessing online bookmakers is by all means legitimate, either you’re a local or a visiting tourist in this beautiful country.
Being one of the most reputable international bookies, 1xbet gladly accepts local sign-ups. What's more, a 98%+ payout on the biggest football leagues awaits players, while various special bets and many different offers on all major sporting events are provided on a daily basis.
The fact that dodgy bookmakers exist, can not be left out of the discussion; the solution against scam sites is however simple. Simply stick to the bookies we list in our analysis to have your peace of mind. These are all totally trustworthy and legitimate operators, letting you worry only about actually winning your bets.
Bet365 is undoubtedly one of the most popular international bookmakers, and it indeed accepts local players. Providing wide coverage on every major sports event from around the world, it also offers many special features like live cash out and live betting. Surely one of the best Belize bookmakers one can sign up with.
PayPal unfortunately does not operate in Belize; EcoPayz and Jeton are two decent alternatives, offering fast and secure transactions. Also, given the fact that online gambling in Belize is all legal, credit cards are also an excellent way to fund one’s online betting account.