Best Dominican Republic Betting Sites

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean country on the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles archipelago. 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 NBA star Al Horford, they are the most recognisable Dominican athletes. Gambling in the Dominican Republic has been part of everyday local culture for many years; it was as early as 1967 that 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. The Dominican Republic offers many choices, and all forms of gambling are legal, with many international bookies accepting local players.

Best Betting Sites in the Dominican Republic

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.

Dominican Republic Gambling - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  The legal gambling age is set at 18
• 2
  All forms of gambling are legal 
• 3
  There are many bookmaker shops and brick-and-mortar casinos
• 4
  Only PokerStars has acquired a local betting license to date
• 5
  There are numerous international operators welcoming both locals and tourists

General info

⏩Population: 10.900.000

⏩Active players: 2.000.000

⏩Currency: Dominican peso (DOP)

⏩Regulated gambling products: Sports betting, casinos, lotteries

⏩Operator types: Lottery, casinos, betting shops, licensed and unlicensed online bookies & casinos

⏩Designated authority: Dirección de Casinos y Juegos de Azar

⏩Status: Regulated

Dominican Republic Sports Betting Laws & Regulations 

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 the 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 the Dominican Republic is legal. Sports betting can be enjoyed both at bookmaking shops or online; however, you must be at least 18 to enter the 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, in the Dominican Republic, you can find more elaborate payment methods, including bookmakers that accept Skrill and Neteller. These e-wallets offer reliable and fast transaction platforms and even accept higher levels of anonymity.

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 a rise in the area.

The internet penetration is high, so more and more locals are practising online gambling in the 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 the 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 Gambling Framework in the Nearby Countries

Caribbean sportsbooks are known for their relaxed restrictions and the fact that they accept players from virtually anywhere. Still, you can find some notable differences in gambling regulations from country to country. Let's take a look at some of the nearby ones: 

⏩ Puerto Rico: Even though it is a US territory, the laws around online gambling are different to those in the United States. Even though there is no local license the Puerto Rico betting sites can obtain, access to online sportsbooks and casinos is open and legal for all citizens who are at least 18 years old.  

⏩ Trinidad and Tobago: It is no secret that land-based casinos are one of the main attractions of the country. However, online gambling has not been regulated yet and operates in a grey manner. Until a new framework is passed, this means that players can still visit several Trinidad betting sites and gamble unbothered.