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Many of the island countries and territories in the Caribbean offer legal and regulated gambling, and there is a wide range of casino and sports betting parlours to choose among. Some islands even have horse racing tracks with betting.
Below, you will find a few examples of Caribbean countries and non-sovereign territories where you can visit legal casinos during your holiday.
Aruba
Many different gambling forms are legal in Aruba, including casino wagering, bingo, and sports betting. There are many resorts on Aruba, and a large chunk of them sport their own casino, so there are many gambling establishments to choose from here. Some are open 24/7, but that usually only means that they are open for slots gambling around the clock. The hours for live-dealer table games tend to be more limited, e.g. from noon to right before sunrise. Aruba has its own currency (the Aruban florin) but many of the slot machines are for United States currency instead, since so many of the visitors to Aruba come from the U.S.
The legal age for gambling is 18. The casinos accept both citizens and foreigners, but the law limits how often a citizen can visit a casino.
The largest casino in Aruba is the Stellaris Casino at the Aruba Marriott Resort, with 500+ slots and over two dozen gambling tables, plus sports betting and race betting. Aruba’s largest poker room is found in Excelsior Casino in the Holiday Inn Sunspree. If you want to play Wildcard Blackjack, head for the casino at Hilton. Glitz Casino at La Cabana Resort is famous for their Pyramid Stud Jackpot Poker.
Curacao
There are roughly a dozen casinos in Curaçao and they tend to have a relaxed and down-to-earth atmosphere, albeit with a dress code. Typically, the casinos close somewhere within the 2 a.m – 4 a.m span. The legal age for gambling is 18.
A majority of the casinos are located within the Willemstad metropolitan area. Examples of casinos located in downtown Willemstad are Howard Johnson Curaçao Plaza Hotel Casino, Carnaval Casino at the Renaissance Curaçao Resort, Downtown Casino at San Marco Hotel, and Le Mirage Casino. If you venture a bit from the downtown area, you’ll find casinos such as Sunscape Curaçao and the casino at Hilton Curaçao.
The Goverment in Curaçao offer Egaming licenses and many popular online casinos use a license from Curaçao. Example of casinos that use a license from Curaçao includes iNetBet, Kudos, Slotscapital, Box24, Casino Heroes, Speedy Casino, Fortune jack, Red stag, Bethard and many more. Many of these online casinos are licensed in other jurisdictions as well.
Dominican Republic
Casino’s are commonplace in the Dominican Republic and there are roughly three dozen of them to try out during your vacation. One of the most famous ones is the Hard Rock Casino in Punta Cana, which is the second-largest casino in the Caribbean. (Only the Atlantis Casino in The Bahamas is bigger.)
It’s common for casinos in the Dominican Republic to have some tables for Dominican pesos and some for United States dollars. In Punta Cana, USD tables tend to dominate.
A majority of the casinos in DR are located in either Santo Domingo or Punta Cana. Santo Domingo is the capital while Punta Cana is a resort town. Generally speaking, the casinos in Punta Cana are a bit more glitzy, have more foreign visitors and a higher number of English-speaking staff.
There are also horseracing tracks and sportsbetting parlours in the Dominican Republic.
Puerto Rico
There are many casinos in Puerto Rico, and a majority of them are found in the San Juan metropolitan area, including some very fancy ones that belong to luxury hotels or resorts. Ponce and Mayagüez are two other examples of places in Puerto Rico where you can find casinos. The legal gambling age in PR is 18 years.
Examples of casinos located in the San Juan metropolitan area are San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino in Condado, Embassy Suites Dorado del Mar in Dorado, El San Juan Resort & Casino (Hilton Hotel) in Carolina, and Embassy Suites Hotel & Casino in Carolina.
Both Ponce and Mayagüez have a Tropical Casino at the local Holiday Inn.
Race betting and cockfight betting are legal and regulated in PR. There is only one race track establishment for horse racing, but many arenas for cockfighting.
The Bahamas
There are roughly three dozen casinos in The Bahamas, including Atlantic Casino which is the biggest one in the Caribbean. Sports betting is also legal. The gambling age is 18, but the gambling industry in The Bahamas is intended for foreign visitors and the citizens’ ability to gamble legally is very limited.
The famous Atlantis Casino is found within a hotel complex on Paradise Island, a small island situated off the northern coast of the main island of The Bahamas.
Another example of a popular casino in The Bahamas is the one located within the Baha Mar Resort on New Providence. New Providence is the island where the capital Nassau is found.
Antigua and Barbuda
There are plenty of casinos to choose from in Antigua and Barbuda, especially on the island of Antigua which is home to more upscale resorts than Barbuda. The capital city St. John is located in Antigua and is home to casinos such as King’s Casin and the Grand Royale Antigua Beach Resort Casino.
If you want to visit the famous Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Antigua, head for Crabbs on the northern coast, not far from the old capital Parham. The Ayere Resort & Casino is found in the holiday town Jolly Harbour on the island’s western side, while the southern-eastern corner of the island is home not just to an excellent sandy beach but also to St James Club Casino in Mamora Bay.
Martinique
Martinique have to main casinos: Casino Bateliére Plaza and Casino Trois-Ilets. Both are open from 10 in the forenoon to 3 at night. The legal gambling age is 18.
Casino Bateliére Plaza is found within a plantation-style house north of Baie de Fort de France, while Casino Trois-Ilets is located on the southern side of the same bay.
Sint Maarten
There are plenty of casinos to visit in Sint Maarten, both independent ones and those that belong to resorts. The legal gambling age is 18.
Examples of casinos situated in the popular Maho area in north-western Sint Marteen are Casino Royal and the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort Casino. A bit to the south, but still on the western coast, you’ll find Hollywood Casino (between the bays Simpson and Lay).
If you are in the Philipsburg area, check out Casino Rouge et Noir, Diamond Casino, and the Great Bay Beach Resort Casino.
U.S. Virgin Islands
The legal age for gambling here is 21, which is higher than for most of the Caribbean (where 18 is the norm). The islands Saint Croix, Saint Thomas and Saint John all have at least one casino each. The largest casino in the U.S. Virgin Islands is on Saint Croix, within the Divi Carina Bay Resort in Christiansted. There are 15+ gambling tables here featuring Blackjack, roulette and Punto banco. The casino also features two poker tables and numerous slot machines.
The island Saint Thomas is home to the capital city Charlotte Amalie, where you can wager your money at the Windward Passage Hotel & Casino on the island’s southern coast. It is rather upscale, so mind the dress code. If you are looking for something more down-to-earth, we suggest The Parrot Club Casino on the island of Saint John.
Jamaica
There are several casinos to choose from in Jamaica. Many of them are associated with hotels or resorts, but in the Kingston metropolitan area, you can also find simple gambling establishments in strip malls (chiefly for slot machines). Kingston is also home to rather fancy places, such as the Monte Carlo Gaming Lounge in the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel. If you want to get out of the city a bit, head for the Rajmaville Gaming Lounge in the coastal town of Portmore, not far from Kingston.
For those who prefer to stay away from the hustle and bustle of Kingston altogether, the RENO bar and gaming lounge is a popular choice in Ochos Rio on the northern coast, and so is Club Jamaica Gaming Lounge in Runaway Bay.
Horserace tracks and sports betting parlours are available in Jamaica.
St. Barth
St. Barth, formally known as Saint Barthélemy, is a luxurious island in the Caribbean Sea. A French-speaking volcanic island, it’s renowned for its pristine beaches, upscale shopping, and a unique blend of French and Creole culture.
The capital, Gustavia, boasts a picturesque harbour lined with superyachts and charming red-roofed buildings, a testament to the island’s Swedish colonial history. Exclusive boutiques and elegant bistros serving gourmet cuisine dot the streets, making it a hotspot for the global elite and discerning travellers.
St. Barth’s beaches are among the Caribbean’s finest. Whether it’s the tranquil waters of Flamands Beach, the surfer’s paradise at Toiny, or the celebrity-frequented sands of St. Jean, there’s a stretch of coastline to suit every preference.