Best Jamaica Betting Sites

Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean, south of Cuba. Its capital and largest city is Kingston. It came under Spanish rule when Columbus arrived in 1494; later on it fell under British rule, until becoming an independent country in 1962.  Locals are passionate about sports, especially football and athletics; over the years, it has presented us with top sprinters like Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell.

All forms of land-based gambling are legal; as for online gambling in Jamaica, if you’re a local you may only participate in sports betting and lotteries. For tourists, it’s all legal, yet the authorities never actually impose any restrictions whatsoever. There are very few locally licensed bookmakers, making the Jamaica Betting Sites a popular choice among punters.

Top Betting Sites in Jamaica

Since the offering is quite rich, in order to save you the hassle of searching, we list the best online bookmakers in Jamaica. These stand out due to their extensive coverage of all major football events and competitions, as well as their bonuses and welcome offers. Check them out.

Gambling in Jamaica - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  The legal gambling age is 18
• 2
  Land-based gambling licenses are valid for one year
• 3
  Concerning the online sector, only lotteries and sports betting are typically legal
• 4
  There are a few casinos and quite a few bookmaker shops
• 5
  Apart from the very few local operators, numerous online bookies accept Jamaican bettors

General info

⏩Population: 2.900.000

⏩Active players: 450.000

⏩Currency: Jamaican dollar (JMD)

⏩Regulated gambling products: Lotteries, casinos, sports betting

⏩Operator types: Lotteries, online bookies & unlicensed online casinos

⏩Designated authority: Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC)

⏩Status: Regulated

Sports Betting in Jamaica: The Legal Framework

To begin with, keep in mind that the legal age for gambling is 18. The 1965 Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act was the first piece of legislation in the country. It made gambling legal; however, casinos were left out until relatively recently; the 2010 casino act legalized them too.

BGLC, the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission, in place since 1975, is the body that regulates gambling in Jamaica. Its 2014 amendments also legalized the online sector. However, for locals, online Jamaica Betting Sites consist of just two forms; online lotteries and online sports betting. Online casinos are not yet regulated and only tourists-or expats-may typically access them.

Authorities on the other hand, don’t go after local residents who partake in any kind of gambling. There are a few locally licensed bookies, namely justbet and island bet. There is a simple process for them to obtain a license through the BGLC; meanwhile, taxation stands at 9% for sports betting operators.

Popular international bookies have not yet applied for local licenses, since the state does not block access to them anyway. And since they offer much greater quality and quantity, locals seem to prefer them over a local Jamaica bookmaker. The options are countless, and the online sports betting scene is very appealing for both punters and operators alike.

Essential Info for Bettors

Do not forget that the legal gambling age is 18. Jamaica gambling is altogether considered legal. Both locals and tourists may participate in any land based form; as for the online sector, locals may only take part in sports betting and lotteries. Online casinos may only be-legally- accessed by tourists.

If you’re looking to place a bet, Jamaica also has many bookmaker shops. However, the bookmakers we list in our analysis are all offering much more than the few local ones. More generally, there are constant efforts towards a more modern online gambling Jamaica regulation.

Meanwhile, sports betting is absolutely legal for both locals and tourists.  Still, try to keep away from dodgy unknown bookmaking sites; this can be easily done by sticking to any of the ones we’ve checked and suggested for you.

How to Deposit at Online Bookies

Jamaica’s internet penetration is quite high, around 55%. Bank institutes do not block any transactions, therefore players frequently use credit cards and bank wires. Cryptocurrencies are also gaining turf here, despite not being legal.

More bookies are steadily accepting cryptos as a form of money transaction. And since sports betting in Jamaica is on the rise, locals also familiarize themselves with this financial novelty.

Online Betting in Jamaica: What the Future Holds

There has recently been an amendment to the casino legislation; it caters for the development of resorts in order to draw more tourism. The state seems to realize that many of its incoming holiday goers are seeking some gambling pleasure too; and for players who are looking to place a bet, Jamaica already has quite a few options.

The Jamaica bet online industry, though, remains as it stands. However, it’s already a welcoming environment for both players and operators; and there are no indications towards the opposite direction. Improving its services and reinforcing its anti money laundering tactics is almost a certainty in this beautiful nation.

Gambling in the Neighbouring Countries

Though the Caribbean islands are known to be a betting haven, they are distinct from one another when it comes to regulations, trends, and physical or online presence. To ensure that you comply with the local laws while making the best out of your gambling experience, you might also want to take a look at some other countries, especially if you are also planning to visit them:

⏩  Cuba: was once the gambling capital of the world, but it is one of the few countries in the Caribbean where gambling is completely illegal at the moment. You will not find physical bookies due to local laws, and the websites are usually blocked. But this doesn't stop around 1.5 million locals to resort to the Cuba online bookmakers as an alternative, especially when using a VPN is accepted.   

⏩  The Dominican Republic: benefits from the biggest betting market in the Americas, as all gambling is legal on its side of the island. The Dominican Republic betting sites are now part of the local culture and attract a number of players, as well as bookmakers, due to lenient regulations.

⏩  Guadeloupe: has a surprisingly big number of bettors, with 8% of the population being active punters. This Caribbean country is actually in the Eurozone and follows French gambling regulations. This makes it legal for players to gamble and bookmakers to operate as long as all the papers are in order. Among the Best Guadeloupe bookmakers, you can find more than 15 French-licensed companies.