Gambling has been illegal in Ecuador since 2011, when all casinos and gambling establishments were forced to shut down. Before that Ecuador hosted dozens of casinos, including 6 “luxury” casinos. Thanks the liberal gambling regulations established about 50 years ago, the South-American country had become a popular gambling hub.
However, along with the popularity of gambling in the country, money laundering and corruption soared as well. At least, that is how president Rafael Corra saw the situation when he convinced the Ecuadorian government to consider shutting down all legal gambling in the country.
A referendum was held in May 2011 with the question: “Do you agree that businesses devoted to games of chance such as casinos and slot machine parlors should be banned?”* The referendum passed, and after some debate gambling was declared to be illegal, casinos and other gambling establishments were given 6 months to close.**
This decision caused protests to erupt from the Ecuadorian gambling companies. The industry had provided jobs for about 25 000 employees, all of whom were forced into unemployment.
Online gambling had never been regulated in Ecuador. As a result, the legal status of online gambling is currently controversial. The ban on gambling was aimed at casinos and gambling halls, but did not mention online gambling sites. There are no online gambling operators licensed in Ecuador, but there are also no laws preventing locals from accessing international online gambling sites. As a result, locals are free to play on foreign gambling sites.
*Source: Ecuador shuts down its Casinos and Gaming Halls (innovate gaming)
**Source: Asemblea Nacional, República del Ecuador
Online casinos accepting players from Ecuador
The following online gambling websites accept players from Ecuador
Black Lotus Casino
- Get 200% match bonus, up to $600. Use the code: WELCOME600
- +$30 bonus. Use code: WINBLACK
Bonuses for existing players:
- 32 Free Spins on Sweet Success Code: CHEER1
- 32 Free Spins on Nordic Wild Code: CHEER2
- 32 Free Spins on Cosmopolitan Code: CHEER3
- 32 Free Spins on 7 Chakras Code: CHEER4
- 32 Free Spins on Le Chocolatier Code: CHEER5
- 32 Free Spins on Fairy Dust Forest Code: CHEER6
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
- Playthrough requirement: 40-60x for match bonuses and usually 60x for free spins and other bonuses, depends on the bonus check the casino's web page for the specific, up to date, current playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Wagering limitation:
- 100% - Slots and Keno
- 50% - Roulette and Three Card Poker
- 25% - Baccarat
- 10% - Video Poker
- 5% - Blackjack, Craps
- 0% - Everything else
BGO
- 500 free spins
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Playthrough requirement: 65x
Wagering limitation:
- Slots: 100%
- Roulette: 25%
- All Blackjack Games: 25%
- 3 Card Brag: 50%
- Casino Hold'em: 25%
- Baccarat: 0%
- Everything else: 0%
Bet Online Casino and Sports Book
- Welcome bonus, 100% up to $1,000 on your first three deposits! Use the code BOLCASINO
- 100% welcome match bonus up to 100% on your first deposit using Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin or DASH. No code required.
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Playthrough requirement: • Slot Games (progressive jackpot slots excluded) 100% • Roulette (All versions), Draw High-Lo, 3 Card Rummy 20% • Baccarat, Blackjack (American & European), Poker 3, Oasis Poker, Single Deck Blackjack, Triple Edge Poker, Caribbean Poker, Three Card Poker, Video Poker 10% • Pirate 21, Blackjack Super 7, Pai Gow, 21 Burn, Ride’m Poker, All forms of Keno, Red Dog, Pontoon, Top Card Trumps 5% • Craps, Live Casino, All Games with Progressive Jackpots, Virtual Racebook. Speciality games ie Keno’s and Scratcher game offered by Betsoft 0%
Wagering limitation:
- Any action on Baccarat, Roulette and Craps will not count towards the wagering requirement.
Betsson Casino and Sports Book
- Welcome bonus, 100% up to €100
- 101 free spins on your first deposit
- €5,000 every week for one lucky active returning player (no wagering limitation, no playthrough requirement)
US players can not register. Betsson has over 1500 games, the most games of any casino. You can read the review of Betsson casino here.
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Playthrough requirement: No playthrough requirement for the extra weekly money. In case of the welcome bonus: • 100%: Slots • 10%: All Roulette (except Live), Caribbean Stud & Casino Stud Poker Games • 10%: All Casino Hold’Em, Red Dog, Pai Gow, Poker Games, Oasis Poker & Texas Hold’Em Poker Games • 5%: All BlackJack (except Live BlackJack), Baccarat, Video Poker, Pontoon, Beat Me, Punto Banco Games
Wagering limitation:
- The bonus cannot be wagered on the following games: 1429 Uncharted Seas, Aliens, Big Bang, Blood Suckers, Castle builder, Castle Builder 2, Champion of the Track, Dead or Alive, Devil´s Delight, Eggomatic, Epic Gems, Eye of the Kraken, Kings of Chicago, Pearls of India, Robin Hood, Scrooge, Sea Hunter, Super Monopoly Money, The Wish Master, Tower Quest, Wild Gambler, Wizard Shop, Zombies.
- Player from certain countries are not allowed use bonuses due to regular bonus abuse, check the casino's website for the ever changing up to date list.
Summary:
- Casino gambling in Ecuador
- Bingo in Ecuador
- Poker in Ecuador
- Sports betting in Ecuador
- Lottery in Ecuador
- Bitcoin gambling in Ecuador
Casino gambling in Ecuador
Online casino gambling in Ecuador: unregulated
Casino gambling in Ecuador has been illegal since 2011. After the referendum proposed by president Rafael Corra, casino gambling was banned, and all casinos and gambling halls were forced to shut down. Despite outcries from the industry and the predicted rise of unemployment, the government was unrelenting.
Prior to the decision to prohibit all casino gambling in the country, there had been dozens of casinos operating in the country attached to hotels. Casino laws regulated the number of table games by the quality of the hotel attached: five star hotels had to offer at least four different types of table games along with slot machines, while 3-4 star hotels had to run at least two types.
Interestingly, online casino gambling had never been regulated in Ecuador. Online casinos were also not included in the law banning brick and mortar gambling. As a result, locals are free to play on international online casino sites, though there are no online casinos licensed in Ecuador.
The online casinos below accept players from the Ecuador.
The following online casino websites accept players from Ecuador:
Black Lotus Casino
- Get 200% match bonus, up to $600. Use the code: WELCOME600
- +$30 bonus. Use code: WINBLACK
Bonuses for existing players:
- 32 Free Spins on Sweet Success Code: CHEER1
- 32 Free Spins on Nordic Wild Code: CHEER2
- 32 Free Spins on Cosmopolitan Code: CHEER3
- 32 Free Spins on 7 Chakras Code: CHEER4
- 32 Free Spins on Le Chocolatier Code: CHEER5
- 32 Free Spins on Fairy Dust Forest Code: CHEER6
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
- Playthrough requirement: 40-60x for match bonuses and usually 60x for free spins and other bonuses, depends on the bonus check the casino's web page for the specific, up to date, current playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Wagering limitation:
- 100% - Slots and Keno
- 50% - Roulette and Three Card Poker
- 25% - Baccarat
- 10% - Video Poker
- 5% - Blackjack, Craps
- 0% - Everything else
BGO
- 500 free spins
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Playthrough requirement: 65x
Wagering limitation:
- Slots: 100%
- Roulette: 25%
- All Blackjack Games: 25%
- 3 Card Brag: 50%
- Casino Hold'em: 25%
- Baccarat: 0%
- Everything else: 0%
Bet Online Casino and Sports Book
- Welcome bonus, 100% up to $1,000 on your first three deposits! Use the code BOLCASINO
- 100% welcome match bonus up to 100% on your first deposit using Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin or DASH. No code required.
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Playthrough requirement: • Slot Games (progressive jackpot slots excluded) 100% • Roulette (All versions), Draw High-Lo, 3 Card Rummy 20% • Baccarat, Blackjack (American & European), Poker 3, Oasis Poker, Single Deck Blackjack, Triple Edge Poker, Caribbean Poker, Three Card Poker, Video Poker 10% • Pirate 21, Blackjack Super 7, Pai Gow, 21 Burn, Ride’m Poker, All forms of Keno, Red Dog, Pontoon, Top Card Trumps 5% • Craps, Live Casino, All Games with Progressive Jackpots, Virtual Racebook. Speciality games ie Keno’s and Scratcher game offered by Betsoft 0%
Wagering limitation:
- Any action on Baccarat, Roulette and Craps will not count towards the wagering requirement.
Betsson Casino and Sports Book
- Welcome bonus, 100% up to €100
- 101 free spins on your first deposit
- €5,000 every week for one lucky active returning player (no wagering limitation, no playthrough requirement)
US players can not register. Betsson has over 1500 games, the most games of any casino. You can read the review of Betsson casino here.
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Playthrough requirement: No playthrough requirement for the extra weekly money. In case of the welcome bonus: • 100%: Slots • 10%: All Roulette (except Live), Caribbean Stud & Casino Stud Poker Games • 10%: All Casino Hold’Em, Red Dog, Pai Gow, Poker Games, Oasis Poker & Texas Hold’Em Poker Games • 5%: All BlackJack (except Live BlackJack), Baccarat, Video Poker, Pontoon, Beat Me, Punto Banco Games
Wagering limitation:
- The bonus cannot be wagered on the following games: 1429 Uncharted Seas, Aliens, Big Bang, Blood Suckers, Castle builder, Castle Builder 2, Champion of the Track, Dead or Alive, Devil´s Delight, Eggomatic, Epic Gems, Eye of the Kraken, Kings of Chicago, Pearls of India, Robin Hood, Scrooge, Sea Hunter, Super Monopoly Money, The Wish Master, Tower Quest, Wild Gambler, Wizard Shop, Zombies.
- Player from certain countries are not allowed use bonuses due to regular bonus abuse, check the casino's website for the ever changing up to date list.
Bingo in Ecuador
Online bingo in Ecuador: unregulated
Bingo is an immensely popular game in Ecuador. Before 2011 there had been several large bingo halls operating in the country as well as video bingo machines.
Online gambling, including online bingo had never been regulated in Ecuador. Online bingo operators were also not included in the law banning brick and mortar gambling. For lack of a gambling licence, local companies may not offer online bingo games in Ecuador. There are, however, several international bingo sites available in the country, where Ecuadorian gamblers may play without any repercussions.
The following bingo websites accept players from Ecuador:
BGO
- 500 free spins
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Playthrough requirement: 65x
Wagering limitation:
- Slots: 100%
- Roulette: 25%
- All Blackjack Games: 25%
- 3 Card Brag: 50%
- Casino Hold'em: 25%
- Baccarat: 0%
- Everything else: 0%
Poker in Ecuador
Online poker in Ecuador: unregulated
Poker has been illegal in Ecuador since the referendum and the following gambling law of 2011. The law banned all forms of brick and mortar gambling including poker; citing corruption and money laundering as a reason for the decision. Prior to 2011, live poker games had been available at the country’s many casinos. The most famous poker player hailing from Ecuador is Carlos “The Matador” Mortensen.
Online gambling, including online poker had never been regulated in Ecuador. Online poker operators were also not included in the law banning brick and mortar gambling. As there have never been any online poker licences issued, local companies may not offer online poker in Ecuador. There are, however, several international online poker sites available in the country, where Ecuadorian gamblers may play without any repercussions.
The following online poker sites accept players from Ecuador.
The following online casino websites have poker and accept players from Ecuador:
Bet Online Casino and Sports Book
- Welcome bonus, 100% up to $1,000 on your first three deposits! Use the code BOLCASINO
- 100% welcome match bonus up to 100% on your first deposit using Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin or DASH. No code required.
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Playthrough requirement: • Slot Games (progressive jackpot slots excluded) 100% • Roulette (All versions), Draw High-Lo, 3 Card Rummy 20% • Baccarat, Blackjack (American & European), Poker 3, Oasis Poker, Single Deck Blackjack, Triple Edge Poker, Caribbean Poker, Three Card Poker, Video Poker 10% • Pirate 21, Blackjack Super 7, Pai Gow, 21 Burn, Ride’m Poker, All forms of Keno, Red Dog, Pontoon, Top Card Trumps 5% • Craps, Live Casino, All Games with Progressive Jackpots, Virtual Racebook. Speciality games ie Keno’s and Scratcher game offered by Betsoft 0%
Wagering limitation:
- Any action on Baccarat, Roulette and Craps will not count towards the wagering requirement.
Betsson Casino and Sports Book
- Welcome bonus, 100% up to €100
- 101 free spins on your first deposit
- €5,000 every week for one lucky active returning player (no wagering limitation, no playthrough requirement)
US players can not register. Betsson has over 1500 games, the most games of any casino. You can read the review of Betsson casino here.
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Playthrough requirement: No playthrough requirement for the extra weekly money. In case of the welcome bonus: • 100%: Slots • 10%: All Roulette (except Live), Caribbean Stud & Casino Stud Poker Games • 10%: All Casino Hold’Em, Red Dog, Pai Gow, Poker Games, Oasis Poker & Texas Hold’Em Poker Games • 5%: All BlackJack (except Live BlackJack), Baccarat, Video Poker, Pontoon, Beat Me, Punto Banco Games
Wagering limitation:
- The bonus cannot be wagered on the following games: 1429 Uncharted Seas, Aliens, Big Bang, Blood Suckers, Castle builder, Castle Builder 2, Champion of the Track, Dead or Alive, Devil´s Delight, Eggomatic, Epic Gems, Eye of the Kraken, Kings of Chicago, Pearls of India, Robin Hood, Scrooge, Sea Hunter, Super Monopoly Money, The Wish Master, Tower Quest, Wild Gambler, Wizard Shop, Zombies.
- Player from certain countries are not allowed use bonuses due to regular bonus abuse, check the casino's website for the ever changing up to date list.
Sports betting in Ecuador
Online sports betting in Ecuador: unregulated
Sports betting had been legal and quite popular in Ecuador before 2011. The locals’ favorite sport to bet on was football, though other sports were available as well. Dog and horse race betting, however, had never been widespread. The 2011 gambling regulation outlawed sports betting as well, and currently there are no legal opportunities for live sports betting in Ecuador.
Online sports betting had never been regulated in Ecuador. Online sports betting operators were also not included in the law banning brick and mortar gambling. As there have never been any licences issued, local companies may not offer online sports betting in Ecuador. There are, however, several international online bookmakers available in the country, where Ecuadorian gamblers may play without any repercussions.
The online sportsbooks below accept registrations from Ecuador.
The following online sportsbooks accept bettors from the Commonwealth of Ecuador:
Bet Online Casino and Sports Book
- Welcome bonus, 100% up to $1,000 on your first three deposits! Use the code BOLCASINO
- 100% welcome match bonus up to 100% on your first deposit using Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin or DASH. No code required.
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Playthrough requirement: • Slot Games (progressive jackpot slots excluded) 100% • Roulette (All versions), Draw High-Lo, 3 Card Rummy 20% • Baccarat, Blackjack (American & European), Poker 3, Oasis Poker, Single Deck Blackjack, Triple Edge Poker, Caribbean Poker, Three Card Poker, Video Poker 10% • Pirate 21, Blackjack Super 7, Pai Gow, 21 Burn, Ride’m Poker, All forms of Keno, Red Dog, Pontoon, Top Card Trumps 5% • Craps, Live Casino, All Games with Progressive Jackpots, Virtual Racebook. Speciality games ie Keno’s and Scratcher game offered by Betsoft 0%
Wagering limitation:
- Any action on Baccarat, Roulette and Craps will not count towards the wagering requirement.
Betsson Casino and Sports Book
- Welcome bonus, 100% up to €100
- 101 free spins on your first deposit
- €5,000 every week for one lucky active returning player (no wagering limitation, no playthrough requirement)
US players can not register. Betsson has over 1500 games, the most games of any casino. You can read the review of Betsson casino here.
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Playthrough requirement: No playthrough requirement for the extra weekly money. In case of the welcome bonus: • 100%: Slots • 10%: All Roulette (except Live), Caribbean Stud & Casino Stud Poker Games • 10%: All Casino Hold’Em, Red Dog, Pai Gow, Poker Games, Oasis Poker & Texas Hold’Em Poker Games • 5%: All BlackJack (except Live BlackJack), Baccarat, Video Poker, Pontoon, Beat Me, Punto Banco Games
Wagering limitation:
- The bonus cannot be wagered on the following games: 1429 Uncharted Seas, Aliens, Big Bang, Blood Suckers, Castle builder, Castle Builder 2, Champion of the Track, Dead or Alive, Devil´s Delight, Eggomatic, Epic Gems, Eye of the Kraken, Kings of Chicago, Pearls of India, Robin Hood, Scrooge, Sea Hunter, Super Monopoly Money, The Wish Master, Tower Quest, Wild Gambler, Wizard Shop, Zombies.
- Player from certain countries are not allowed use bonuses due to regular bonus abuse, check the casino's website for the ever changing up to date list.
Lottery in Ecuador
Online lottery in Ecuador: legal, state monopoly
Lottery is the only form of gambling currently legal in Ecuador. The country has a national lottery which has a monopoly over the Ecuadorian lottery market. The lottery offers three numeric lottery games as well as scratch cards.
Lottery tickets are also available for buying online. Apart from the Lotería Nacional there are no other online lottery operators licensed in Ecuador. However, locals are free to participate in lottery draws on international online lottery sites.
The following websites allow people from Ecuador to purchase lottery tickets online:
Bitcoin gambling in Ecuador
Bitcoin gambling in Ecuador: illegal
Bitcoin is banned in Ecuador along with all other virtual currencies in circulation. The government has plans for introducing a virtual currency issued by the country’s national bank, but the plans have not come to fruition as of yet. As a result, Bitcoin gambling is also illegal, though there have been no reports of players prosecuted for Bitcoin gambling.
The bitcoin casinos below accept players from the Bahamas.
The following online casino websites accept bitcoin, litecoin and ethereum, and accept players from Ecuador:
Black Lotus Casino
- Get 200% match bonus, up to $600. Use the code: WELCOME600
- +$30 bonus. Use code: WINBLACK
Bonuses for existing players:
- 32 Free Spins on Sweet Success Code: CHEER1
- 32 Free Spins on Nordic Wild Code: CHEER2
- 32 Free Spins on Cosmopolitan Code: CHEER3
- 32 Free Spins on 7 Chakras Code: CHEER4
- 32 Free Spins on Le Chocolatier Code: CHEER5
- 32 Free Spins on Fairy Dust Forest Code: CHEER6
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
- Playthrough requirement: 40-60x for match bonuses and usually 60x for free spins and other bonuses, depends on the bonus check the casino's web page for the specific, up to date, current playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Wagering limitation:
- 100% - Slots and Keno
- 50% - Roulette and Three Card Poker
- 25% - Baccarat
- 10% - Video Poker
- 5% - Blackjack, Craps
- 0% - Everything else
Bet Online Casino and Sports Book
- Welcome bonus, 100% up to $1,000 on your first three deposits! Use the code BOLCASINO
- 100% welcome match bonus up to 100% on your first deposit using Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin or DASH. No code required.
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
Playthrough requirement: • Slot Games (progressive jackpot slots excluded) 100% • Roulette (All versions), Draw High-Lo, 3 Card Rummy 20% • Baccarat, Blackjack (American & European), Poker 3, Oasis Poker, Single Deck Blackjack, Triple Edge Poker, Caribbean Poker, Three Card Poker, Video Poker 10% • Pirate 21, Blackjack Super 7, Pai Gow, 21 Burn, Ride’m Poker, All forms of Keno, Red Dog, Pontoon, Top Card Trumps 5% • Craps, Live Casino, All Games with Progressive Jackpots, Virtual Racebook. Speciality games ie Keno’s and Scratcher game offered by Betsoft 0%
Wagering limitation:
- Any action on Baccarat, Roulette and Craps will not count towards the wagering requirement.
This page is part of Simon’s List – Legal Status of Online Gambling – a definitive guide to the legal status of all forms of online gambling activities in every country around the world.
Last updated: 2021-01-04
Gamble responsibly,
SimonTheSorcerer
