Although gambling in Cuba is currently illegal (illegal since 1959), the country is definitely no stranger to games of chance. Havana, the capital of Cuba, at one point, was the “Las Vegas of the Caribbean”. The golden age of gambling in Cuba (officially the Republic of Cuba) was between the 1940s-1950s, Havana was pretty much the Western Hemisphere’s largest gambling hub, at that time, with about 10 bigger casinos, and more than 50 additional smaller gambling establishments (gentlemen’s clubs, harness racing tracks, cockfighting arenas, jai alai courts). Casinos were legal at the time, and casino licences were granted to companies who invested sufficient amounts of money in tourism (mostly building casinos with hotels, resort, which often doubled as brothels for the wealthy). While in the city the ‘richer sort’ (tourists mostly, and the wealthy, corrupt “elite”) spent their money in casinos, and at the horse racing tracks, in the countryside the ‘salt of the earth’ locals favoured the traditional games of chance: cockfighting, la bolita and jai alai (you can watch a video about jai alai below****, practically forgotten at this point).
/UPDATE 2021: Betting on illegal cockfights seems to be still prevalent in the countryside of Cuba.***** It’s an officially illegal blood sport, and animal cruelty./
But just like in the real Las Vegas, most casinos sadly were tied to the American mafia and gangsters like the Jewish mobster Myer Lansky. Lansky brought to Cuba the big spenders (high rollers) from Las Vegas, Reno and New York (today we would call him a junket operator, but that was not all he did of course, he was a gangster). The character Hyman Roth in “The Godfather Part II” is based on Lansky. For thirty years, the mob had a prominent presence in the very much rotten high-society of pre-revolutionary Cuba.
In 1959, shortly after overthrowing Fulgencio Batista, Fidel Castro banned all forms of gambling.* Several casinos and slot machines were demolished, and gambling has been illegal ever since.
The main piece of gambling legislation in Cuba is Ley 86 1959* (ley means law).
Anyone involved in the operating, organization of illegal gambling may face charges, a fine and possible imprisonment. Players too are be prosecuted and even imprisoned for illegal gambling, though it’s rare. Online gambling is not specifically regulated in Cuba (the main gambling law is from 1959, well before the internet), but is also considered illegal, because of the complete ban on gambling. There are no reports on whether players are prosecuted for participating in online gambling or not, but it’s best no to risk it (if you know anything, please let me know in the comments section below, it’s really unlikely that the government would spend money on policing online gambling, when it is illegal since 1959, and given how poor the country is, but no official info on the subject). Some foreign, offshore online casinos operating outside of Cuba still accept players from the country, despite it being technically illegal (you can see them below).
Prior to the ban on gambling, Havana was a huge favourite among American tourists looking to travel, have fun and to play in exotic casinos. Experts say there might be a chance of the situation changing and casino resorts might be returning to Cuba.** Although, they have been saying that since 2014… At any rate, casinos and the consequent boost to the tourism sector would be greatly appreciated by the cash-strapped population of Cuba. Diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba were restored in 2015, which means American tourists are once again free to visit the country, and the the Cuban system is for long time not a communist economy, it’s more similar to the Chinese mixed system now, which make investment, private ownerships possible. With the huge potential revenue (lots of wealthy Northern American tourists, cheap land prices, low local wages, no competition, virgin market), there would no shortage of foreign investors.
The biggest hurdle people who want to play online from Cuba face is that locals have no access to VISA or MasterCard credit or debit cards, which means they have to use alternative payment methods, which many online casinos do not support. However, the online casino below do accept other payment methods, and even bitcoin. Keep in mind, that due to the lackluster internet connection most online games won’t be playable in Cuba, they need a good internet connection.
Many online gambling websites are reported to be blocked, and the internet in Cuba is censored.
If the online casinos on this page are blocked in Cuba, or they no longer accept players from the country, please let me know, so I can update the page. Thank you.
Cuba gambling licenses
Not possible to acquire any sort of gambling licenses in Cuba, gambling is not legal.
Cuba gambling tax
There is no gambling tax. Gambling is not legal in Cuba.
Can tourists play online in Cuba:Tourists can play in online casinos freely while in Cuba, they won’t be fined. However, many online gambling websites are blocked.
Sources:
**Will casinos return to Cuba? (Sun Sentinel)
***American Tourism & Gambling Could Return to Cuba (Thoroughbred Daily News)
****A video about jai alai, betting on this sport was the second most popular form of betting in Cuba (after cockfighting) in the countryside before Fidel Castro. It is barely played anymore:
*****Reuters – Cockfighting in Cuba: clandestine venues, state arenas
Online casinos accepting players from Cuba
The following online gambling websites accept players from Cuba
RichPrize Casino
- 100% match bonus, up to €1000 + 25 free spins, no code needed
You can read the review of RichPrize casino here.
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
- Playthrough requirement: Bonus wagering x40 applied.
- Free spins wagering x40 applied.
Wagering limitation:
- 7 days to wager bonus.
- Slots wagering allowed.
- Slots wagering participation 100%.
- Min bet 0.01 EUR - Max bet 3 EUR.
- Betting Games wagering not allowed.
- Providers allowed for wagering: Limited to enabled games only.
- Player can cancel bonus at any time. Please note: Upon cancellation of the bonus the balance will be adjusted to the balance before bonus activation.
| UPDATE 2021: This particular online casino was removed due to complaints from the players and visitors to the website. We apologize for the inconvenience. We will replace it with another recommendation as soon as possible. In the meantime, check out the other online casinos above and below, or the recent casino bonuses, free games or casino reviews. If you have any issue with the other gambling platforms featured on the website, then please drop a comment or try the live chat (bottom right). We will investigate all reports and take action if necessary. |
Summary:
- Casino gambling in Cuba
- Bingo in Cuba
- Poker in Cuba
- Sports betting in Cuba
- Lottery in Cuba
- Bitcoin gambling in Cuba
Casino gambling in Cuba
Online casino gambling in Cuba: illegal, players are probably not prosecuted
Casino gambling is illegal in Cuba, outlawed by Fidel Castro in 1959, with the Ley 86 1959. Prior to that, Cuba, and specifically Havana, was a huge centre for casino gambling. Cuban casinos were especially popular among American tourists.
Online casino gambling, although not specifically mentioned, is banned along with all other forms of gambling. Players caught gambling online could be prosecuted, though there are no reports of such cases (if you know of any, please let us know). But it’s possible, the internet in Cuba is heavily censored, and many foreign casino gambling sites are reported to be inaccessible (if the online casinos below are inaccessible please let me know in the comments section, thank you).
With the restoration of diplomatic relations with the US, there is some hope of casinos returning to Cuba. Even if that happened, it would take years to build up a competitive casino industry, and experts see no chance of Cuba rivaling, Las Vegas or Macau ever (but it still could be locally important, in the Caribbean).
Despite the ban, a few online casinos still accept players from Cuba, you can see them below.
The following online casino websites accept players from Cuba:
RichPrize Casino
- 100% match bonus, up to €1000 + 25 free spins, no code needed
You can read the review of RichPrize casino here.
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
- Playthrough requirement: Bonus wagering x40 applied.
- Free spins wagering x40 applied.
Wagering limitation:
- 7 days to wager bonus.
- Slots wagering allowed.
- Slots wagering participation 100%.
- Min bet 0.01 EUR - Max bet 3 EUR.
- Betting Games wagering not allowed.
- Providers allowed for wagering: Limited to enabled games only.
- Player can cancel bonus at any time. Please note: Upon cancellation of the bonus the balance will be adjusted to the balance before bonus activation.
| UPDATE 2021: This particular online casino was removed due to complaints from the players and visitors to the website. We apologize for the inconvenience. We will replace it with another recommendation as soon as possible. In the meantime, check out the other online casinos above and below, or the recent casino bonuses, free games or casino reviews. If you have any issue with the other gambling platforms featured on the website, then please drop a comment or try the live chat (bottom right). We will investigate all reports and take action if necessary. |
Bingo in Cuba
Online bingo in Cuba: illegal, players are probably not prosecuted
Bingo is a form of gambling, and as such, it is illegal in Cuba. It was banned along with all other forms of gambling by Fidel Castro in 1959. There are no bingo halls in the country, at least not legally operating ones.
The ban on gambling extends to online bingo as well. However, it is not know whether this is enforced or not. If you know more please let me know.
Despite the legal status of online bingo the following bingo websites accept players from Cuba:
| UPDATE 2021: This particular online casino was removed due to complaints from the players and visitors to the website. We apologize for the inconvenience. We will replace it with another recommendation as soon as possible. In the meantime, check out the other online casinos above and below, or the recent casino bonuses, free games or casino reviews. If you have any issue with the other gambling platforms featured on the website, then please drop a comment or try the live chat (bottom right). We will investigate all reports and take action if necessary. |
Poker in Cuba
Online poker in Cuba: illegal, players are probably not prosecuted
Poker is illegal too, despite the fact that poker is often considered a game of skill and not a game of chance. In Cuba, poker is definitely considered a game of chance. Poker has been illegal since 1959. There are no legally operating poker rooms in the country.
The ban on gambling extends to online poker as well. Cuban citizens operating illegal online poker sites may be fined or imprisoned. However, it is not known, whether players are prosecuted or not.
Despite Cuba’s stance on gambling, a few online poker sites accept players from Cuba, you can see them below.
The following online casino websites have poker and accept players from Cuba:
I don’t know any online poker site that would accept players from Cuba. If you know of any, please let me know.
Sports betting in Cuba
Online sports betting in Cuba: illegal, players are probably not prosecuted
Sports betting is illegal in Cuba. Sports betting too was banned along with all other forms of gambling by Fidel Castro in 1959. There are no legal betting shops or sportsbooks in the country, though illegal organisations may be in operation.
The ban on gambling extends to online sports betting as well. Cubans operating online sports betting sites may be fined or imprisoned, and players may face prosecution as well. However, a few offshore online sportsbooks accept players from Cuba, despite this.
The online bookmakers below accept registrations from Cuba.
The following online sportsbooks accept bettors from the Cuba:
I don’t know any online sportsbook that would accept punters from Cuba. If you know of any, please let me know.
Lottery in Cuba
Online lottery in Cuba: illegal, players are probably not prosecuted
Lotteries are currently illegal in Cuba. Lottery had previously been legal, including the so called “la bolita” lottery (still played among Cuban migrants in the US) but was banned along with all other forms of gambling during the Cuban Revolution. There are no legal lotteries in the country, but there have always been illegally operating underground lotteries in the country. In the countryside, La Bolita, is still popular, and authorities often turn a blind eye, even tough gambling is illegal in the country (if you know more about the current situation of la bolita, please let me know in the comments section).
The ban on gambling extends to online lotteries as well. Those who operate online lotteries will be fined and/or imprisoned, and players could technically face prosecution as well. Despite this, some foreign online lotteries let players from Cuba purchase lottery tickets online.
The following websites let people from Cuba purchase lottery tickets online:
Bitcoin gambling in Cuba
Bitcoin gambling in Cuba: not specifically regulated
Bitcoin is not specifically regulated by Cuban laws (people who use bitcoin in Cuba so far didn’t get into trouble with the authorities, and there about 50 000 bitcoin users in the socialist country*), but all forms of gambling have been illegal in the country since 1959.
Bitcoin gambling is also not specifically regulated in Cuba (the blanket ban on gambling still applies to bitcoin gambling as well of course). In fact, some expect the virtual currency to solve the country’s difficulties with their current two-currency system.** And considering that VISA, MasterCard and Western Union are all inaccessible to locals it’s not surprising that many turn to Bitcoin, and other digital currencies.
The bitcoin casinos below accept players from Cuba.
*Source:
The following online casino websites accept bitcoin, litecoin and ethereum, and accept players from Cuba:
RichPrize Casino
- 100% match bonus, up to €1000 + 25 free spins, no code needed
You can read the review of RichPrize casino here.
Playthrough requirements and wagering limitations
- Playthrough requirement: Bonus wagering x40 applied.
- Free spins wagering x40 applied.
Wagering limitation:
- 7 days to wager bonus.
- Slots wagering allowed.
- Slots wagering participation 100%.
- Min bet 0.01 EUR - Max bet 3 EUR.
- Betting Games wagering not allowed.
- Providers allowed for wagering: Limited to enabled games only.
- Player can cancel bonus at any time. Please note: Upon cancellation of the bonus the balance will be adjusted to the balance before bonus activation.
Sources:
*Bitcoin in Cuba: A Local YouTube Influencer Explains How It Works
**Bitcoin comes to Cuba. Could it help end the country’s crazy two-currency system? (Quartz)
If you have questions or any feedback don’t hesitate to drop a comment below. Please let me know in the comments section if you think we might have gotten something wrong or if you have additional information, clarification about the legal status of online gambling in this country.
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: 2021-02-13
Gamble responsibly,
SimonTheSorcerer
 I'm an independent gambling blogger since 2012. In this sector dominated by huge media companies, casino operators and online marketing networks, who can easily spend $ millions on their online gambling blogs, it's not easy for an independent nobody like me to survive. It took me about 6 years, working my ass off, to even have a chance to be noticed by visitors like you. I'm lucky enough that for a few years now, I make enough money to be able to do this full time (before that, I had part-time jobs, ghost writing gigs, online marketing this and that). Now I can finally do this full time, thanks to visitors like you! And it means a lot! If you are interested, please bookmark this site (no social media profiles, I no longer have any, but please feel free to share anything on any social media networks, if you still use them). I don't have any money to advertise, and if you have a personal blog, any social media profile, please mention my gambling blog and link back to it. This the only way for a small website like this to grow. Thank you! |
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