Casinos in Dominican Republic

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If you’re interested in experiencing the rhythmic, fast-paced merengue and the slower bachata dance, the Dominican Republic is the place to go.

In case you are hoping to experience extravagant casino games, you won’t be disappointed either as this breathtaking country is home to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, and many other sophisticated casinos.

Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, the Dominican Republic is a country in North America on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea. After Cuba, it’s the second-largest nation in the Antilles and the most visited destination in the Caribbean.

Widely known for its lavish resorts, the Dominican Republic is a place where visitors can expect the highest level of enjoyment, which includes top-notch casino experience as well. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana aside, there are many other attractive places to visit, such as Ocean Blue & Sand Golf & Beach Resort, Coral Costa Caribe Resort, Spa & Casino, Occidental Flamenco Beach Resort Casino, and many others.

History of Gambling in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has a long history of gaming, with lotteries and horse racing have been operating on the island since 1890 and 1945, respectively. Another popular spectator sport, but often discouraged is cockfighting.

During the 1950s and 1960s, under the rule of dictator Rafael Trujillo, gambling gained legal status and was promoted as a way to attract tourists and boost the economy. Several casinos, primarily located in the capital city of Santo Domingo and major tourist areas such as Puerto Plata and Sosúa were granted licenses by the government.

After Trujillo's assassination in 1961, the country continued to develop its tourism sector, with casinos continuing to play a central role in attracting visitors. Over the decades, the industry expanded, with new brick-and-mortar facilities opening in various parts of the country, including popular resort areas like Punta Cana and La Romana.

The legal gambling age in this country is 18, but keep in mind that each casino has a different policy, especially if run by an international corporation. This means that they could require a visitor to be 19, or even 21. Don’t forget to bring an ID when visiting a casino.

Laws & Regulations

Dating back to 1964, Law 351 represents the main source for the regulation of gambling in the Dominican Republic. According to this law, which underwent several significant modifications in 1965, 1998, and 2006, casino games are considered one of the country’s key tourist attractions, representing a significant source of income.

In charge of regulating and guiding all operations of gambling service providers is the Casino Department of the Ministry of Finance of the Dominican Republic. Sports, Physical Education and Recreation Department cooperates with this institution for the regulation of slots, whereas lottery operations fall under a separate regulatory body National Lottery.

As for the online gambling sector, the crucial year for the liberalization of this activity was 2006. That’s when the Ministry of Finance was granted the right to issue gambling licenses, including those for electronic gaming centers.

What comes as quite peculiar is that Amaya (now known as The Stars Group) was issued the first license five years after legalization, and it remained the sole license holder for a very long time. However, the signing of Resolution 136-2024 into law is expected to take regulations to a higher level by bringing a more comprehensive framework.

As a part of the efforts to keep the industry safe and protected from illegal gambling operations, the Ministry of Finance scrapped 8,000 pieces of equipment for gambling in 2017. Some of the seized equipment was donated to non-profit institutions.

Popular Games

Ranking slots as the most played casino game worldwide have several crucial characteristics- a huge variety of themes, simple to play, and suitable for all types of budgets. That’s precisely why they are loved by all visitors who happen to find themselves in some of the numerous land casinos all over the Dominican Republic.

On the other hand, slot machines and other electronic games are not every player’s cup of tea and that’s just fine. For those interested in testing their skills and knowledge, all-time classics such as blackjack, craps, baccarat, and so on are featured as well. Let’s not forget to mention various poker games.

Browsing through the traveling forums and blogs where people share experiences from their visits, you will notice that Keno and local roulette are often labeled as the games that should be avoided. That’s because the rules differ from those of Las Vegas.

Rewards Programs

Most casino resorts that operate under a larger gambling corporation offer attractive reward schemes, but they can be available in smaller casinos as well.

Points are usually collected when gaming, dining, shopping, or staying at participating locations and can later be redeemed for playing games, accommodation, or in bars and restaurants. Depending on the individual tier, a consumer can also be granted additional benefits such as priority support service, access to exclusive events, rewards, discounts, and much more.

Payment Options

Like many other land-based casinos out there, most of the venues accept cash for gambling. Credit cards and cash travelers' checks are accepted in certain venues as well, but consumers are highly recommended to withdraw cash from an ATM (from a major local bank) and buy chips with cash.

The official local currency is Dominican Peso, but payments in USD are accepted as well. Pesos are recommended to players who want to make lower bets, due to a larger selection of denominations. Winnings can be granted in United States dollars as well, but the best would be to check upon arrival.

Certain casinos offer so-called casino credit, which gives visitors the freedom to use their funds without traveling with large amounts of cash. Also known as a casino marker, it represents an interest-free, short-term line of credit provided by a casino.

These funds are valid for both slot machines and table games. If selecting this option, make sure to use it wisely, as it does come with a certain risk for irresponsible gambling.