Casinos in Haiti

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Crystal clear waters and some of the best beaches in the world, diverse culinary landscape, rich culture, and amazing music are just some of the many reasons why the Caribbean Islands represent the hottest tourist destination. Some of them, including Haiti, have land-based casinos as well, giving tourists a chance to try their luck while traveling.

Officially known as the Republic of Haiti, this country is located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, sharing the land with another country- the Dominican Republic. It’s the third largest and the most populous country in the Caribbean, but unfortunately also the one with the lowest Human Development Index in the Americas.

Land of the mountains (which is actually the meaning of its name) and the poorest one in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti may not have as many casinos as its neighbor- the Dominican Republic, but it still has quite a couple of worth-exploring ones.

The casino industry in Haiti is still developing, and most of the gambling activity tends to be centered in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and a few other locations. One of the capital’s most attractive casinos is El Rancho Casino, which has been operating since the mid-80s.

History of Gambling in Haiti

Land-based gambling has been legal since 1934, but notable growth was experienced during the 1960s, during the reign of then-President François Duvalier, also known as Papa Doc, who officially legalized gambling and allowed the operation of brick-and-mortar casinos.

The fact that Haiti is one of the countries with the smallest GDP per capita, and the one widely known for poverty and corruption explains the extremely slow development of the legal casino sector. Due to these factors, the country doesn’t represent an attractive tourist destination as, for example, Barbados, or Antigua and Barbuda, so the contribution from tourists that gamble is small as well.

Prone to natural disasters, namely frequent earthquakes, the country had a couple of land-based casinos closed as a result of these catastrophes. The remaining big casinos are mostly attached to hotels or operate in the form of smaller, independent gambling establishments with a limited selection of games.

Laws & Regulations

While land-based gambling is legal in the country, online gambling is not permitted. Locals can gamble on foreign betting websites provided that they accept players from Haiti. The list is usually featured in the official Terms.

On the other hand, an online lottery is available and offered by Lotto Haiti, with RNG certified on behalf of Gaming Laboratories International. The featured games include GG World Mega Jackpot, GG World Keno, and GG World Million.

With regards to the land-based sector, the licensing and tax collection is conducted by LISA, which stands short for the Lottery of the Haitian State. The tax imposed on the casinos amounts to 40% of gross profit and $1,000 annually. Players are charged a 5% tax on the winnings but on behalf of the casino, not the government.

According to some sources, but unconfirmed, though, Haitians are not permitted to visit casinos attached to hotels, only tourists can access them. The alternative, which is also a much more affordable option for them are smaller gaming venues.

As far as outlined in the 2016 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), recommendations were given for the regulation and monitoring of casinos and other forms of gambling. It was also suggested that a country should work on a more effective AML/ CFT regime, but, unfortunately, without notable progress as of yet.

Popular Games & Rewards Programs

Blood sports and betting on blood sports are legal in Haiti. Other popular activities include bullfighting and cockfighting. What comes as quite intriguing is that despite often called inhumane, cruel, barbaric, and bad activity, cockfighting is still a thing in some countries.

Yet, have no worries, when visiting a land-based casino in Haiti, players won’t be presented with any of these. Just like in any other ordinary brick-and-mortar venue out there, they will be given the opportunity to enjoy typical casino games.

The first that come to mind are, of course, slot games, the most highly diversified genre in terms of themes and features. Another reason why one-armed bandits have remained the number one choice for most visitors is a huge variety in denominations, making them suitable for all budgets.

If one happens to visit Casino El Rancho, one will be able to spin the reels of numerous hits by IGT, such as Pot of Gold, Lucky Numbers, and many more.

Blackjack, a time-classic card game where the goal is to beat the dealer's hand without exceeding 21 is also available at Haitian casinos, and so is, baccarat, also a card game that involves betting on the outcome of two hands, the Player and the Banker.

Feel like guessing where a ball will land on a spinning wheel with numbered pockets? That’s right, roulette is offered as well. Finally, those curious about putting their poker skills to the test won’t be disappointed either, as this game is offered both in the form of tournaments and cash games.

Bear in mind that the selection of games might vary from one casino to another. Based on these insights, it is quite obvious that the overall gaming experience in Haiti is generally more limited compared to larger, more established casino markets.

So, when visiting any of the local venues, players should expect a glamorous experience like the one offered in Las Vegas, but they should expect decent fun and solid winnings.

Payment Methods

The official currency of Haiti is gourde (HTG), which is divided into 100 centimes. The conversion rate is approximately 89 HTG for USD 1. Another option supported at casinos is the Haitian Dollar (HTD) at a rate of 95 HTD for USD 1.

As in many land-based casinos, cash is used for payments. Bear in mind that ATMs in Haiti are limited to urban areas, mostly at banks, hotels, supermarkets, and gas stations, as well as at the international airport in the country’s capital-Port-au-Prince. On the other hand, they are quite unreliable, either due to network issues or because they simply run out of cash often.