July 16, 2019

Las Vegas is great and all, but Puerto Rico has the best casinos south of the Mississippi. So if your list of Puerto Rico things to do includes throwing dice at one of the island’s awesome casinos, rejoice! This guide delves into everything you need to know about Puerto Rico casinos, from their legality to the best spots in town to play. 

Yes, gambling is legal in Puerto Rico

Despite varying and confusing laws concerning gambling across much of the United States, the gambling laws of this American commonwealth are simple: gambling is legal. This means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to frequent Puerto Rico’s awesome casinos.

A few things to keep in mind: legal casinos in Puerto Rico must be maintained by a hotel or resort; you must be 18 years old to gamble; and smoking is not allowed in Puerto Rico casinos.

Cities with the most casinos

The city with the most casinos in Puerto Rico is San Juan, as San Juan is also home to many of Puerto Rico’s best resorts. (Not your scene? You’ll also find some awesome boutique hotels and hostels in San Juan). So if you want to check the island’s casino scene but also explore many of Puerto Rico’s best things to do, San Juan is a solid place to stay.

You’ll find casinos in other cities as well—the cool things to do in Ponce include a couple of casinos. You’ll also find casinos in smaller cities like Rio Grande, Caguas, and Mayaguez.

Pro tip: Puerto Rico offers a fair amount of choice when it comes to its casinos.

By the numbers: The biggest casino in Puerto Rico

Interestingly, the largest casino in Puerto Rico is not a San Juan attraction—rather, that honor belongs to the mountainous town of Caguas. There, the Four Points by Sheraton Caguas Real Hotel & Casino holds the title for the largest on the island: their casino contains 570 gambling machines and 10 tables. 

Pro tip: If you have your heart set on traveling to San Juan, fear not—Caguas is only a thirty-minute drive away.

The best casinos in Puerto Rico

Gambling actually helps Puerto Rico. Here’s why:

You can feel good about adding casinos to your Puerto Rico itinerary: although the island has largely recovered from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico is still actively looking for ways to boost revenue.