Regulators Hope To Launch Sports Betting In Puerto Rico By April

• Senate Bill 1534 was signed into law by Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced, legalizing Puerto Rico sports betting.
• The Gaming Commission of Puerto Rico’s new commissioner Orlando Rivera Carrión is looking to launch sports betting by April.
• There are still regulations that need to be ironed out by lawmakers before an official launch.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Sports bettors in Puerto Rico may not have to wait much longer for the official launch of the regulated sports betting market.

The new Gaming Commission of Puerto Rico executive director Orlando Rivera Carrión has expressed his hopes for launching legal sports betting by April in an attempt to have betting available by the start of the MLB season.

The MLB season is scheduled to begin on April 1st and the Island of Enchantment is hoping to benefit from the MLB betting scene in the territory.

Legal Sports Betting Puerto Rico

Former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced signed SB 1534 into law back in March 2020. While there are still some regulations needed to iron out, the targeted April launch is indeed possible.

What Puerto Rico is working on how is the overall budget for sports betting, as well as the final regulations for the market. This includes how many sportsbooks can launch, how online betting will work, and the tax and fees to be paid by sports betting operations.

“The Sports Betting Division has no budget,” said Rivera Carrión. “We need to provide one in order to finish the regulation.”

Sports betting in Puerto Rico is expected to look similar to other states with legal sports betting but Puerto Rico is also allowing teams to decide if they want to be wagered on or not.

This regulation comes as a direct response from the opposition who are concerned about the integrity of sports betting and the effects it will have on local sports teams.

With teams being able to opt-out of having their teams added to sportsbooks, this should subside some of the negative feelings brought on by major teams.

Sports betting in Puerto Rico has been a long time in the making, but local sports bettors may not be waiting for much longer.

News tags: Gaming Commission of Puerto Rico | Orlando Rivera Carrión | Puerto Rico | San Juan | Wanda Vázquez Garced