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Online Betting Jamaica – The Best Betting Sites and Bookmakers

The online betting scene in Jamaica is undergoing changes, albeit slowly. In Jamaica, online betting is partially legal in limited forms.

For instance, the Caribbean country’s gambling authorities have permitted horse racing and online sports betting in Jamaica when you play at designated sites.

If you want to venture outside Jamaican licensed casinos and sportsbooks, though, there are plenty of places to play once you understand the grey zone surrounding Jamaica’s gambling sites and laws.

Our guide will help you do exactly that. If you want to learn more about where you can and cannot bet if you reside in Jamaica, read on to find out more.

Top 10 Betting Sites for Jamaica in 19 April 2024 – Updated List

Rank
Casino
Bonus
Safe & Trusted
Rating
Get Started
1
100% up to €100
Yes
Rating 9.99 out of 10
2
Exclusive 200% up to $2000
Yes
Rating 9.99 out of 10
3
200% up to 50 £
Yes
Rating 9.98 out of 10
4
100% up to 500 €/$/£
Yes
Rating 9.97 out of 10
5
Welcome package: 100% up to €1500 + 150 FS
Yes
Rating 9.95 out of 10
6
100% up to €1500 + 150 FS
Yes
Rating 9.93 out of 10
7
100% bonus up to €300
Yes
Rating 9.91 out of 10
8
Up to €1500 + 150 Free Spins
Yes
Rating 9.89 out of 10
9
100% up to €500
Yes
Rating 9.87 out of 10
10
100% up to €300
Yes
Rating 9.85 out of 10

Jamaica’s history of gambling

Gambling became legal in Jamaica in 1965, when the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act came into play. This did not initially cover casino gaming, with a separate act (Casino Gaming Act) being unveiled in 2010 to cover those.

Jamaica authorized additional amendments to the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act in 2012. In 2014, the government created the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission which would regulate online gambling sites in Jamaica.

This provided a series of legal betting sites, but the scope has been somewhat limited since, especially when compared to its Caribbean counterparts, such as Curacao and Antigua and Barbuda.

Today, this beautiful Caribbean island nation is home to twelve land-based casinos and a brick-and-mortar sportsbook. The Casino Gaming Commission oversees licensing and the enforcement of regulations regarding online betting in Jamaica.

Common ways to bet in Jamaica

Jamaica’s have limited ways to engage in betting and gaming in the country. All players are invited to place bets at Jamaica’s land-based casinos. However, despite promises to introduce online casinos, the authorities in charge of the Jamaican gambling laws have not currently issued any licenses to internet casinos.

It is important to note that foreigners and tourists are permitted to bet at offshore online casinos, and the lack of punishment for residents in Jamaica essentially opens this door to them, too.

Bingo is also legal in Jamaica. There are several licensed bingo establishments where you can play, while online bingo is neither regulated nor illegal. Poker is legal in land-based casinos. If you live in Jamaica, sports betting and horse racing are two viable options, with even online sports betting companies legalized at specific sites.

While there is no online lottery game yet available, the Lotteries Act does permit land-based lottery gameplay in Jamaica. The country has not taken a stance on either e-sports betting or cryptocurrency gambling.

Online gambling laws and regulations for betting in Jamaica

The laws surrounding betting sites in Jamaica vary. Online sports betting sites are legal, assuming you wager at a website licensed by the Jamaica Racing Commission. Jamaican sports bettors can still legally place bets with land-based sportsbooks, too.

Betting on horse racing is also legal if you play at the website run by Caymanas Park. The online casino betting industry is also alive and well, but it is only legally available to non-residents. Jamaican citizens are prohibited from partaking in online casino gameplay, but the authorities do not punish those who participate. 

The legal landscape in Jamaica appears to be in a state of change, and the expansion of more extensive online sports betting and casino gameplay might not be far away as the Casino Gaming Commission seeks to meet the standards and regulatory environment of other reputable gambling jurisdictions.

The incentive of extra tax revenues is also a motivating factor. As it stands, Jamaican sports bettors can rest assured that their online activities will not be interfered with, even when they play at offshore sites.

Jamaican sports bettors are not legally entitled to place bets with offshore internet bookies. However, the government does not prosecute those who do. Foreigners and tourists, on the other hand, are free to place bets online at any website.  With the fast-changing legal landscape of online sports betting in Jamaica, it would not be a shock to see the industry open up to residents.

If you are a non-resident or a tourist in Jamaica, the world is your oyster. However, if you are a Jamaican national, then you are going to need to play at offshore bookmakers and casinos to get a slice of the action.

These fall outside the scope of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act and out of reach of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission and there is no punishment for playing at these foreign sites. 

Do I have to pay gambling tax on my winnings in Jamaica?

You can expect to see a 20% tax on lottery winnings worth over JMD $15,000. This is roughly a hundred US dollars, so the cap is quite low. However, no taxes are applied to players when online gambling at legal sportsbooks or playing at offshore online gambling sites in Jamaica. It is a different story for operators.

These are hit with taxes of 7.5% of profits for trackside racing, 9% for land-based sports betting, and 16.5% for all bookmakers and online bookmakers. Of course, offshore casinos and sportsbooks are not liable for gambling tax at all – at least, not until Jamaica launches its own licensed casinos.

What are the best Jamaican online betting sites and bookmakers?

Foreign bettors are legally allowed to wager at international betting sites in Jamaica. While it is technically illegal for residents to play at Jamaican online betting sites, too, the government does not penalize those that do. This means that the market is virtually wide open to the world’s biggest and best online bookmakers.

Foreign and domestic punters trust sites like live streaming betting sites such as Stake, BetWinner and 22Bet to give them competitive odds, many payment options, and hassle-free payouts. These betting sites with live streaming are all known for providing great customer protection, fair play, and options like text betting, which enhances their in-play betting formats.

They are amongst the most visited offshore Jamaican bookmakers around. The same can be said of 20Bet or 1xBet. These sites also have good reputations for offering their customers many attractive bonuses.

Here is what they have to offer:

  • Stake: A fun crypto-friendly sportsbook, Stake offers competitive odds, permits small stakes, and offers casino games on the side.
  • BetWinner: A renowned bookmaker, you can use over 140 payment methods at this site, which covers all the most popular markets.
  • 22Bet: 22Bet has some of the best bonuses around. This European-based bookie also has exciting daily markets for Jamaican’s to take advantage of.
  • 20Bet: This site has over 40,000 events a month to offer, spanning thirty sports and accepts cryptocurrency deposits.
  • 1xBet: 1xBet has buckets of experience and is a highly rated and reputable sportsbook offering in-play bets on your favourite sports.

What are the most popular sports in Jamaica?

Sports are deeply rooted in Jamaican culture and are participated in by large numbers of men and women. Popular sports in Jamaica include:

  • Netball: Netball is the most popular among women and regularly appears as a market at trusted sports betting sites.
  • Basketball: Basketball is the country’s fastest-growing sport, with several stars now competing in the NBA.
  • Football: Jamaican bookies always offer value football betting markets, and while cricket and rugby get national attention, too, football offers arguably more betting markets at bookies.
  • Athletics: Jamaica has produced many runners and sprinters. Usain Bolt immediately comes to mind, so athletics is another big market here.
  • Other Sports: Field hockey, baseball, and combat sports are watched by many, while golf and tennis have high profiles at Jamaican betting sites.

Deposits and withdrawals at Jamaican betting sites

To start sports betting in Jamaica or even to play at casino sites, you will need to find deposit methods that work for you. Fortunately, many leading sites offer the types of payment methods that Jamaicans can work with. These include:

  • Credit cards such as VISA and MasterCard, and debit cards like Maestro and VISA Electron/Debit
  • Prepaid vouchers such as Paysafecard and Neosurf
  • E-wallets like Skrill, Neteller
  • and other leading options, such as cryptocurrencies, Trustly and EcoPayz

Are there any betting bonuses and free bets for Jamaican players?

Jamaica’s population of 1.3 million, plus the tourists who place online bets, is not the biggest sports wagering market. However, it is big enough to ensure that the best online bookies are eager to lure Jamaican sports gamblers with lots of betting bonuses, such as free bets, tasty reload deposit bonus deals and welcome bonuses.

Stake, BetWinner and 22Bet will all welcome new customers with free bets and a welcome bonus. 20Bet and 1xBet have free bet bonuses up for grabs, while a few offshore casinos and online bookies can provide bet credits, sports betting reload offers, and free bet codes that you can use to claim free bets to your bonus account.

Many of these online bookies offer easy cash betting bonus deals and are available also in other exotic countries like Mauritius, but you should always check these bonus betting cash offers’ terms and conditions. Look for minimum odds, wagering requirements, win caps, and expiration dates to ensure that you are getting a good deal. New customer offers are ideal for Jamaican players looking for attractive betting bonuses but always hit the “more information” button to find out the hidden details.

There are lots more awesome bonuses found at Gambling Judge. Look at the promotions section to find the latest and greatest betting bonuses that the world’s top international gambling companies are offering. Do not forget to read the in-depth sportsbook reviews of our top 100 bookmakers. These are there to help you find the best online bookie for Jamaican players.

Watch out! Notable Jamaican betting sites to avoid

Just because a bookmaker accepts players from Jamaica does not make it trustworthy. In the past, several scam sites have been found guilty of the following:

  • Withholding bonuses
  • Offering uncompetitive odds
  • Hosting pirate games
  • Being unlicensed
  • Having unresponsive support options
  • Featuring ridiculously high wagering requirements
  • Not being transparent with their terms and conditions

Fortunately, this is not something you are going to have to worry about with us. We only represent the best sports betting sites in Jamaica.

Our recommended domains allow you to engage in gambling responsibly, have transparent first deposit terms and conditions, are all licensed and regulated. If you stick with us, you will end up a reputable casino or bookmaker that accepts Jamaican players guaranteed.

Top real money casino apps for Jamaican players

Many of our recommended casinos and sportsbooks also permit mobile gambling. Our array of Jamaica-friendly mobile betting sites includes a mix of those offering a mobile app and those which are instant-play based.

Instant play sites require nothing more than a web browser to play. Jamaica betting apps are typically available for Android users, but some may also offer iOS apps. These are more streamlined, dedicated, and mobile optimised apps, but with instant play sites, anybody can play on virtually any device.

Looking to the future of Jamaican online gambling

Jamaica’s online gambling sector is in a state of flux. For years, the government has considered implementing new laws, bringing it more in line with its Caribbean neighbors. They have proposed legalized online casino gambling to tax winnings and charge licensing fees, both of which are great ways to raise revenue, is the opposite situation like in another island from this region, Cuba, but for more valuable information, read Cuba betting sites.

The call for a Jamaica Gaming Commission is on the horizon but has not yet come to pass. This would act as an umbrella regulation for all forms of gambling in Jamaica, allowing new online betting sites to flourish. In the meantime, you have the option of legal sportsbooks and offshore casinos to keep you entertained.

Top tips and tidy tricks for online gambling in Jamaica

Before wagering in Jamaica, we have got a few tips and tricks for you. They include:

  • Head to our how to win at sports betting page. This betting guide will show you to use sports betting math to get ahead.

  • Not all sports betting systems and sports betting strategies are suitable for all sports.

  • Play at our recommended sites to ensure that you do not get ripped off.

  • Use responsible gambling tools to stay safe when betting.

  • Avoid payment methods that do not accept JMD, as these could see you incur charges.

  • Only play at licensed and reputable sportsbooks.

  • Play free slot games first before wagering your real money on them to gain experience.

The pros and cons of Jamaican online betting

There are always pros and cons to gambling online. Here are the ones you need to know about:

PROS

  • You cannot be punished for playing at offshore betting sites
  • Legal sports betting is possible with Jamaica’s licensed online betting companies
  • There is no tax on anything you win

CONS

  • Jamaica hasn’t set up a licensing authority for casinos yet
  • Some operators do not accept players from Jamaica

Frequently Asked Questions about Jamaican online betting

If you still have questions about betting sites in Jamaica, we are here to help…

Yes. Assuming you play at one of our recommended casinos or other proper licensed and regulated sites, it is perfectly safe to bet online.

Yes. Most are reserved for new players, but you can often find additional promos and bonuses for already existing Jamaican casino members.

Officially, Jamaicans cannot gamble at online casinos and can only bet at licensed sportsbooks. However, there are no strict laws prohibiting you from doing so, and you will not be punished if you do.

Yes. Any good sportsbook worth its salt will permit live, in-play betting.

Sports betting sites in Jamaica traditionally have ample sports betting options for the football, athletics, basketball, and netball markets.

Play at top Jamaican online betting sites today

Online betting in Jamaica is a fun and friendly experience. Read more of our tutorials and strategies, such as how to get max value when betting on sports, for more information if you want to hone your skills. If you are ready to begin, head over to our Jamaican best online betting sites list to find your ideal place to play today.

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