Best Online Casinos in Jamaica 2024

Gambling has been regulated by the Gambling Act adopted back in 1899 for over 60 years. This law was strict enough and lacked certainty. It called cockfighting illegal, did not allow gambling in the public places, and was written on the basis according to which each party making a bet or wagering should be either a winner or a loser. However, when cases about a totalisator, for example, were considered in the court, the last one did not admit that this transaction constituted a bet or wager and it could be referred to gambling.

The only game which was officially allowed by The act was slot machines. At the same time, this law even did not mention about such games as poker, craps, blackjack so they were actively played by local citizens.

The imperfection of this act led to the changes in the gambling world in Jamaica in the 60s. In 1965, the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act was passed by the government of the newly created country which was regulating the following points:

• Giving details on bookmaker activity;
• Protected horse racing and betting;
• Introduced football pools officially;
• Empowered police to control how gambling laws are followed on the island.

Moreover, operators from the UK and the US have brought new games and operators to the country at that time contributing to the development of gambling in Jamaica. Only in 10 years after the adoption of the law, in 1975, the authorities of Jamaica created the Betting, Gaming, and Lotteries Commission empowered to license and regulate the work of the gambling companies in Jamaica.

Only in 2012, the Gambling Law of 1899 was officially replaced by the Betting Commission and Lotteries Act. It was introduced in 2010 but passed only in 2012 fighting opposition of many religious organizations.

Types of Online Casino in Jamaica

Since Jamaica is a tourist country that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, the local government legalized gambling as one of the ways of entertainment on the island. However, if tourists are allowed to enjoy 20 terrestrial casinos, 2 racetracks, and one officially licensed online casino called Poker World, local residents are prohibited to play and bet in online and land-based casinos. Such a ban led to the fact that residents of Jamaica have to play illegally on websites operated by foreign companies

At the same time, the number and diversity of online casinos that welcome players from Jamaica are very big. Every gambler can select the type of online casino to let his hair down:

• Web or flash online casinos. Most of the modern online gambling destinations can be accessed from any Internet browser you use on your desktop or personal computer. It is enough to open the necessary page and start the game directly in the browser. However, earlier, and there are still some web casinos, there were platforms that required the installation of a Flash Player since games could be played only through this software. None of the mobile devices supports such flash games.
• Downloaded online casinos. There were and still are online casinos which must be downloaded from the Internet as software to be able to play there. Even if you have downloaded, set up, and signed up to this casino, you still need access to the Internet to play there. For this purpose, you need to open the programming and wait until it connects with the server to guarantee you the best experience.
• Live dealer online casinos. The latest gambling trend is so-called live casinos that allow playing against real players, not only a computer. The process of play is broadcasted from a real studio and managed by a live dealer. Players can communicate with the dealer in the chat, make bets, but they do not see their opponents which is a guarantee of confidentiality.
• Mobile online casinos. Since our world goes mobile, such casinos have been also introduced to players quite recently. These are web casinos with a responsive design to meet the expectation of mobile users and mobile apps which can be downloaded from the store and used for playing online.

Types of Casino Games for Gamblers in Jamaica

Since residents of Jamaica are exposed to the wide variety of foreign gambling destinations, their choice of casino games is overwhelming too. Even the most demanded gamblers will find games appealing to them because the selection is really impressive. These are games from the best software game providers in the world, so their highest quality of graphics, sound, bonus rounds, and other features is unquestioned.

When it comes to the most popular games among citizens of Jamaica, the top rating looks as follows:

• Slots;
• Poker;
• Blackjack;
• Craps;
• Horse Racing betting;
• Roulette;
• Baccarat.

Since slot machines were the only legal gambling activity for several decades, this game remains the most exciting and beloved among players of Jamaica. Old one-armed bandits have moved to comfortable and easily accessible online casinos, where they welcome players from Jamaica round the clock seven days a week.

The absence of prosecution for playing poker, craps, and blackjack has also influenced the popularity of these games and they are appreciated by many players from Jamaica today when they choose games to play in online casinos.

All these and many other games are waiting for players from Jamaica in the best online casinos of the world. They can make real money bets and get unbelievable winnings playing them. However, if you feel not confident and want to have some practice before you dive into the real money casino, you can try demo modes of hundreds of different casino games on our website.

Online Gambling Laws and Regulations in Jamaica

The main law which regulates gambling both land-based and remote one was passed in 2012 and is called The Casino Gaming Act. This law has provided the Betting, Gaming, and Lotteries Commission with the right to issues licenses to casino operators and regulate gaming in Jamaica.

Is online gambling allowed in Jamaica?

The answer to this question is ambiguous since Jamaica has gambling legislation which allows not only playing in casinos on the territory of this state but also license operators who want to provide gambling services. However, there is one important thing to remember: only tourists and guests of Jamaica can visit and use gambling destinations on the island. The same goes for any domestically-licensed online casino – only overseas clients can play games there.

Local citizens of Jamaica are not allowed to participate in any online gambling activity since it is considered illegal but still not punished according to the law. Neither local land-based nor domestically-licensed online casinos accept residents of Jamaica for an exciting trip to the world of gambling. However, there are no limits of using offshore gambling platforms for every citizen of Jamaica.

What is the main gambling law regulating online gambling in Jamaica?

The current law which regulates gambling in Jamaica is the Casino Gaming Act. It provides information about the Casino Gaming Commission and its functions, the issue of casino licenses including employment ones, casino operations, enforcement, and inspections, approval of games, rules, and equipment used, taxes, offenses, and penalties and many other issues connected with this field.

The main functions of the Gaming Commission include:

• The regulation and control of the industry;
• Approval of the systems of control, administrative and accounting procedures;
• Investigation of the casino operation;
• Institution of measures and controls to guarantee safe and responsible gambling etc.

The Gaming Commission is also responsible for issuing licenses, so one of its responsibilities is also to ensure if an applicant is suitable and capable of managing this type of business. There are 4 types of licenses issued: Casino Operator Gaming, Employee, Casino Equipment Vendor, and Casino Equipment Employee licenses. The license is given for a period of 5 years and requires an applicant to deposit $250,000 as a licensing fee and $50,000 for every gaming table. The annual licensing fee for casinos in Jamaica is at the same rate too.

The gross gaming revenue is taxed at 10% according to the law, while amendments to the act made in 2014 also allowed to bet on horse racing and tracks via text and mobile phones, so it helped to increase profits more.

The regulation of online gambling in Jamaica is still not perfect, so the BGLC is working on the new regulation framework concerning online gambling institutions. Special attention is paid to the security of money transactions and fraud prevention. The efforts to introduce a new set of laws were made in 2014 by the Ministry of Finance in Jamaica, but still, they were not successful.

Best Deposit Methods for Gamblers from Jamaica

Despite being a small island country, Jamaica has a very developed gambling industry, so it is not surprising that there are many comfortable ways of depositing money to the casino accounts. Casino operators put much effort to diversify online payment methods trying to attract more partners and offer a bigger number of fast and cheap deposit methods to their customers.

How can you make a financial transaction in Jamaica?

1. Credit/debit cards

The method of choice in Jamaica is different credit and debit cards. It is a safe and comfortable way of depositing cash and does not require additional efforts. Most widely-used cards are MasterCard, Visa, Visa Electron and others.

2. Prepaid options

It is very popular in the Caribbean region to use prepaid options for depositing money. Every user can fund the account using a bank card or account and transfer a necessary amount of money to the casino account. Such transactions are secure and quick. The most popular services in Jamaica are ecoPayz, ClickAndBuy, Entropay, BillExpress etc.

3. E-wallets

There is no sense to argue that e-wallets remain one of the most comfortable ways to transfer money to the casino account. It is enough to enter the wallet of the recipient and the sum to be transferred to complete the transaction successfully. Money is delivered to the recipient’s account almost instantly, so there is no need to wait for hours or days. The most appreciated electronic payment systems in Jamaica are PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, etc.

4. Cryptocurrency

Today, there is hardly anyone who will be surprised by the desire to deposit in BitCoin. Most of the casinos in Jamaica accept cryptocurrency since it is the fastest and the cheapest way of depositing. Moreover, other popular cryptos such as LiteCoin, Ethereum, BitcoinCash are also often accepted, but don’t forget to check your casino!

Accepted Currencies in Jamaica

The official currency of Jamaica is the Jamaican dollar. The responsibility for the circulation of this currency lies in the Bank of Jamaica, but both notes and coins are produced in Britain.

Pound sterling used to be the official currency of the state by 1968, but still, even new dollar introduced in the country reminded old British banknotes. However, they are adorned with the portraits of famous people of Jamaica and are much more colorful.

Though the country has its official currency, there are still major tourist areas that accept the US dollar too. The reason for that is proximity to the US as well as the fact that the American dollar is considered to be an international currency.

If we analyze the list of currencies accepted in the casinos of Jamaica, it is natural that the leading positions will be taken by the American dollar and the UK pound sterling. There are also gambling platforms that have a much more extensive list of currencies to make deposits, so sometimes there is no necessity to exchange your currency to be able to play in a casino of Jamaica. It would be reasonable to check if this currency is accepted by the casino you have chosen and if yes, make your deposit without any doubts.

In addition to national currencies to play for on the gambling platforms of Jamaica, there are also widely accepted crypto coins used for betting. It is even possible to find several crypto casinos in Jamaica because this trend is the leading one in the gambling industry. That is why you can be confident to play in the online casino of Jamaica if you possess Bitcoins, Litecoins, Ethereum, or BitcoinCash.

Customer Support

It is not a rarity that online casino gamblers may have inquiries or suggestions, so every online gaming destination in Jamaica has a professional customer support team to help them resolve any issues. It makes no difference whether you are a registered casino player from Jamaica or a person who wants to get several answers to the questions before sign-up, experienced casino employees are always online to assist you with any challenges you face. They can answer your questions, solve any issues connected with playing on the website licensed in Jamaica, as well as listen to your suggestions for further discussions with the managers.

Modern customer support representatives in Jamaica can be accessed in several simple ways:

• Chat: it works round the clock seven days a week and involves live communication with a casino representative;
• Email: customers can write and send a letter to the casino customer support staff, but these inquiries usually require more time for analysis and feedback;
• Phone: clients can call the casino employees and discuss the question they are interested in;
• Filling the back form: customers are asked to provide their personal, contact information and explain the reason for the application. The casino staff will contact a customer as soon as possible;
• FAQ: a chance to find the solution to the problem yourself looking through the most frequently answered questions and answers to them.

Predictions About the Future of Online Gambling in Jamaica

Today, the future of online gambling in Jamaica is quite predictable. The reason for that is not only following the world’s gambling trends such as the introduction of virtual reality and artificial intelligence in the industry, making accent on mobile gambling, increasing the percentage of live casinos etc. but also the consideration of the plans announced by the authorities of Jamaica at the 7th Caribbean Gaming Show and Summit.

The government of Jamaica is planning to introduce a new regime of licensing and supervising online casinos in Jamaica. The main goal of such a decision is the promotion of the domestic industry and the strengthening of the country’s budget.

This legislation will cover the whole iGaming sphere and unite 3 basic regulatory bodies such as the BGLC, the Casino Gaming Commission and the Jamaica Racing Commission into one entity entitled the Jamaica Gaming Commission. This body will take responsibility for the whole gambling industry in Jamaica and undertake actions that will lead to the growth of revenue and improvement in the security of players. Moreover, the main task set for this body is to introduce a new set of regulations regarding online casino operation and prevent different illicit activities such as money laundering, for example, in this sphere.

One more goal of the authorities in Jamaica is to bring integrated resort experience to the tourists providing them with safe and reliable gambling institutions offering their services both on land and online. Besides, they want to provide players with the opportunity to use interactive casinos that offer several different products at the same time. The document which is discussed at the moment will also focus on many important details connected with the field of gambling in Jamaica and will be probably signed soon too.

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