Top Gambling Sites in The Bahamas - November 2024

Gambling Laws in the Bahamas

Gambling in the Bahamas is not legal for the residents of this state, although tourists have the right and opportunity to find entertainment in some of the luxurious casinos on this archipelago. Within the Bahamian gambling legislation, the Lotteries and Gaming Act and the Gaming Act from 2014 are considered to be the main regulatory acts of all gambling activities in the country. According to this act all forms of land-based and online gambling are not legal in the Bahamas when Bahamian citizens are concerned. Both types of gambling are, however, open for visitors to the country who are not Bahamian citizens. The regulatory body of the land-based and online activities in the country is The Gaming Board. This institution was formed back in August 1969, in accordance with the Lotteries and Gaming Act, 1969. One of the main tasks of the Gaming Board is to supervise the respect of the prohibition on gambling in the country for Bahamian citizens and regulate the work of the casinos operating for tourists. As online gambling is illegal in the country, no online licenses have been issued by this authority for operating on the online gambling market in the Bahamas.  According to Bahamian gambling laws minors, under 18 years of age are prohibited to participate in gambling activities in the country’s casinos.

Is Online Gambling Legal in the Bahamas? No. Online gambling in the Bahamas is illegal for Bahamian citizens. Foreigners however are free to gamble on international gambling sites available.

Online Casinos in the Bahamas

There are three licensed land-based casino operators in the Bahamas, as of August 2018, but none of them has launched internet casino sites. Atlantis Paradise Island Casino, Paradise Island, Crystal Palace Casino, Nassau, and Casino at Bahamia, Freeport are the casinos that make up the land-based gambling offer of the country bringing in the same time considerable incomes for the domestic economy. However, due to the prohibition on gambling for Bahamian citizens, there are no online casinos in the Bahamas. Foreign internet casino sites although accessible for everybody from the country can only legally be played by foreign citizens.

Online Poker in the Bahamas

Poker in the Bahamas is a regularly offered by all of the land-based casinos in the country. Atlantis Paradise Island Casino, Paradise Island, Crystal Palace Casino, Nassau, and Casino at Bahamia, Freeport organize some of the most attractive poker tournaments available however only for foreign citizens visiting the archipelago. Regarding online poker, however, there are no specific laws for online poker in the Bahamas, but the general regulations apply and online poker is considered to be illegal in the country when Bahamian citizens are concerned.

Online lottery in the Bahamas

Although there are no specific Bahamian online lottery laws, the regulations derived from the Lotteries and Gaming Act, serve as a basic legal framework that makes online lottery in the Bahamas illegal. Moreover, due to this act, there is not even a national lottery in the Bahamas operating through land-based shops. In 2017 there was a vivid discussion regarding the benefits that the establishment of a lottery will bring to the country. However not much has been done, as of August 2018, in direction of its formation.

Online bingo in the Bahamas 

There are no specific Bahamian online bingo laws. Therefore, general regulations regarding gambling games in the Bahamas apply and online bingo is considered to be illegal in the country for Bahamian citizens. Although, as of August 2018, there are no specialized sites for online bingo in the Bahamas, foreign online bingo websites can legally be accessed from this archipelago by non-Bahamian citizens. Citizens of the Bahamas are prohibited to access online bingo sites due to the general prohibition on gambling in the country.

Online sports betting in the Bahamas

Citizens of the Bahamas are generally prohibited from placing a wager on sports matches. Consequently, there are no online sportsbook sites in the Bahamas, licensed under the jurisdiction of this country. Foreign internet sportsbook sites, however, can be legally accessed by non-Bahamian residents on the archipelago. 

Online daily fantasy sports in the Bahamas

Online DFS sites in the Bahamas do not have legally regulated status. Considering the illegality of online sports betting in the country for Bahamian citizens, it is very probable that internet Daily Fantasy Sports would not receive a legal status in the Bahamas in near future.