Comparison (DR-Cuba-Puerto Rico)

Comparison with Cuba and Puerto Rico

Brief map of differences

Parameter	Dominican Republic	Cuba	Puerto Rico
Offline casino	Allowed, developed resort and city halls	Generally prohibited; there are no "classic" casinos for the public	Allowed (in hotels and resort complexes)
Online games	Licensed market (.do, local office, KYC/AML)	Online gambling not allowed	Regulated: sports betting launched; iGaming partially/incrementally via local regulator
Tourist focus	Punta Cana/Bavaro, Santo Domingo, north coast	Historical/cultural tourism, sun/beaches; the gambling industry is almost non-existent	San Juan and resorts; combination of beach, culture and "American" service
To the player	Friendly limits, lots of all-inclusive with casinos, quick payouts y. do-operators	The gambling component is minimal; landmark - museums, music, retro cars	Classic hotel casinos, English-language service, well-known brands
To the operator	Transparent localization and technical requirements; good tourist flow	The market is de facto closed to gambling	Mature standards, proximity to the USA, but higher compliance costs

1) Legal regime and regulation

Dominican Republic

Offline casinos are legal and common (resort and city formats).

Online - there is a modern model with localization (.do-domain, local office/support, KYC/AML, technical certification).

Supervision - through the relevant division of the Ministry of Finance; course for "onshorization" and responsible play.

Cuba

After the revolution, the casinos were closed; there is no market gambling industry.

Online gambling is not legalized.

Tourists should not count on casino vacations as a product of the destination.

Puerto Rico

Offline casinos at hotels are legal, with a typical "lounge-resort" profile (roulette, blackjack, slots, poker versus casino).

The online segment develops around sports betting (retail and online); regulation is closer to the "continental" in terms of reporting and compliance standards.

2) Offline experience: halls, games and limits

DR: wide "fan" - from cozy halls at all-inclusive to flagships; slots, roulette (more often American), blackjack, baccarat, casino poker; in the capital - more choice of limits and "classic" urban style.

Cuba: there is no usual "evening" casino scene - a bet on music, dancing, bars, historical quarters.

Puerto Rico: hotel casinos with neat limits, English-language service, emphasis on comfort and safety.

3) Online: Availability and Payments

DR: in licensed. do-operators - paintings "Slots/Live/Jackpots/Crash," Spanish interface, maps/eWallet/stablecoins, quick cashouts (after KYC), visible bonus rules.

Cuba: There are no legal local online gambling sites.

Puerto Rico: legal online sports betting; digital casino product - step by step/point, with an emphasis on consumer protection and reporting.

4) Tourism and the economy

DR: casinos are strengthening the night economy, raising the average check, supporting the off-season, developing MICE and the VIP segment (Privé salons, host models).

Cuba: tourist product is built on culture/history/nature; the gambling component is missing as a driver.

Puerto Rico: "beach + city + casino" with American standard of service, strong momentum for conventions and events.

5) Benefits and risks for the player

DR: choose licensed. do-sites and famous resort halls; check the vager/limits; Use deposit and time limits.

Cuba: Not relying on gambling entertainment - focusing on the cultural agenda.

Puerto Rico: in hotel casinos - understandable rules and support; online sports betting - with permitted operators; comply with limits and KYC.

6) What matters to operators and investors

DR: an understandable "road map" for localizing online and updating the park of halls; synergy with all-inclusive and event tourism.

Cuba: There are no market conditions for the gambling industry.

Puerto Rico: mature compliance, US reputation bar, meaning - in premium hotels, congresses and partnerships with international brands.

7) Forecast 2025-2030

DR: further onshorization of online income, upgrade of live content and payments, strengthening the standards of responsible play.

Cuba: status quo (no major legalizations expected).

Puerto Rico: Stable "resort + casino + sports" with tightening compliance and MICE growth.

8) FAQ (short)

Can the beach and evening casino be combined on the same trip?

Yes - in DR and Puerto Rico. In Cuba, no, focus on the cultural program.

Where is easier with online games?

In DR - licensed. do-operators; Puerto Rico - legal online sports betting.

Which country is "friendlier" for a newcomer?

DR: lots of all-inclusive with casino and Spanish interface y. do-sites; Puerto Rico - English-language service and classic hotel rooms.

The Dominican Republic is the most "gaming" and diverse market of the three: developed resorts with casinos + a modern online model. Puerto Rico is a comfortable and predictable "hotel" format with legal sports rates and a high standard of service. Cuba is about culture and nature, not about excitement: you should not count on a casino here. For a tourist, the choice is simple: if you need a beach + evening casino + understandable online, take DR; if you want American service and hotel casinos, Puerto Rico; for an authentic culture without a casino - Cuba.