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Honduras Online Casino
Honduras is one of those Central American countries where gambling is not officially prohibited, but also not regulated at the state level. Land-based casinos operate on the basis of municipal permits, and online gambling exists in a legal vacuum, focusing on offshore licenses of Belize, Panama or Curaçao.
However, interest in iGaming is growing in the country, and the government is discussing reform that will take the industry out of the gray zone and turn it into a source of tax revenue.
Legislative framework
Gambling in Honduras is regulated in part.
The main document is the Ley de Loterías Nacionales y Juegos de Azar (Lottery and Gambling Law), passed in 1977. It establishes a state monopoly on lotteries and restricts private forms of gambling, but does not contain norms regarding online gambling.
The situation is as follows:- gambling is not directly prohibited, but requires permission from local authorities;
- there is no national regulator - licenses are issued at the municipal level;
- online gambling is not regulated, but it is not a criminal offense either;
- Lotteries are controlled by Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia de Honduras.
Thus, casinos and online operators operate virtually in a legal vacuum using international licenses.
Licensing
Since there is no centralized licensing mechanism, operators receive permits from municipal administrations that regulate only physical casinos and gaming halls.
In turn, online operators focused on the Honduran market operate under licenses:- Curaçao eGaming;
- Belize Gaming Control Board;
- Panama Gambling Authority (Junta de Control de Juegos);
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) - for international brands.
- incorporation in Honduras (Sociedad Anónima);
- payment of local license fee (average $2,000 - $5,000 per year);
- compliance with anti-money laundering rules (under the 2015 AML laws);
- existence of an agreement with a bank or financial intermediary.
Taxation
The tax system in the field of gambling is opaque, since there is no special legislation.
In general, general commercial rates apply:- 25% corporate income tax;
- 15% VAT (ISV);
- municipal licensing fees (2% to 5% of turnover).
Players do not pay tax on winnings if they participate in legal or offshore online games.
Online gambling
The online gambling industry in Honduras is not formally regulated, but is actively growing.
Players freely use international platforms, and offshore operators accept users without restrictions.
Popular sites among Hondurans:- Bet365, 1xBet, Betano, Codere, Stake, Betway, 22Bet, Caliente, Sportingbet, Pin-Up Casino.
Often, operators target a Spanish-speaking audience in Central America by offering interfaces and support in Spanish.
The main types of online entertainment:- video slots and live games;
- roulette, blackjack, poker;
- sports, esports and virtual match betting;
- bingo and online lotteries.
According to a report by LatAm Gaming Trends (2024), about 65% of active Honduran players place bets through mobile devices, and the volume of online gambling in the country is estimated at about $150-200 million USD per year.
Land-based casinos
Despite the lack of a clear legal framework, dozens of gambling establishments operate in Honduras.
They are concentrated in tourist and economically developed regions - Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Choluteca.
The most famous casinos in the country:- Casino Luxxor Tegucigalpa;
- Palace Casino San Pedro Sula;
- Casino Royale Tegucigalpa;
- Casino Atlantic;
- Las Vegas Casino La Ceiba.
These establishments offer slot machines, roulette, poker and blackjack. Part of the casino is owned by international chains and operates within the framework of tourist complexes and hotels.
Payment methods
The main currency is the Honduran lempira (HNL), but online operators predominantly use US dollars (USD).
Popular payment methods:- Visa, MasterCard;
- Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz;
- PayPal и AstroPay;
- bank transfers through Banco Atlántida and Ficohsa;
- OXXO and local replenishment points (through Mexico's partner networks);
- cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, USDT, Ethereum) - are actively used for deposits and payments.
Responsible play
There are no official Responsible Gaming programs in Honduras, but large online operators (for example, Bet365, Codere, Betway) provide standard player protection tools:- proof of age (18 +);
- setting limits on deposits and losses;
- self-exclusion functions;
- dependency risk warnings.
Some NGOs, such as Fundación Vida Libre and Asociación para el Juego Responsible, offer counselling and prevention programs supported by local universities.
Economic importance
Although gambling in Honduras is not an officially recognized industry, it contributes to the economy through:- tax revenues at the municipal level;
- development of the tourism sector (hotel casinos);
- creation of more than 3,000 jobs in the service and IT sectors;
- foreign investment in gaming platforms and offshore licenses.
According to experts, the total volume of the country's gambling market exceeds $300 million USD, of which about 60% falls on the online segment.
Challenges and challenges
The main market difficulties are:- lack of national law and regulatory authority;
- insecurity of players from fraud;
- a high proportion of illegal operators;
- limited control of financial flows;
- poor awareness of the risks of gambling.
- create a National Gambling Agency (Autoridad Nacional de Apuestas);
- introduce a licensing system for online casinos and bookmakers;
- establish a tax of 20% GGR;
- oblige operators to implement Responsible Gaming;
- block unlicensed sites.
Development prospects
Honduras is gradually moving towards legalization and regulation of online gambling.
Immediate prospects include:- introducing licenses modeled on Panama and Costa Rica;
- development of national online platforms under government control;
- digitalization of lotteries and the creation of a state gambling portal;
- integration with international payment systems and cryptoinfrastructure.
Thanks to the growing popularity of online entertainment, high Internet penetration and the interest of foreign operators, Honduras is able to become one of the new centers of gambling in Central America, combining offshore flexibility with a gradual transition to transparent regulation and social responsibility.
