Board games (roulette, blackjack, poker) - St. Lucia

In Short: What's Important to Know Before You Travel

The full board game scene on the island is limited. Tables have historically operated in Treasure Bay (Rodney Bay), but sources point to closures starting around 2020 or the site being converted to a "machines only" format; data are inconsistent and need to be checked on site.

Sandals and Royalton resorts in St. Lucia do not have their own casinos, so you should not count on "roulette in the hotel."

The basic law on games (Gaming, Racing and Betting Act) is valid, but online iGaming as a separate licensing mode is not locally regulated; this pushes players to offshore sites (including live tables).

Where to look for roulette and offline blackjack

Rodney Bay/Baywalk Mall (historically Treasure Bay). Guidebooks and catalogs described roulette/blackjack tables, but the relevance of this information is controversial: some sources speak of closure in 2020 and/or conversion to machine rooms. Check with the concierge and local communities before travelling.

Resort hotels. Sandals has a "no casino" policy, and Royalton Saint Lucia officially indicates that there are no casinos on site. This means no "home" tables and the need to check out/search for alternatives.

St Lucia poker: Are there cash games and tournaments?

In the pre-lockdown period, Treasure Bay mentioned the Poker Lounge (Hold'em/Omaha), but profile trackers now do not record regular tournaments. The situation is volatile: only private/episodic cash games are possible.

For guaranteed schedules, near alternatives are casino markets of neighboring Caribbean countries (for example, the Dominican Republic or the Bahamas), where the poker scene is integrated into resort complexes. (Comparative recommendation by region.)

Online alternative: live tables at offshore operators

Since there is no local online regulation, many tourists and residents use offshore platforms with live roulette, live blackjack and live poker (games against the dealer), where access is determined by the operator's license and not the laws of St. Lucia. Before the game, check the jurisdiction and terms of the ICC/conclusions.

Legal framework (in a nutshell)

Gaming, Racing and Betting Act - the current basis for offline; the updated edition is available in the Code of Laws (2023). The law does not create a separate "digital" circuit for iGaming.

Practical travel tips

1. Check the relevance of offline sites in Rodney Bay before leaving: online directories differ in status assessments. Large hotel concierges own the "last mile" of information.

2. Don't plan board games "inside" Sandals or Royalton - they don't have their own casinos. Arrange leisure at the expense of gastronomy, spa, diving and excursions, or go live online from offshore operators.

3. For poker and high limits, it is more logical to add neighboring Caribbean jurisdictions with sustainable casino infrastructure (DR/Bahamas) to the route. (Comparative recommendation.)

4. Online play without local license = offshore. Check license (MGA/Curaçao/IOM/Gibraltar, etc.), rules of responsible play, limits and KYC before deposit.

In St. Lucia, board games are presented offline in a limited way: the historic center of gravity - Treasure Bay in Rodney Bay - has a controversial/aging status; the leading resorts do not have their own casinos. If roulette, blackjack or poker are critical for you, plan either online live from offshore operators, or combine a vacation with a trip to neighboring Caribbean countries, where casino-resort is part of the standard product.