Crypto Casino
Torrent Gear
El Salvador Online Casino
El Salvador is a small but booming Central American country where gambling is officially legal but tightly controlled. The legislation does not cover online gambling directly, but the activities of land-based casinos and lotteries are legal, and international operators freely accept players from the country.
In recent years, El Salvador has become increasingly open to digital investment and crypto technologies, which creates fertile ground for the development of the modern online casino market.
Legislative framework
The basic regulation of gambling in El Salvador is based on two laws:- Ley de Juegos y Apuestas (Gambling Act, 2002) - regulates casinos, lotteries and bookmakers;
- Ley Orgánica de la Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia (National Charity Lottery Act) - administers the state lottery and raffles.
- Ministerio de Hacienda (Ministry of Finance) and
- Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia (LNB) is a National Lottery under state supervision.
An important nuance: the law does not contain a provision on online gambling, but does not directly prohibit it, which allows local players to use international platforms.
Licensing
Gambling licences in El Salvador are issued by the Ministry of Finance and cover:- land-based casinos and gaming halls;
- bookmakers;
- lottery and raffle companies.
- Curaçao eGaming;
- Belize Gaming Control Board;
- Panama Gambling Authority;
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA);
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission (Canada).
- incorporation in El Salvador;
- financial stability test;
- installation of certified gaming equipment;
- payment of the fee - about $25,000 USD;
- annual audit.
Taxation
The taxation system for gambling in El Salvador is relatively moderate:- 30% income tax (ISR);
- 13% value added tax (IVA);
- fixed license fees for casinos and bookmakers;
- players are not taxed on winnings if they are received legally.
Part of the tax revenue from lotteries and casinos goes to social and educational programs implemented through Lotería Nacional.
Online gambling
Although there is no national law on online gambling, Salvadorans play freely on foreign licensed sites.
Local authorities do not block international domains, which makes the market open and competitive.
Popular online casinos in El Salvador:- Bet365, 1xBet, Stake, Codere, Betano, Betway, 22Bet, Sportingbet, LeoVegas, Spin Casino.
- video slots and jackpots;
- live games with real dealers;
- poker (Texas Hold'em, Omaha);
- roulette and blackjack;
- sports betting on football, baseball and esports;
- online lotteries and bingo.
The LatAm Gambling Report (2024) estimates that online gambling in El Salvador exceeds $120 million USD per year, and the number of active players reaches 300,000.
Land-based casinos
Casinos in El Salvador operate legally with a license. Most of them are concentrated in the capital and tourist areas:- Casino Siesta San Salvador is one of the oldest and most popular casinos;
- Casino New York (San Salvador);
- Casino Colonial Santa Ana;
- Fantastic Casino (online);
- Royal Casino El Salvador.
Gambling halls and slots are often combined with hotels and restaurants aimed at tourists from Central America and the United States.
Payment methods
The main currency is the US dollar (USD), which greatly simplifies transactions with international casinos.
Popular payment methods:- Visa, MasterCard, American Express;
- PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz;
- AstroPay, Paysafecard;
- bank transfers through BAC, Davivienda, Banco Agrícola;
- cryptocurrencies (BTC, USDT, ETH) - are legal and actively used after the adoption of Bitcoin as the national currency in 2021.
El Salvador became the first country in the world where Bitcoin has official legal status, which opened the door for crypto casinos and Web3 platforms.
Responsible play
Although Responsible Gaming legislation is in its infancy, major international brands are implementing their own standards:- age limit - 18 +;
- limits on deposits and losses;
- temporary blocking and self-exclusion;
- dependency risk warnings.
The organizations Fundación Vida Sana and Programa Juego Responsive Centroamérica run prevention campaigns and advise players facing addiction.
Economic importance
Gambling makes a notable contribution to El Salvador's economy:- more than $50 million in tax revenue annually;
- more than 2,500 jobs in casino, IT and service industries;
- developing tourism infrastructure, especially in San Salvador and Santa Ana;
- growing interest of foreign investors after the legalization of cryptocurrencies.
Online gambling is considered by the government as one of the promising sources of foreign exchange earnings and digital transformation.
Challenges and challenges
The main market difficulties are:- the absence of a national law regulating online gambling;
- a weak system of licensing and player protection;
- dominance of offshore operators without local reporting;
- risk of addiction and lack of prevention programs.
- the creation of the National Gambling Agency (Agencia Nacional de Juegos);
- issuing online casino and betting licenses;
- the introduction of a 20% tax on GGR;
- Responsible Gaming mandatory measures;
- control of crypto operators.
Development prospects
El Salvador has all the conditions for the formation of a regional online gambling center.
Expected government steps:- adoption of a law on online games and betting;
- implementation of a transparent licensing system;
- development of a national crypto infrastructure for casinos;
- attracting foreign iGaming companies;
- integration with international payment systems.
Due to the use of bitcoin, high internet penetration and a liberal economy, El Salvador has the potential to become the first completely crypto-friendly jurisdiction for online casinos in Central America, combining traditional gambling with Web3 technology and safe government regulation.
