Tim Alper is a journalist who covers betting news and regulation for CasinoBeats. He joined the CasinoBeats team in May 2025. He reports on breaking news and developments in the world of betting, casinos, and...
Read Full BioPuerto Rico sports betting volumes rose by 100% in the past 12 months, the Puerto Rico Games Commission says, with basketball and baseball spurring growth at sportsbooks.
The commission informed the media outlet El Vocero that, during the fiscal year 2024-2025, Puerto Ricans wagered a total of over $313 million.
This represents a 99.7% rise from the 2023-2024 figures, when bettors placed wagers worth approximately $157 million.
Puerto Rico Sports Betting: The Serrano Effect
While the volume increase has led to a small rise in gambling tax revenues, the gains for the state have been relatively modest.
Commission executive Loraine Irizarry stated that in the period from 2024 to 2025, sports betting-related tax revenues increased by just over $32,000 to $2,178,951.
Sportsbook operators claim that the growing popularity of Puerto Rican professional sports and athletes has led to an increase in betting activity.
Ismael Vega, the general manager at Casino Metro, said that out that sports leagues such as the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) and major boxing bouts were “determining factors” in the rise of sports betting.
The 12-team BSN continues to draw basketball fans. Boxing revenues also appear to be on the rise, thanks in no small part to Puerto Rican star Amanda Serrano.
Earlier this month, Serrano fought Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden in New York in one of the year’s most highly anticipated bouts.
Local Interest Spurred by Puerto Rico’s Stars
Puerto Rican sportspeople have also achieved fame in the United States, with notable players in the NBA and MLB. Vega said: “Obviously, when there are local leagues like the BSN, and major fights like Amanda Serrano’s, that all helps. The public is more motivated when one of our own is involved.”
The commission has yet to disclose data on betting revenues for the Serrano-Taylor fight.
Vega said that events like these also drive football in casinos as fans choose to watch games and bouts on big screens.
Major international sports events held nearby, such as the Club World Cup, have also contributed to revenue rises, operators say.
Nine Operators Dominate Market
The regulator reports that it has thus far issued nine sports betting operating licenses. Four of these permit holders are casino operators.
Tax revenues are added to the Treasury’s General Fund. The government has targeted a General Fund budget of $13.1 billion for the present financial year.
The commission regulates all gambling-related activity in the country, including online platforms, horse racing, pro team sports betting, and land-based slot machines.
Sigfrido de Jesús, the General Manager of Casino del Mar and BetMGM Sportbook, said that online betting was on the rise “in all jurisdictions,” with clients showing a clear preference for app and website-based betting.
De Jesús said the operator has already experienced year-on-year growth of 40% this year, with a rise in BSN betting. He forecasted that this growth would continue into next year.
In January this year, the gambling operator Aristocrat Gaming launched an NFL-themed slot portfolio in Puerto Rico. The rollout was Aristocrat’s first outside of the continental United States.
