Cuba gambling laws for operators: illegal to offer
All forms of gambling have been strictly prohibited since the 1959 revolution. No legal or regulated market exists. The most prevalent activity is the illegal 'La Bolita' numbers game. Access to all offshore gambling sites is illegal and actively blocked by the state.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Cuba is available on request. Request it
Product by product
| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| Online betting · Online casino · Online poker · Lottery | Banned |
Regulator and player protection in Cuba
Heads-up for operators
2 items
Ongoing Internet Censorship and Blocking
The Cuban government continues its policy of internet censorship, which includes blocking access to offshore gambling websites as part of its broader control over information.
Source: 1
No legislative reforms are pending. The comprehensive 1959 ban on all gambling remains in place, and the government continues to block access to offshore gambling websites.
Not yet in force: drafts, laws adopted without a start date, and sections of the law still to be commenced. An item moves to the timeline below on the day it takes effect.
Licence Types in Cuba
| Licence | Regulator | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| No gambling licences issued | — | — | All gambling banned since 1959. |
Gambling tax and fees in Cuba
No legal gambling industry exists in Cuba.
Year-1 cost: Not applicable
Not applicable. There is no legal framework for gambling in Cuba, and therefore no application fees, license fees, or GGR taxes.
| Line item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All Licence Types | Not applicable Source2 | All forms of gambling are illegal. The state does not issue licenses and there is no regulatory body or fee schedule. |
There is no legal path to operate in Cuba.
Which foreign licences Cuba accepts
Cuba recognises none of these 8 foreign licences.
BannedMalta (MGA) · United Kingdom (UKGC) · Gibraltar (GRA) · Isle of Man (GSC) · Curaçao · Kahnawake (KGC) · Anjouan (AGB) · Alderney (AGCC)
All offshore gambling is illegal in Cuba; the state actively blocks access to unlicensed sites.
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses banned
Given the blanket prohibition on all forms of gambling in Cuba, there are no specific regulations governing iGaming bonuses or promotions. The overarching legal framework deems all gambling-related activities, including advertising and player inducements, to be illegal and subject to criminal penalties.
- Welcome bonus
- Banned
- VIP schemes
- Banned
- Loyalty schemes
- Banned
- Cashback
- Banned
- All verticals are banned
All player promotions are banned as they are considered an inducement to participate in an illegal activity.
- Channels off-limits
- All advertising channels
- Penalties
The Cuban Penal Code provides for penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment for operating illegal gambling establishments.
The promotion of gambling establishments and activities is a criminal offense. The lack of a regulated market means enforcement focuses on shutting down illegal operations rather than fining licensed operators for compliance breaches.
How Cuba enforces against unlicensed operators
Enforcement primarily targets domestic operators of illegal games like La Bolita and state-level internet censorship. While the Penal Code allows for fines and imprisonment for participation, action against individual online players is reportedly rare. The main risk for remote operators is being blocked by the state-controlled ISP.
- The Cuban Penal Code penalizes participation in illegal gambling with fines or imprisonment of one to three years.
- Enforcement against La Bolita bookies involves arrests, though the practice is widespread and often tolerated locally.
- There are no public records of Cuban authorities successfully prosecuting or fining offshore online operators.
- Internet access is controlled by the state-owned ETECSA, which implements government-directed blocking of websites.
Licensed operators: none
As of 2 Jun 2026, no operator holds an active online licence in Cuba.
Traps operators hit in Cuba
Specific operational risks that have caught new entrants in this market. Each item is country-specific. Generic gambling-ops issues (KYC, RG tools) are not included unless they have a local twist.
Operating in a 'Black' Market, Not a 'Grey' One
Unlike a 'grey' market where online gambling is unregulated but not explicitly illegal, Cuba is a 'black' market where all gambling is criminally prohibited. Any operator targeting Cuba is engaging in an activity deemed illegal by the state, which exposes any local partners or payment channels to severe legal risk.
State-Controlled Internet & Payment Blockades
All telecommunications are state-controlled, so ISP-level website blocking is the primary tool of enforcement against offshore operators. The centralised economy and banking system make processing payments exceptionally difficult, and operators are often forced to rely on high-risk methods like cryptocurrency.
Sources1
Association with Criminal Enterprise
The only existing gambling culture is the illegal La Bolita network, which is a form of organized crime. Any operator entering the market would be competing with or perceived as being part of this criminal ecosystem, with significant reputational and legal risks.
Sources6
Timeline: rules in force
- 2022
Central Bank Regulates Virtual Assets
The Central Bank of Cuba formally regulated the use of virtual assets, but this did not legalize their use for prohibited activities like gambling.
Source: 2
- 1959
Revolutionary Government Bans All Gambling
Fidel Castro's government outlawed all forms of gambling, closing casinos and banning the national lottery to eradicate the corruption of the prior regime.
Source: 1
- 1959-Present
Comprehensive Prohibition Remains in Effect
The total ban on gambling has remained in effect for over 60 years. The illegal 'La Bolita' numbers game persists as a widespread underground cultural institution.
Source: 6
- 1920s-1950s
Havana's 'Golden Age' of Casinos
Havana operated as a major international gambling destination, heavily influenced by American tourism and organized crime.
Source: 7
Operator myths vs reality in Cuba
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythCuba is an unregulated, grey market ripe for entry.
- MythA Curaçao or other international license provides legal cover to accept Cuban players.
- MythEconomic difficulties will soon force Cuba to legalize gambling for tourism revenue.
Markets that work like Cuba
Compared on what our records hold for each country: whether online casino, betting, poker and lottery are licensed, state-run or banned, the licensing model, what the operator tax is levied on and its band, how most advertising channels are treated, and how foreign licences are treated. A point we hold for only one of the two countries counts for nothing.
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Online casino, betting, poker and lottery banned; most ad channels banned; foreign licences mostly banned.
Methodology & sources
This page is a Quick AI overview: a summary of public information, not yet checked against the law or the regulator. Treat it as a starting point. It has not yet been through our Deep AI Scan.
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