According to data shared by the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission with EL VOCERO, during the 2024–2025 fiscal year — up to May — a total of $313,159,122 in wagers was recorded. This figure marks an increase of $156,350,101 compared to the 2023–2024 fiscal year, when $156,809,021 in sports bets were reported on the island — a 99.7% growth.

“This growth has positively impacted tax revenue, although the increase in government income hasn’t been as pronounced compared to the surge in gaming activity,” stated Loraine Irizarry, Director of the Sports Betting Bureau of the commission.

The executive noted that during the 2024–2025 fiscal year — up to May — sports betting generated $2,178,951 in government revenue. This figure represents a marginal increase of $32,038 compared to the 2023–2024 fiscal year, when $2,146,913 was collected.

“We maintain the expectation that the industry will continue to grow in a sustained and robust manner. However, we reiterate the call for betting to be practiced responsibly, as a form of entertainment. In this regard, the Gaming Commission has upheld a campaign that continues to promote responsible gaming. We trust that this growth will translate into real benefits, both for players and for Puerto Rico’s economic development, always within a framework of responsible gaming and regulatory compliance,” said Irizarry.

Relevant data: 100% the increase in sports betting plays compared to the previous fiscal year.

According to the director, there are nine sports betting operators, of which four are in turn casino operators. Proceeds go to the General Fund. The gaming commission is the government agency in charge of regulating and overseeing the gambling, equestrian, sports betting and on-road machine industries. It also regulates online betting.

Casinos react

For his part, the general manager of Casino Metro, Ismael Vega, noted that, sporting events such as the National Superior Basketball (BSN), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), recent boxing fights, have been determining factors for the rise and increase in sports betting.

"Obviously, when there are local things like the BSN, when there are fights of the same magnitude as Amanda Serrano's, it helps and the crowd gets more motivated because there's one of ours involved and representing us. That always brings a lot of sports action and a lot of visits to the casino to be able to watch the event," Vega commented.

He added that “on the day of Amanda’s fight, betting increased slightly more than usual.”

The commission has not yet released data on betting revenue from the Serrano fight held on July 11.

Meanwhile, Vega noted that sports are happening all over the world year-round—such as MLB, basketball, and the Club World Cup held in the United States—all of which have contributed to the growth of sports betting on the island.

This growth has had a positive impact on tax collection, although the increase in government revenue hasn’t been as significant compared to the rise in gaming activity.

Loraine Irizarry Director of the Sports Betting Bureau

“If we were to annualize from January to December, basketball in all its forms is the most bet-on sport. From the NBA to the WNBA, followed closely by MLB and then American football. Year after year, basketball remains the top sport for betting here in Puerto Rico, while in the United States, it’s American football,” Vega reported.

When asked how the betting activity has been at Casino Metro this year, Vega indicated that a 10% increase compared to the previous year can be secured. He explained that this increase is due to the incursion of the club soccer world cup in the United States, the fight of Amanda Serrano and because of the furor of the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the BSN.

For the general manager of Casino del Mar and BetMGM Sportbook, Sigfrido de Jesús, the growth in betting has been sustained, especially since the incursion of online gambling.

"In all jurisdictions it has been proven that the customer prefers that option. In our case, we have had a year-over-year growth of 40% in the volume of 'online' betting. Also, we have seen an increase in BSN betting versus the previous year," he said. will continue next year.