The best information about online casinos in Uruguay
Online casinos in Uruguay have been growing over time despite not having a specific regulation governing the rules of online gambling. This means that Uruguayan citizens have the possibility of registering in different international casinos, which have been operating for many years in other Latin American countries.
These are the points we will address in this article about online casinos available in Uruguay:
- Gambling and casinos in Uruguay: current regulation of gambling in the country.
- The passion for soccer is the origin of everything: this sport contributed to the growth of online gambling
- History of gambling and casinos in Uruguay: the evolution of online casinos
- Tips and recommendations for Uruguayan players: how to play in order to have a satisfactory gaming experience
Gambling and casinos in Uruguay
In Uruguay, the State has the monopoly for the exploitation of gambling. For this purpose, it counts on these two organisms:
- The General Directorate of Casinos (DGC): which is the public body in charge of managing all the casinos in the country.
- The National Directorate of Lotteries and Quinielas: which controls raffles, lotteries and other games related to lotteries.
However, in the case of commercial resorts, a mixed operation system is used. Therefore, the companies make the initial investment but it is the State that operates the gaming rooms.
As compensation, investors will receive a fixed annual payment. Since 2014 there has been a bill to end the monopoly of gambling in the country, however, it has not yet been approved.
On the other hand, online gambling is not contemplated in Uruguayan legislation, therefore, residents in the country will be able to access online casinos and betting houses that are international in nature without too many problems.
Passion for soccer is the origin of everything
Uruguay is a relatively small country located between Brazil and Argentina. In this territory there has always been a strong love for sports, especially for soccer.
And the fact is that Uruguay has a powerful soccer team at world level. This one stands out for having won multiple tournaments and international competitions, among them 15 America Cups and 2 World Cups.
With this great love for soccer and sports in general, one would expect that there would also be a great tradition in terms of sports betting, however, the percentage of users who bet is not as high as one would expect.
This situation is largely caused by the gambling exploitation model followed by the country.
But let's take an in-depth look at how gambling houses and casinos work in Uruguay so that you are informed of all the details.
History of gambling and casinos in Uruguay
Uruguay currently follows the traditional gambling exploitation system, which means that the direct exploitation of gambling is carried out by the State.
The body in charge of this is the General Directorate of Casinos (DGC). Therefore, it is an institution belonging to the Uruguayan government in charge of managing all activities related to betting and gambling.
In the case of tourist, commercial and/or cultural complexes, the operating system used by Uruguay is mixed.
Therefore, these companies make an initial private investment, but it is the General Directorate of Casinos that operates the casinos located in these complexes. In return, the investor will receive a fixed annual fee based on the room's productivity.
The bill that sought to end the monopoly of gambling in Uruguay.
Since 2014 there has been a bill that proposes to end the monopoly of gambling by the state.
For this purpose, a new body would be created: the National Directorate for the Control of Gambling and Betting, whose function would be to grant gambling licenses and supervise the activity of legal operators in Uruguay.
Likewise, the General Directorate of Casinos would be replaced by a new entity, the National Administration of State Casinos and Gambling, which would continue to be in charge of the direct operation of gambling by the State.
However, this bill as of today (2019) has not yet been approved and all these changes have not entered into force.
General Directorate of Casinos (DGC)
As we have already mentioned, the General Directorate of Casinos of Uruguay (DGC) is a public entity in charge of the operation and administration of gambling in the country.
As a public entity, the DGC has a social and economic commitment with the State. Among its main tasks and objectives we can highlight the following points:
- To manage the games of chance of the Casinos.
- Contribute to state revenue collection
- Promote and supervise activities related to gambling.
- To combat illegal gambling practices
A complete list of the casinos authorized in Uruguay, both those following the traditional exploitation model and those following the mixed model (i.e. those located in tourist and/or commercial complexes) can be consulted in the web page of this organism.
Two of the most important hotels with casinos are:
- In Montevideo: the Sofitel Hotel
- In Punta del Este: the Enjoy Hotel
Gambling and online casinos in Uruguay
Online gambling in Uruguay is neither regulated nor covered by current legislation. Therefore, users residing within the Uruguayan territory will not find too many restrictions when accessing different online casinos or gambling houses.
For them it will not be a problem to find gambling platforms with a great variety of products and also available in Spanish. Top 10 Online Casino Websites are a topic that is being talked about but so far the government has not yet taken action on the matter.
In Uruguay online casinos are neither legal nor illegal, but they are outside the laws of the country.
Therefore, as long as this situation remains as it is, Uruguayan users will be able to enjoy a wide range of international online casinos such as Betfair, Rivalo or 888casino.
Advice and recommendations for Uruguayan players
As we have already seen, in Uruguay online casinos are not contemplated in the country's laws. This has a good and a bad side. The positive part is that Uruguayan players can access a large number of international casinos.
However, the negative part is that there is no control by the State to help to know which online gambling portals are totally safe.
Given this situation, our recommendations for players residing in Uruguay are the following:
- Play only in recognized casinos
- Check their reputation in specialized sites
- Go to forums to know the experiences of other users.
- Use alternative payment methods to credit cards.
- Play in gambling portals available in Spanish.
It is also advisable that before starting to play in a casino you confirm that it accepts players from Uruguay and that its bonuses and promotions are valid for Uruguayan users. If you follow all these indications you will be able to play safely and securely.
