We wanted to align with the best possible partner that would provide deep, localized knowledge of the market. We found that partner in Casino Metro, which has a strong brand and customer base in the Puerto Rico market.
Mobile sports betting could finally be coming to Puerto Rico in 2023.
That’s according to Caesars Entertainment, which announced Wednesday that it would open a retail sportsbook at the largest casino on the island, Casino Metro. The property is located in San Juan, the capital of the unincorporated US territory.
While Caesars announced that its partnership with Casino Metro would create a retail sportsbook under the brand “MetroBets with Caesars Sportsbook” at the property — complete with three betting windows and 12 self-service kiosks — the company also said that it “plans to launch the Caesars Sportsbook mobile app in Puerto Rico in 2023, subject to regulatory approvals.”
Caesars Digital President Eric Hession said that as the company “pursued sports betting in Puerto Rico under its unique framework, we wanted to align with the best possible partner that would provide deep, localized knowledge of the market.
“We found that partner in Casino Metro, which has a strong brand and customer base in the Puerto Rico market.”
Casino Metro is owned and operated by Interlink, a real estate firm whose portfolio includes properties across Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
After the retail sportsbook opens at Casino Metro, Caesars said it plans to expand the MetroBets with Caesars Sportsbook brand “to other satellite wagering locations in local businesses throughout the commonwealth, as permitted by Puerto Rico law, reaching a diverse customer base.”
It’s unclear whether the mobile sports betting product Caesars launches on the island will be called Caesars Sportsbook PR or something else. The app could have a MetroBets skin.
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Regulator Has Issued Seven Licenses
Although retail and mobile sports betting both became legal on the island in 2019 following passage of HR 2038, the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission (PRGC) only began issuing sports betting licenses last month.
PRGC issued five temporary and two permanent licenses in November. The licenses collectively went to three operators, three service providers, and one technology provider.
Specifically, the five temporary licenses were awarded to operators Ballers Puerto Rico Sportsbook LLC, Liberman Media Group Gaming LLC, and CCHPR Hospitality LLC (Casino Metro); service provider Continent 8 Technologies PR LLC; and technology platform provider Caesars Digital PR.
Service providers Swish Analytics Puerto Rico and US Integrity received permanent licenses from the PRGC.
Under HR 2038, retail sports wagering is taxed at 7%, while mobile and online wagers will be taxed at 12%. The original version of the bill called for tax rates of 6% and 11.5%, respectively.
BetMGM Also Has a Presence in Puerto Rico
Caesars is the second sportsbook to launch in Puerto Rico.
BetMGM announced on February 11 that it had opened a temporary retail sportsbook at Casino del Mar at La Concha Resort, also in San Juan.
At the time, BetMGM said it would open 12 kiosks and five betting windows at the beachfront resort, with plans to open a “full-scale BetMGM retail sportsbook” later in the year. The operator also announced it would “launch its mobile betting app in Puerto Rico in the months ahead as well.”
More than 10 months later, BetMGM Sportsbook PR has yet to launch. A representative for the operator did not return a message seeking comment on when it would launch its online sportsbook in puerto rico.
