There are no legal Ecuador casinos today. Casinos and slot halls have been banned since a 2011 national referendum, and attempts by President Daniel Noboa to bring them back in 2024 and 2025 did not reach the ballot. What Ecuador now does regulate is sports betting: licensing rules for online and retail sportsbooks were published in June 2026.
| Ecuador at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Land-based casinos | Banned since 2011 |
| Sports betting | Legal and licensed under rules published June 12, 2026 |
| Online casinos | No licensing framework |
| Betting taxes | 15% tax on online sports betting; 15% withholding on player winnings (2024 rules) |
| Last checked | November 2026 |
Why Ecuador Has No Casinos
Ecuador, which won its independence from Spain in 1822, had eight casinos and about 160 gaming halls before 2011. That ended under President Rafael Correa, who argued that gambling caused social harm. In a 2011 referendum, voters backed banning businesses dedicated to games of chance, including casinos and slot machine halls, and the venues were closed.
The ban covered physical gambling businesses. It did not set up rules for online gambling, which left online betting in a legal grey area for more than a decade.
Attempts to Bring Casinos Back
President Daniel Noboa has tried twice to put the question to voters again:
- 2024: A question on allowing casinos, gaming halls and betting businesses was included in his first referendum proposal, but Noboa withdrew it in January 2024, saying the debate was not timely.
- 2025: In August 2025 he proposed a new question on reopening casinos. The Constitutional Court rejected the first wording in September 2025 as unclear, and later approved a narrower version limited to casinos in five-star hotels. That question was not among the four put to voters on November 16, 2025, and voters rejected all four.
As of November 2026, the 2011 ban on casinos and slot halls remains in force.
Sports Betting Is Now Regulated
Ecuador began taxing online sports betting in 2024. A 15% tax on betting revenue took effect on July 1, 2024, Executive Decree 313 added a 15% withholding tax on player winnings, and the government lifted its ban on sports betting advertising.
A full licensing system followed. Regulations published on June 12, 2026, under the Organic Law of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation, created five-year licences for online and land-based sportsbooks, at a cost of about US$300,000. Operators that were already active get a 90-day window to obtain a licence, and transactions must be in US dollars. Sports betting is the only form of commercial gambling these rules cover.
Online Casinos in Ecuador
Ecuador does not license online casinos. The 2026 rules apply to sports betting only, so any casino site that accepts players from Ecuador is operating from abroad without an Ecuadorian licence, and players have no local regulator to turn to if there is a dispute. US readers can find offshore site reviews in the Gamboool online casino section.
Where to Gamble Instead
If you want a casino on a South American trip, neighbouring Colombia has legal casinos regulated by Coljuegos, and we also cover casinos in Peru. For a bigger casino trip from the US, see our guide to Las Vegas and Nevada. To learn the games before you go, see the Gamboool guides to slot machines, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, Caribbean stud poker, poker and other table games.
Ecuador Casinos FAQ
Are there casinos in Ecuador?
No legal ones. Casinos and slot halls have been banned since a 2011 referendum, and the ban was still in force in November 2026.
Is sports betting legal in Ecuador?
Yes. Online and land-based sports betting is licensed under rules published in June 2026, and betting has been taxed since 2024.
Are online casinos legal in Ecuador?
Ecuador has no licensing system for online casinos. Sites that accept Ecuadorian players are based abroad and are not regulated in Ecuador.
Will casinos come back to Ecuador?
Not soon. A casino question was dropped from a 2024 referendum, and a 2025 question on five-star hotel casinos did not make the November 2025 ballot.
Gamble responsibly. If you are in the US and gambling is causing problems, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.