Honduras has regulated land-based gambling since 1977 through the Ley de Casinos de Juegos de Envite o Azar, with licenses issued by the Honduran Institute of Tourism (1). Poker is legal in Honduras but restricted to licensed casino establishments in larger cities such as Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, where players can enjoy table games alongside other casino offerings (1). However, independent poker clubs are not permitted to operate as standalone businesses under current regulations.
When it comes to online poker and gambling, Honduras presents a different situation entirely. The online gambling sector remains unregulated, with no specific laws indicating whether it is legal or illegal to gamble online (1). This creates a grey area where Hondurans can access offshore poker sites without facing legal repercussions, though the government provides no player protections or responsible gambling measures (1). Countries like Honduras and Guatemala do not address online gambling in their legal framework, leaving the market in an unregulated state (2).
"On the unregulated side, a country like Bolivia may have a law passed, but doesn't have regulations in place, or there are countries like Honduras and Guatemala that do not address online gambling in their legal framework."
The challenges facing online poker regulation in Honduras are substantial. As the second poorest country in Central America, Honduras faces high levels of corruption and crime, making gambling regulation a low priority for the government (1). Without a comprehensive regulatory framework, players lack basic protections such as deposit limits and self-exclusion options. Players who wish to engage in online poker are advised to use licensed and reputable offshore sites, preferably those with established regulatory oversight from recognized jurisdictions.
Source:
https://www.igamingtoday.com/gambling-regulation-in-honduras/
https://www.vixio.com/blog/online-gambling-in-latin-america
Last updated: 04-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
