DraftKings announces launch of Puerto Rico online sportsbook

Abi Bray

24 February 2026 at 6:53am UTC-5

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DraftKings launched its online sportsbook in Puerto Rico on February 23, following a retail launch in November at Foxwoods El San Juan Casino.

Online betting is only available to Puerto Rico residents, and those who wish to use it must register in person at the casino first.

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Those who register will have full access to DraftKings’ online sportsbook features, including in-game wagering and in-game parlays across a number of sporting events, including the MLB, NFL, and NBA.

DraftKings Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sports Gregory Karamitis said, “Puerto Rico has a passionate sports community, and launching our online sportsbook allows us to meet fans where they are. With retail already live at Foxwoods El San Juan Casino, mobile represents the next step in expanding the DraftKings experience across the island – giving eligible local customers a seamless, exciting, and responsible way to engage with sports.”

According to DraftKings, responsible gaming is also at the forefront of the launch, with the operator highlighting its responsible gambling tools, My Budget Builder and My Stat Sheet, which will also be available through its Responsible Gaming Center.

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In Arkansas, DraftKings, along with online sportsbook FanDuel, has recently submitted applications to partner with two of the three state casinos to launch their online sportsbook apps.

Abi Bray brings strong researching skills to the forefront of all of her writing, whether it’s the newest slots, industry trends or the ever changing legislation across the U.S, Asia and Australia, she maintains a keen eye for detail and a passion for reporting.

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The Backstory

Why Puerto Rico is the next test for U.S. sportsbooks

Puerto Rico’s online sports betting market is moving from concept to competition, with operators layering mobile products on top of retail footholds established since legalization in 2019. The island’s regulatory structure, which requires in-person registration at a partnering casino for online access, is shaping how national brands roll out features and market to local fans. That on-the-ground prerequisite, while adding friction, also ties sportsbooks more closely to hotel-casino partners and tourism corridors in San Juan where most prospective bettors live, work or visit.

Operators are not taking a uniform approach to eligibility or product positioning. One rival has opened its digital doors to visitors and tourists 18 and older after debuting a retail counter with CAGE Puerto Rico II in San Juan, requiring customers to register in person before betting online. The company has leaned on a slate of familiar tools to attract and retain new bettors, from same-game parlays to customer education and round-the-clock support. Its emphasis is clear: speed up the learning curve and transplant proven features into a new jurisdiction with minimal friction. That strategy, combined with retail presence, creates a funnel from casino foot traffic into the mobile app within Puerto Rico’s borders.

In this environment, product parity is not enough. The contest is over distribution, brand signals and who can best navigate the island’s mix of resident and visitor demand. National headlines and team tie-ins matter because they prime customers well before they step on the casino floor for in-person sign-up. The stakes are significant: Puerto Rico offers a gateway into a Spanish-speaking, sports-centric market that consumes MLB, NBA and combat sports while also drawing heavy tourist turnover. The brands that set habits early could lock in share as the market matures.

Rivals sharpen the pitch with features and access

FanDuel has been explicit about its playbook for Puerto Rico. After launching a retail sportsbook with CAGE Puerto Rico II in San Juan, the operator rolled out online access to anyone 18 or older within island borders, including tourists, contingent on in-person registration at the retail location. The company is importing its hallmark features, including same-game parlays, cash-out and a personalized spending dashboard, and bolstering it with education tools like Sports Betting 101 and its Pulse newsletter. That combination of betting utility and tailored onboarding is designed to broaden the local base while converting out-of-market visitors who are already familiar with the brand from the mainland United States.

By foregrounding accessibility and self-service support, FanDuel’s online launch in Puerto Rico underscores a practical reality: digital growth will rely on a steady stream of in-person registrations tied to retail partners. The operator’s strategy suggests a bet that fast feature parity and front-loaded education will reduce churn among first-time bettors in a new jurisdiction while keeping higher-value customers engaged during peak sports calendars.

Fantasy operators move to legitimize and expand

Daily fantasy sports is also knitting itself into Puerto Rico’s legalized ecosystem. PrizePicks, which positions its fantasy contests as distinct from traditional sports betting, has secured gaming licenses in Puerto Rico and Maine and billed itself as the first operator to gain licensure in Puerto Rico. Its fantasy platform Arena is already live in Maine, with Puerto Rico operations slated to follow. If executed as planned, PrizePicks’ licensure in Puerto Rico would extend the company’s reach to 47 U.S. jurisdictions while offering another digital channel competing for sports fan attention on the island.

The company has framed its regulatory momentum alongside responsible play initiatives, noting iCAP accreditation from the National Council on Problem Gambling and a recent marketing deal with Klutch Sports to deepen fan engagement. For Puerto Rico, the arrival of licensed fantasy contests adds another vector of consumer choice that can coexist with sportsbooks but also siphon casual users seeking lower-friction, pick-style gameplay. It also pressures traditional operators to keep promotional and product strategies aligned with evolving local rules and consumer tastes.

Integrity and responsibility become market differentiators

The island’s regulators and casino partners are signaling that responsible gambling and integrity are not sidebars to growth but a prerequisite. In San Juan, BetMGM teamed with ambassador and former NBA guard Carlos Arroyo and Casino del Mar to stage Puerto Rico’s first responsible gambling training for professional athletes since legalization. The June 30 session at La Concha Resort featured the lived experience of Stevin “Hedake” Smith, a former college standout whose career was derailed by a betting scheme in the 1990s and who now educates athletes on harm prevention and integrity.

The training drew players from the Vaqueros de Bayamón and Brujas de Guayama, sports federation officials and the island’s Gaming Commission. BetMGM’s initiative with Casino del Mar underscores how integrity and consumer safeguards are being embedded at the onset of market growth rather than added later under pressure. That posture influences how operators market to fans, shape product limits and communicate risk, especially in a jurisdiction where in-person verification concentrates brand interactions at casino venues.

National media muscle changes the calculus

DraftKings’ national positioning is evolving in ways that could reverberate in Puerto Rico. After ESPN ended its arrangement with Penn Entertainment, the network struck a deal to make DraftKings the official sportsbook and odds provider across ESPN properties starting Dec. 1, with deeper integrations expected in 2026. The agreement brings exclusive product placement inside ESPN’s app and programming, plus cross-promotion tied to the network’s new direct-to-consumer offering. Analysts framed the move as a rationalization for Penn while solidifying DraftKings’ access to mainstream sports audiences at scale.

The companies say the pact will emphasize responsible gaming messaging across high-visibility assets. As DraftKings becomes ESPN’s official sportsbook and odds provider, the branding lift and product hooks could aid customer acquisition in smaller jurisdictions where retail sign-up is required. Fans encountering lines and promotions through ESPN content may be more inclined to complete on-property registration when they travel or attend events, particularly in tourist hubs like San Juan.

Team partnerships prime fans for betting adoption

Team-level sponsorships continue to drive pre-launch education and responsible play messaging that can carry into new markets. The NHL’s St. Louis Blues named DraftKings an official partner in advance of Missouri’s Dec. 1 sports betting start, with a commitment to in-arena content focused on safe gambling and support tools like activity trackers and budgeting features. The tie-up, which builds on DraftKings’ NHL relationship since 2021, also grants marketing rights and visibility across team media and venues.

While Missouri and Puerto Rico are different markets, the approach signals a template: seed responsible gambling habits alongside feature promotion before or during market openings, then convert interest into app usage once legal frameworks allow. Such activations serve as a proving ground for messaging and user tools that can be replicated in other jurisdictions. The St. Louis Blues partnership with DraftKings highlights how operators are bundling brand awareness, safety education and product capabilities to meet regulatory expectations and consumer scrutiny.

Taken together, Puerto Rico’s rollout shows the contours of the next phase in U.S. sports betting and fantasy: local compliance with retail-first onboarding, national media integrations to funnel demand and a visible commitment to responsible play. The operators that balance those elements most effectively will have the edge as the island’s bettors choose their default apps and habits harden ahead of the next sports calendar.