Online casinos accepting players from Bonaire

Bonaire is a Dutch island in the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. Together with Aruba and Curaçao, it forms the ABC Islands, which are approximately 80 km off the coast of Venezuela. Its capital is Kralendijk, often called Diver’s Paradise.

Online gambling is not prohibited, but it’s not regulated either. In such regions, offshore operators usually serve as an alternative to residents, however, there’s a catch. Taking a look at the list of restricted countries and territories (usually found in the official Terms of an online casino), you will notice that this territory is frequently among the prohibited ones.

So, people from this area who want to check out online casino games need to be very careful when choosing an operator. If Bonaire is listed among regions that are not allowed to create an account, play real-money games, and/or claim bonuses, switching to some other site is much wiser and safer.

Laws and Regulations

Before we discuss the gambling regulations in Bonaire, it is necessary to understand the island’s specific position. In December 2008, the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved as a unified political entity. Alongside Saba and Sint Eustatius, this territory became a special municipality- a Caribbean public body, within the country of Netherlands in 2010.

On the other hand, Aruba and Curaçao are autonomous, self-governing constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. As a matter of fact, Curaçao is one of the most popular gambling regulators, with numerous casinos holding its license. Ironically, licensees with Curacao certificates are not permitted to offer their services to residents of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, France, The Netherlands, Saba, Saint Martin, and Singapore, as well as in countries where gambling is strictly prohibited.

Although separate entities, these three islands must comply with Dutch law. Interestingly, the Netherlands opened its interactive market in October 2021, but the islands didn’t follow the example. None of them has regulated their respective iGaming markets yet.

Land-based casinos do exist, but they are permitted to operate only if connected to a hotel. Separate casinos are not permitted yet. License applications need to be filled with the local Executive Council of the desired island. The minimum gambling age is 21.

Being a small island, Bonaire is home to two land-based casinos. It’s interesting to add that Divi Flamingo Casino holds the reputation of the world’s only “barefoot casino”, as no shoes are needed to enter the premises.

Player Protection and Responsible Gambling Measures

Territories with unregulated iGaming sector usually have no player protection measures, as there’s no regulator they can submit a complaint to in case a problem appears. Complicating the situation additionally is something we already mentioned- Bonaire is often on the list of territories that are not permitted to play online casino games with some gaming platforms.

On the other hand, the Netherlands has multiple measures in place such as caps on bonuses, age limits for bonuses, as well as stringent policies on gambling-related ads. What’s even more, they often penalize operators who breach the rules, so players can be at ease regarding safety and protection.

If the territory is to regulate the iGaming industry at some point in time, they could definitely rely on the Netherlands’ system, as things seem to work quite fine there. Until that happens, here’s what players from Bonaire can do before registering and depositing:

• Check whether the casino itself has a license- it is usually located on the main page, in the footer
• Read the Terms and Conditions thoroughly so to ensure Bonaire is not on the list of restricted territories for registration and/or bonuses
• Look for responsible gambling tools and available channels of communication with the customer support department

Payment Methods and Banking

The official currency of Bonaire is the United States dollar, and the list of online casinos supporting USD is quite a large one. Other than the currency, players should also pay attention to available payment methods (cards, e-wallets…), min and max amounts per transaction, as well as accompanying fees.

In addition to this, take a look at the pending and processing time, which significantly vary from one casino to another. Whenever possible, a player should complete the ID verification during registration so to minimize the waiting period. When submitting the necessary documents, make sure they are valid and visible, so to avoid additional delays.

Cryptocurrencies are still not recognized as legal tender in this territory. Yet, people who visit offshore betting platforms can use them to deposit and/or withdraw funds from an online casino.

Having in mind that the island must comply with Dutch law, we could say that the fact that Coinbase won approval from Dutch Central Bank in September 2022 could be good news for residents of Bonaire as well. With this approval, the largest US cryptocurrency exchange will be permitted to offer services in the entire European Union.

What Should Players from Bonaire Pay Attention to When Selecting a Casino?

Looking for an online casino is often a stressful process, especially if a player comes from a territory that has no online gambling laws in place. However, a bit of investigation can increase the chances of ending up with a platform that truly fits your demands.

As mentioned earlier, a license is one of the most important factors to inspect before any other action on the website. Once you are sure that the website holds the license from a relevant regulatory institution, you can proceed.

Other than that, check all the info related to payments, as well as rules for promotions and bonuses. Take a look at the lobby, and see the list of featured games and providers. If you want an even more personalized experience, focus on online casinos which are available in the Dutch language.

Finally, the Internet itself is quite a valuable resource and an excellent tool, so don’t hesitate to use it maximally. There are so many platforms with casino reviews and forums where players share their thoughts, comments, and experiences from a certain casino. Read those to get an even better insight into the offering, have a couple of rounds in demo mode and then you will be able to evaluate which casino fits your demands.

Have fun and play responsibly!