Venezuela hit the headlines in 2018 when its government not only created its own cryptocurrency but actively made it legal tender, on equal footing with the Venezuelan Bolívar. This, coupled with Venezuela’s adoption of a regulated gambling industry, should make it easy to bet with cryptos online. However, things are a bit more complicated than that.
While fully legal and licensed Venezuelan crypto gambling sites do exist, the country tries to force you to use its national crypto online instead of others. But to avoid the 34% tax on winnings, grab the largest bonuses, highest odds and a larger selection of slots you have to go only for offshore brands, which we have hand-picked for you.
Choosing to engage in Bitcoin gambling in Venezuela is most certainly advantageous. Venezuela is one of the more open countries when it comes to cryptocurrencies. The perks of playing with cryptos also include bigger bonuses, faster withdrawal times (and higher limits), not to mention access to thousands of games. Let’s walk you through some of our recommended Venezuelan crypto casinos below.
Crypto Gambling Sites in Venezuela – Are They Legal?
This is where things get messy. Gambling has been legal in Venezuela since 1997, and online gambling since 2012, courtesy of Law No. 36.259 and Law. No. 36.523. However, only land-based venues and sites licensed by the Comisión Nacional de Casinos, Salas de Bingo, y Máquinas Traganiquels are legal.
Until recently, only one cryptocurrency was technically legal and fully regulated in Venezuela – the Petro. Known as PTR, this was created by the Maduro regime, which claims that it is “backed by Venezuelan reserves” – presumably diamonds, gas, gold, and oil. There’s little proof of that. The Petro is deemed a currency and legal tender, which sees Venezuela stand out from most other countries in that regard.
Other cryptocurrencies can be used in the country, although they aren’t legal tender. The government offers licenses to mine Bitcoin (via the Integral Miners Registry and National Mining Pool), but it is them who oversee distribution. Unlike most other countries, the Cryptoassets Constituent Degree is used as a legal framework which permits businesses, private individuals, and public and private sector players the right to use cryptocurrencies for their operations.
Until 2022, legal crypto gambling sites in Venezuela required you to use the Petro for gameplay. In fact, the land-based Humbolt Hotel in Caracas was one of the first brick-and-mortar casinos to accept crypto wagers. However, that is now being reversed (at least online), with Venezuelan crypto regulation now seeing BTC and other cryptos accepted.
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Venezuelan Crypto Gambling Facts
1
The country was one of the first to have its own legal tender crypto, known as the Petro.
2
You must obtain a license from the RIM (Integral Miners Registry) to mine Bitcoin in Venezuela.
3
Other cryptocurrencies are legal in Venezuela but unregulated.
4
Venezuela has a land-based casino which facilitates crypto stakes.
Legal Crypto Sportsbooks in Venezuela
Betting at a sportsbook in Venezuela with cryptocurrencies is easier than it used to be. Until recently, you had to wager with PTR or VEF. Now, you can use other cryptos. Choosing offshore sportsbooks is still more advantageous than locally licensed ones, as they provide a great array of sports markets and fairer odds, and they don’t withhold taxes on your winnings, allowing you to pocket exactly what the odds claim on successful bets.
Petro may be the national cryptocurrency of the country, but it is not the only option you have for crypto betting in Venezuela. Technically, you can play at any cryptocurrency site and use any digital token they accept, with DASH and Bitcoin as the two most popular options. In most cases, these offshore crypto-gambling sites are arguably better run and regulated than those nationally licensed domains.
Crypto Gambling Sites in Venezuela – How to Deposit
Because there is a tax (as we’ll discuss shortly) on processing payments using foreign currency, cryptos and crypto assets, it won’t surprise you to learn that most Venezuelans don’t use PTR or VEF to buy cryptos. Instead, they prefer to deal in other currencies.
The good news is that many exchanges operate in Venezuela, and you can legally buy crypto from Kraken, Binance and others. We’d recommend using a foreign currency for purchasing crypto, so you can avoid additional tax.
If this isn’t possible, you can still purchase cryptos using Venezuelan Bolívar if you are prepared to pay associated fees. However you acquire your cryptocurrency, depositing at betting sites is straightforward enough. It’s a process like that found at e-wallets and involves using your wallet and the target key/address (of the betting site) to transfer funds. The same is true of withdrawals, albeit in reverse.
Crypto deposits are typically just as fast as depositing with VEF, while there are major perks when withdrawing. The transaction time is lightning fast, the limits are typically higher, and while there is sometimes a fee involved, the KYC process isn’t always necessary for Venezuelans, offering you some much-appreciated anonymity.
Step-By-Step Process
Step-By-Step Process
1
Start an account at a crypto exchange. Fund it via debit card, bank transfer or any other local option. Acquire the cryptocurrency that you are going to use as a gambling bankroll.
2
If you are not in a hurry, limit orders hold fewer fees than market orders. Sometimes, it is better to acquire the proprietary coin of the exchange first, as trading pairs with them cost less.
3
Transfer the cryptocurrency amount to your private wallet. Never make direct transactions between crypto exchanges & crypto gambling sites. Crypto exchanges may freeze such accounts.
4
Head over to the gambling site’s cashier section. Click on the relevant crypto method. The wallet’s address will appear. Copy the address and paste it into your wallet’s send function. QR code scans are commonly available too.
5
If a brand does not support crypto-only wallets, watch out for the exchange rate. Any spread above 1% of the current market rate is too much.
6
After a few seconds or minutes, your deposit will settle. This depends on the cryptocurrency and the number of block confirmations required by the operator.
Now that we’ve covered that, we should dive into taxation rules in Venezuela. Buckle your seatbelt because you’re about to go on a ride. Hopefully, we’ll explain everything in a way that is easy to grasp, given the complexities of Venezuela’s crypto and gambling tax laws. Here’s what you need to know:
Is There a Crypto Tax on Winnings in Venezuela?
Venezuela certainly taxes your winnings, at least at nationally licensed casinos and sportsbooks. Anything you win is subject to a 34% tax that is withheld by the site in question, save for winnings from horse racing and lotteries, which are taxed at just under half that, at 16%. Offshore crypto sites don’t withhold your tax, so you’re technically supposed to pay that as an income tax.
Venezuela also has a Large Financial Transaction Tax, which is used when you process payments in currencies other than Petro and Venezuelan Bolívar. This is primarily to hit Venezuelans who have savings in other currencies or who try to use other cryptos to protect their money in a country with a flatlined economy. The tax is on goods and services, with profit on crypto or crypto assets subject to a 2.5% to 20% levy. Note that this also applies to purchasing cryptocurrency.
For this reason, many Venezuelans choose to keep their transactions private and store cryptos in their wallets to avoid any tax charges when they make “income” trading them.
How Do Other Countries View Crypto Gambling?
Cryptocurrencies have found fertile ground in South America, unleashing new possibilities across various sectors. Crypto gambling sites in Colombia have emerged as a strategic response to the state's attempts to block transactions towards offshore brands.
Meanwhile, in Brazil, the combination of outdated regulations and a progressive attitude towards digital assets has paved the way for a thriving scene. This unique environment has fostered the growth of Brazilian crypto gambling sites, positioning them as key players in the industry.
Our Final Verdict on Bitcoin Gambling in Venezuela
Our Final Verdict on Bitcoin Gambling in Venezuela
The Venezuelan crypto gambling scene can be a bit of a minefield, especially if you want to engage in Bitcoin gambling in Venezuela, over, say, Petro gambling. However, a handy combination of a VPN, an offshore gambling site, a wallet which isn’t tied to PTR or the Bolívar, and common sense should easily see you able to bet on higher quality casinos and bookies.
Because of this minefield, it is our duty to provide you with links to trustworthy Bitcoin and crypto gambling sites in Venezuela which accept players, are reliable, and give you flexible options regarding crypto payment methods. You’ll find a host of these right here on this page.
FAQs
Absolutely. Venezuela has a legal online gambling industry. Moreover, it is one of the few countries which makes it legal and regulated to wager with cryptocurrencies online, even if they number just a few.
Yes. While PTR is the only crypto deemed to be legal tender, other cryptocurrencies are accepted and certainly be used in the South American country.
Yes. There is nothing that says Venezuelans can’t use Binance to purchase cryptos. In fact, it is one of the most popular options in the country.
Technically, yes, but it depends on what currency you use to buy those cryptos. Any transactions involving PETRO or VEF (for buying or selling) can be taxed.
Yes – they certainly do. Moreover, many aren’t opposed to Venezuelans using VPNs, which provide you with yet another layer of anonymity.