Betting Sites in Ecuador

Sports Betting Regulation in Ecuador

Ecuador has had a liberal approach towards gambling for a long time, but that approach changed over the past decade. Due to that liberal market approach, Ecuador quickly became South America's gambling hub, and that was very worrying for some government officials.

No one can argue that betting in Ecuador is a popular activity, but the fact remains that the fast-growing gambling industry quickly turned into sort of a hotbed for criminal activity, mass corruption and money laundering. So, instead of reforming the sports betting industry, the Ecuadorian government simply destroyed the entire sector. In 2011, the government shut down all forms of gambling in the country, except the state-owned lottery.

There was even a referendum in May 2011 where residents agreed that casinos should close operations, but the government didn't just stop with casinos. All gambling establishments were given 6 months to close right after the referendum. Therefore, there are currently no licensed bookmakers in Ecuador, but not everything we have to say here is bad news. Operators with an international domain can freely accept punters from Ecuador, without the government going after them.

Sure, the entire industry in Ecuador is closed, but there is no legislation that stops sports betting customers from accessing offshore operators. Online betting operates in a legal gray area without specific regulations or active enforcement by authorities. Consequently, individuals can freely participate in online betting without facing repercussions from government authorities. And we can say that there are plenty of online betting platforms from abroad that accept Ecuadorians.

Popular Payment Methods For Ecuadorian Betting Sites

We know that deposits and withdrawals are aspects that will determine how happy you are with a certain bookmaker in Ecuador, so we make sure to pay close attention to that. As we mentioned above, we want to see a rich payment methods list at any bookie we review, but which options do Ecuadorians prefer the most? Let's take a look at them.

Credit/Debit Cards

Almost everyone in today's modern world uses credit and debit cards for their everyday transactions, so the sports betting business benefits from that as well. American Express, Visa and MasterCard cards dominate the card financial industry, and they are incredibly safe and simple payment methods to use for online betting.

When depositing or withdrawing with credit/debit cards, you just need to enter the card details and wait for the transaction to finish. A slight negative that credit/debit cards hold compared to some of the, more modern payment options is that withdrawals can sometimes take up to 5 business days to complete. Additionally, we would suggest you check with your bank whether there are some gambling restrictions on your card. Some banks don't want people to use their funds for gambling online, so they will impose betting bans.

E-Wallets

Moving on, we have options such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller that have grown in popularity among the gambling community everywhere in the world, including Ecuador. You can connect your e-wallet with your credit/debit card and you can top it up whenever you see fit. Then, to use it as your payment method at bookmakers in Ecuador, just head to the Cashier section of the site, choose your e-wallet and enter the necessary payment method information.

A big benefit e-wallets hold compared to credit/debit cards is that they process withdrawals much faster. However, note that some currency conversion and transaction fees may apply to certain digital wallets.

Apple Pay and Google Pay

As briefly explained above, the smartphone penetration in Ecuador is at an admirably high level, and as you would expect, the two giants that dominate are Android and Apple. Therefore, their own payment methods - Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted among Ecuadorians.

Most reliable bookmakers in Ecuador offer deposits with Google Pay and Apple Pay and these options guarantee efficiency, safety and swift transactions - all ingredients for the ideal payment method. Nonetheless, due to their nature, Google Pay and Apple Pay are not available for withdrawals. For that, you can use all the other payment methods in this list.

Cryptocurrencies

Lastly, we simply cannot overlook the importance cryptocurrencies have in today's modern online sports betting world. The likes of Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Litecoin, and Tether are just some of the options modern online bookmakers in our list offer. The advantages cryptocurrencies hold are evident - due to their decentralized nature and the fact that no central authority controls them, you can enjoy anonymous, instant, and free-of-charge transactions - the dream for any punter in Ecuador!

Note that before you bet on the best cryptocurrency betting sites on our list, you need to get your hands on one. Kindly head to crypto exchange sites where you can buy and sell cryptocurrencies. Then, it is plain sailing - choose one of the bookies from our list, register, make your first deposit and start wagering!

Most Popular Sports to Bet on In Ecuador

The development of online betting services in Ecuador and the popularity of sports betting itself meant that there will inevitably be plenty of competition that will drive betting sites in Ecuador to improve their sites. Here, the first and the most important step towards being a world-class bookie is to offer various sports that are popular in the given country. So, with all that in mind, let's take a look at which sports Ecuadorian bettors prefer for their wagers.

• Football: Football always takes centre stage whenever we speak about sports markets in South American countries, not just in Ecuador. There are plenty of South American local leagues that you can wager on, including the Ecuadorian Serie A, so you have plenty of options at your disposal! Alternatively, if you follow the likes of Luis Diaz in Europe, then, you will be delighted to know that all the major European competitions are available as well! The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Champions League, and international competitions such as Copa America, Euro, and the World Cup offer tons of pre-match and live betting options!

• Basketball: Let's not forget about basketball as well, arguably the second most watched sport in worldwide ranks. Ecuadorians seem to have a soft spot for basketball tournaments, such as the ever-so-popular NBA. Bookies that we recommend various bet types for basketball, such as outrights, match winners, handicaps, half-time/full-time bets, and of course - a rich live betting section where you can bet while following the action unfold.

• Tennis: If you are more into individual sports and you are a fan of the likes of Emilio Gómez Estrada, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and co. then, you are in for a treat in regards to the tennis betting offer at our suggested Ecuadorian bookies! All major tennis tournaments are at your disposal, so you can always spice up each of them by placing a few well-informed wagers every now and then!

• Esports: Finally, the esports betting world has some of the biggest sporting events in terms of attendance and viewership in South America, so it is only natural that is slowly becomes one of the most appealing sports betting options for punters. Therefore, a great sports betting site in Ecuador will not just offer the most popular tournaments and games such as CS: GO, Dota 2, LoL, and so on, but it will also give you a chance to wager on more niche tournaments and e-leagues. Of course, the bookies we recommend will offer all sorts of sports bets for esports events, so you'll never be short of options for your pre-match and live betting preferences!

Conclusion

All in all, even though there are some strict restrictions when online gambling is in question in Ecuador, we cannot help but notice that the country has massive potential when it comes to sports betting. Sports betting, in general, is one of the favourite pastime activities among Ecuadorians, and thankfully, there are dozens of online bookmakers that happily accept players from the country. Before you choose one of our suggested operators, make sure to compare them and do a little digging in the T&Cs of the bookie to see whether you are okay with some possible restrictions, deposit and withdrawal limits, bonus terms and conditions, and so on.

Only after that, we encourage you to complete the short registration process, choose one of the payment methods we suggested, make your first deposit and start an amazing betting journey. Hopefully, not long after that, you will secure your first winning bet slip. Of course, remember to gamble responsibly - never spend over your limit and make sure betting remains just a fun activity you do in your free time!