Puerto Rico Casino Expansion Moves Forward with Three New Rooms and Aristocrat’s MONOPOLY Slot Launch

Expansion Plans

The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission has laid out a two-to-three-year roadmap to add three new casino rooms on the island, increasing the total number of authorized gaming venues from 21 to 24. Executive Director Juan Carlos Santaella announced the projects will be sited in Ponce, Mayagüez, and Carolina — the last tied to the reopening of a Ritz-Carlton hotel complex. Completion is expected between 2028 and 2029.

“The casino industry in recent years has been in constant growth. Casinos have become, in addition to gaming halls, entertainment centers,” Santaella said, pointing to the reported numbers as evidence of the sector’s vitality. The announcement comes as the gaming industry continues to contribute nearly $200 million to Puerto Rico’s economy.

New Game Launch

Alongside the expansion news, Aristocrat Gaming has officially introduced the MONOPOLY Big Board Bucks slot title to the island, using Casino Metro as its launch showcase. Kelvin Lugo Cancel, an executive at Aristocrat, noted that the game’s success in North America and Europe, coupled with the strong performance of the local Jackpot del Encanto system, drove the decision. The company invested $1.5 million to install 62 machines across 15 casinos, all integrated into the Jackpot del Encanto progressive network. That network, now a decade old, has generated $29 million in total prizes. The jackpot for MONOPOLY Big Board Bucks starts at $20,000 and grows with player participation.

“We could not miss the success that Monopolio has had since its launch and we decided to bring it to Puerto Rico as part of Jackpot del Encanto,” Lugo Cancel explained. Casino Metro general manager Ismael Vega called the selection of his venue “recognition of the casino’s leadership” and emphasized the operator’s commitment to “innovative gaming experiences and world-class entertainment.”

Broader Market Context

The new room openings and product initiatives follow a period of significant regulatory and commercial activity. Over the past six months, DraftKings launched its online sportsbook in Puerto Rico, the BSN basketball league partnered with Sportradar, and the Puerto Rican Senate floated a proposal to expand regulated gambling verticals. The Gaming Commission also recently joined a voluntary self-exclusion program via idPair, while Lotto.com entered the market in May 2026. Lugo Cancel highlighted the jurisdiction’s oversight, saying, “Security, safe gaming and that collaboration that we have between the Gaming Commission, the casinos and us should always be promoted.”