El Salvador forbids all forms of gambling except lotteries, and even the importation of gaming devices and equipment is completely forbidden. The El Salvadorian government keeps a blind eye on the gambling that goes on there. There are currently three sizable casinos and numerous smaller ones in El Salvador, all of which are crowded with residents and visitors playing slots and other casino games. No one has been charged in recent years.
While the government forbids land-based gambling, El Salvador has neither an internet gambling statute nor an online gambling regulatory body that would deem it illegal. Obtaining a state-approved internet gambling license in El Salvador is impossible, technically making Salvadoran online casinos legal.
El Salvador players can place their wagers at many reputable casinos. These live casinos are licensed elsewhere outside the country, while they wait for the gray area in El Salvador to clear.