Cockfighting

Cockfighting-Numerous cockfight rings (Galleras, in Spanish) operate throughout Puerto Rico. Betting is legal within the confines of the cockfight arena. For fight dates and other information, look them up in your telephone directory under Galleras. Winnings are taxable, though difficult to trace as transactions are usually in cash between individuals.

Coliseo Gallístico de Puerto Rico is the largest cockfight arena on the island. It is located in Isla Verde, less than five minutes away from the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. Betting on the results of a fight is an informal, one-on-one process where you bet a certain amount with another spectator. No documents are produced for the bet. At the end of the fight, the losing bettor is expected to pay the amount waged to the winner. Surprisingly, the system works!

Unlike the United States of America, where cockfighting is now illegal in all the 50 states, cockfighting is legal in Puerto Rico since 1933. A new law was signed in 2007 reaffirming the legality of the sport in Puerto Rico. Cockfighting is regarded as a gentleman's sport, with fights held in "galleras" located all over the island.

Each fight is regulated by a "juez de valla", who supervises the fight and whose decisions regarding the details of the fight are final. A cock is deemed to have lost if it dies, flees from its opponent rather than facing it, refuses to fight, or fails to stand on two legs for one minute. The fight will be deemed a tie (tablas) after fifteen minutes or if both cocks fail to stand on two legs for over one minute.

Several steps are taken before the fight to assure adherence to regulations. Each cock is examined before the fight to assure that the feathers have not been coated with substances that may give the cock an unfair advantage over its adversary. Artificial spurs which are fitted to each cock prior to the fight must adhere to specifications.

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