COCKFIGHTING IN PUERTO RICO: A TIMELINE OF FEDERAL LAW CAUGHT BETWEEN TERRITORIAL DEFIANCE, ADMINISTRATIVE INACTION AND A CHANGING DEFINITION OF INTERSTATE COMMERCE IN THE DIGITAL ERA.

This article focuses on the complex legal and cultural status of cockfighting in Puerto Rico amid federal prohibition and local resistance. Cockfighting, a centuries-old practice introduced during Spanish colonial rule, has evolved into a significant economic niche involving diverse social groups known as galleros. Despite the 2018 federal amendment to the Animal Welfare Act extending the ban on animal fighting to U.S. territories, Puerto Rico enacted local laws framing cockfighting as a protected “local industry” and cultural tradition, leading to legal challenges that courts have ultimately rejected, affirming federal authority under the Commerce Clause. The article also examines the interplay between online sports gambling regulations, interstate commerce, and the territorial government’s administrative inaction, highlighting ongoing tensions between cultural heritage claims, economic interests, and federal animal welfare policies.