The game, whose name means "merry festival" in Basque, is called cesta-punta ("basket tip") in the Basque💹 Country. The sport is played worldwide, but especially in Spain, France, and in various Latin American countries.

Jai alai became popular in the United States💹 after the state of Florida passed a law in 1935 permitting pari-mutuel wagering on the sport. The first fronton, or💹 jai alai arena, was located in Miami, Fla. Today there are several in Florida, and frontons have been built in💹 Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Nevada.