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.