Best Online Casinos - Costa Rica

The landscape of gambling regulations has seen significant evolution since the enactment of the 1922 Gambling Law, which initially prohibited all games of chance. However, subsequent regulations and government interpretations have paved the way for a legalized gambling sector. 

Today, within the country, land-based casinos find their home within hotels, providing a range of entertainment from slots to tables and card games. Betting, on the other hand, falls under a state monopoly. 

With approximately 100 land-based casinos scattered throughout the country, the reports show up to 430 million CRC in tax revenues annually. 

However, it's worth noting that while gambling contributes significantly to the economy, Costa Rica doesn't rank as the top earner in the Latin American gambling sector; that distinction belongs to countries like Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia. 

Interestingly, amidst discussions surrounding the allocation of gambling revenues, some local country activists and politicians advocate for directing these funds towards crucial areas such as police funding and the enhancement of prison infrastructure.

Is online gambling legal in the country?

Regarding virtual lobbies, the local regulations take a unique stance. While obtaining a gambling license within the country is not feasible, the government tolerates the operation of online gambling businesses domiciled in the country under certain conditions. 

Specifically, as per current interpretation, games of chance are considered to occur where the transactions between players and operators are processed, rather than where the operator is based. Consequently, as long as these businesses refrain from processing transactions through local banks and avoid offering services to local residents, they can operate within the country.

In other words, foreign and local businesses are welcome to launch online operators for international players. Such platforms are very appreciated by players from the United States, Oceania, and Singapore, among others. Local gamers won’t be allowed to such casinos, though. For them, we have a list of international platforms friendly to traffic from Costa Rica.

The oversight of lawful online gaming activities falls under the purview of the Costa Rican lottery regulator, the Junta de Proteccion Social. This regulatory body actively advocates for expanding its operations to include online sports betting, lottery games, and electronic lotteries. As of now, the only legally permissible online gaming activities in Costa Rica are limited to online bingo games offered through charitable organizations such as the Red Cross.

Are Online Operators Licensed by Costa Rica Reliable?

Unlike in some countries where obtaining a gambling license is a requisite for operating an online casino, the reviewed country doesn't have a specific licensing authority or regulatory framework for the sector. Instead, businesses can launch online games of chance and betting immediately, with their operations defined as online gambling.

This presents several advantages for businesses venturing into the industry of casino games. One significant perk is the exemption from paying taxes. Since revenue is generated solely from international players engaging in online gambling activities, online operators running under Costa Rican regulations are not required to contribute taxes to the local government.

Another appealing factor to launching a virtual lobby from Costa Rican turf is the fact that without the financial burden of acquiring a formal gambling license, entrepreneurs can establish their companies relatively quickly and cost-effectively, and test their software, website functionality, and marketing strategies before making substantial investments in licensing and regulatory compliance.

However, there are also drawbacks to operating under such a gaming model. One significant setback is the restriction on payment methods. Due to the lack of licensing and regulation, banks in the country typically do not permit unlicensed online casino companies to open accounts. As a result, the platform has to rely on cryptocurrencies as their primary payment option.

Additionally, local laws law mandates the disclosure of personal information for each shareholder and ultimate beneficiary to the Central Bank of Costa Rica, but not to the general public. Therefore many locally licensed online operators opt not to disclose ownership information, leading to a less transparent process for players.

The local currency, CRC, is not that popular in international gaming lobbies. Instead, players from the reviewed country who are looking to play on global platforms, can opt-in for payments in USD or select cryptocurrencies. Considering the fact that local banks can complicate any transactions connected with online gaming, we would suggest that cryptocurrencies are the safest bet. Plus, there are 100s of reputable places to bet and win that accept players from the reviewed country and also support payments, wagering, and bonuses in tokens. Among such sites, we can recommend 7Bit Casino and BitStarz Casino.

These are, of course, not the only options for players! Here are some other sites to explore.

1. Mr.Green Casino is usually among the leading sites for players from many countries due to the outstanding quality of all of its services.

Advantages:

• Hefty welcome bonuses
• Loyalty rewards
• A lot of slots and live games

Disadvantages

• Transaction fees may apply to deposits and withdrawals
• A loyalty program is by invitation only

1. Slot Hunter Casino, despite its brand name, is not limited only to reeled adventures. It also boasts a big live dealer section and all the favorite RNG table games.

Advantages:

• Welcomes high-rollers
• Runs regular slot tournaments
• Has lottery with comp points

Disadvantages

• Does not have any support by phone
• Loyalty points are accumulated only by playing slots

1. BitSler Casino is another online lobby friendly to payments in crypto. It is known for its fast cashouts and easy navigation.

Advantages:

• You can refer friends and benefit from it
• Loyalty rewards are a priority
• Support is available 24/7

Disadvantages

• No live chat to communicate with the managers
• Verifications can take a while

If none of the recommended locations fit your agenda, simply adjust the search filters to pick the best gambling destination based on customized filters. These include not only payment methods but also currencies, languages, software, and bonuses. 

The gaming audience is equally appreciative of RNG slots and table games and live casino content. The leading providers of the region that the players turn to are studios like Net Entertainment, Yggdrasil Gaming, Wazdan, BetSoft, Pragmatic Play, and MGA.

The latter, in particular, tops the charts of preferences among Puerto Ricans. The reason is obvious – MGA is broadly recognized for its slots in Spanish. 

Outside the MGA box, the hot list of the all-time favorite slots within the community includes, but is not limited to Chilli Pop, John Hunter and the Book of Tut, La Mina de Oro, and Gonzo’s Gold. 

If we are talking about other games, roulette and blackjack releases in all their variations are among the ultimate favorites, and so are HiLo and crash games, including Aviator.