The casino scene in Costa Rica is in its Wild West era. While gambling in brick-and-mortar casinos is generally legal, there’s no specific regulatory framework that guides the Internet gambling and betting arm of the industry. Despite this, Costa Rica is still a popular destination for online casino operators registering as corporations and operating within the country.
As a player looking to play in an online casino in Costa Rica, you need to understand the regulatory framework that guides the operation of these sites. Luckily, our expert team from Slotozilla has done the homework for you by analyzing the online gaming licensing in Costa Rica. Thanks to our practical knowledge, we have handpicked the safest and most exclusive casino sites to play on. Read on to discover them.
In order to claim a bonus, the Player must redeem it before placing any bets with said deposit. If the bonus does not redeem for any reason, it is the Player’s responsibility to contact Customer Support for assistance with redeeming said bonus. Once the Player begins wagering the deposit, the Player forfeits their right to any promotion on that deposit.
The casino industry in Costa Rica is generally not as developed and well-regulated as that of many other countries. Yet, Costa Rica is trying hard to create a business-friendly environment for online gambling operators while making the industry as safe as possible for players.
Despite not having an official commission to oversee gambling activities, up to 400 online casinos and bookmakers are registered in Costa Rica. The authorities in the country allow gambling businesses to run in the country by providing a general “data processing” permit for interested operators.
Our research has shown that the registration process to get this license is seamless, and the requirements are quite favorable. These lenient policies, along with the appeal of low taxation and a generally friendly business environment, make Costa Rica an attractive destination for online gambling.
Requirements for a Costa Rica Gambling License
Our research shows that Costa Rica does not have an official gaming license specifically for online gambling platforms. However, operators can still run an online casino in line with Costa Rican law by simply registering as a corporation. The process for registering a gambling company is just like registering any other corporation:
To operate a gambling site in Costa Rica, you need to register as a local corporation.
The company must have a local registration agent. It must also have a minimum of two shareholders. However, directors and shareholders don’t have to be residents.
The documents needed for this process include the passports for each of the company shareholders, corporate identification, tax certifications and other related documents.
To operate its servers in Costa Rica, the operator has to obtain a separate “data processing” license.
Note that while an official gambling license is not required for operation in Costa Rica, all registered companies must fulfill necessary corporate obligations to maintain their status as a corporate entity in the country.
Verifying a Costa Rica Gaming License
Costa Rica does not have an official gaming licensing board. This might make it a little difficult to verify if an online casino is truly registered in the country. However, the country still has a business registration license which is compulsory for every legitimate gambling platform to have.
As our tests have shown, most casinos with this license will most likely mention it on their website on the “About Us” or “Terms and Conditions” page. You may also find this registration information in the website footer. However, this isn’t conclusive proof that the casino holds a valid license. Based on our observations, you can verify a casino licensing status by confirming if the company’s provided contact address is indeed in Costa Rica.
Before playing in any casino, you should also read reviews on reliable review sites and check only for public records or press releases that mention the company’s registration. Note that a Costa Rica Gaming license isn’t a very reliable way of judging a website’s fairness or reliability. Always exercise caution when registering on a site registered solely in this territory. The lax registration laws mean Costa Rica is a popular destination for fraudulent online casinos.
What Are Top Costa Rica Online Casinos With a Regulatory Authority License?
The favorable nature of the regulatory landscape for casinos online Costa Rica has given rise to quite several online casinos. According to our experience, some of the top licensed casinos in Costa Rica include:
Wild Vegas Casino
The Wild Vegas Casino has been in business since 2009. This makes it one of the oldest casinos operating in Costa Rica. It is a popular crypto casino that supports deposits with most of the most popular cryptocurrencies. The casino has a small library of less than 500 games which includes slots, table games, and a few speciality games.
Club Player Casino
Club Player Casino is another Costa Rica casino site that has been in business since 2004. It is a robust gambling platform that offers a downloadable version of its software for PCs as well as an instant play version that can be played directly on a web browser. This site supports multiple deposit methods including both fiat currency and cryptocurrencies.
Prism Casino
Prism is one of the most popular online gambling platforms in Costa Rica, renowned for its modern interface, extensive library of games and generous bonuses. Prism Casino’s library includes several online slots, table games, video poker and specialty games. The site welcomes new players with a generous offer which includes a 350% bonus on their first deposit.
Royal Ace Casino
This casino was launched in 2009 and has been serving gamers from all over the world ever since. The online gambling platform has a rich library with over 400 games ranging from classic table games to free slots no download. The casino supports both instant web play and installation, which makes it accessible on all devices.
CoolCat Casino
CoolCat Casino is a licensed gambling platform in Costa Rica with over 220 casino games in its library. Most of these casino’s games are supplied by Realtime Gaming (RTG), one of the most prestigious casino software providers in the industry. The site is renowned for its frequent promotions that reward players with generous match bonuses, free spins, and money chips.
Costa Rica Online Gambling License Types
Unlike some countries where operators need to obtain a B2B or B2C gambling license, Costa Rica does not categorize the gambling license types that an operator can obtain. To run an online gambling platform in the country, all you need is a general business license which specifies that the activities of the business will be related to gambling. This is a versatile business license for any company seeking to run a casino website or any other related gambling platform such as lotteries, online bingo sites, sportsbooks and so on.
The absence of a specific Costa Rica Gambling license type simplifies the process of registering an online casino in the country, increasing accessibility for interested operators. The company can be licensed as a corporation, general partnership, joint stock company, limited liability company, or individual limited liability company.
Gambling companies looking to host their server within the country will also need to get a data processing license after obtaining a general business license. This is issued by the Ministry of Economy. The operator must also open a trading account with a foreign bank to process all monetary transactions.
The data processing license issued by the Ministry of Economy permits the operator to do the following:
Process customer data;
Provider gambling services online and in land-based establishments;
Offer various gambling games, including card games, slot machines, roulette, craps, bingo, keno, and sports betting;
Provide gaming services over the Internet.
Costa Rica Gambling License Cost
Costa Rica does not issue a conventional gambling license, which means there’s no standard cost for obtaining permits for a gambling site in the country. The specific cost of setting up a company depends on a wide range of factors, such as the projected size of the business, location, and other factors. On average, operators can expect to spend about $6500 on the registration and licensing process. However, you should consult a lawyer or business advisor for an accurate estimate of the actual startup cost for this kind of license.
Are Licensed Casinos in Costa Rica Safe?
Playing on a licensed Costa Rican gambling platform can be tricky. The country does not have any special requirements that online casinos must fulfill before they can be registered. There’s also no gambling commission to perform an oversight function on regulating these sites and their activities. The Costa Rican gaming license only provides a general legal framework within which casinos in the country operate.
With no strict requirements and no legal oversight over Internet gaming activities, a Costa Rica Gaming license does not guarantee the fairness of these sites or the safety of players. The government only enforces laws relating to anti-money laundering and terrorist financing. As a player looking to play on a site like this, you should look out for a gaming audit from a third-party auditor or independent game testing lab. This will provide some level of assurance about the randomness and fairness of game results on the site.
However, this is still not a conclusively safe guarantee. If you run into any issues on the site, there’s no government commission to look into it. Based on these factors, players should exercise caution before signing up at any casino, especially if it is only registered in Costa Rica.
Drawing on our own experience, we know that there are still a few genuine operators in the jurisdiction, but the lack of regulatory oversight from the government makes it difficult to trust the license alone. Always verify the credibility of any casino with a knowledgeable third party before registering to play on the site transactions.
Obtaining a Gambling License In Costa Rica
Although the gambling industry in Costa Rica is largely unregulated, obtaining a license in this jurisdiction is still highly recommended because of its numerous benefits. A gambling license will help you avoid lawsuits and other regulatory hurdles in the country. A license will also make it easier to operate your gambling platform internationally without further legal issues in various countries.
Research the market: Start by researching the market to understand the gambling landscape in the country. While registering a gambling license in Costa Rica is generally favorable, you still need to be aware of the common pitfalls, potential issues, and important requirements needed to set up your gambling company.
Select a location: If your operations will have a physical base in Costa Rica, then you’ll need to research the location and select the most suitable location.
Register the business: As mentioned, this process is similar to the setting up of any other kind of business entity. You need to supply various information about the business you intend to set up. You’ll also have to obtain certifications from the Costa Rica Tax Authority and other relevant government agencies. Once this process is complete, your online casino is officially registered and recognized by the Costa Rican government.
Obtain a data processing license: The final step is usually to obtain a data processing license from the Ministry of Economy. This license allows you to process user data and covers a wide range of gambling activities.
Overview of Costa Rica Licensed Casinos
Based on our experience, we have selected and reviewed the top licensed casinos in Costa Rica. The table below is a list of these casinos, latest casino bonuses they offer and supported payment methods.
Casino Name
Bonus Offers
Payment Methods
Customer Support & Regional Accessibility
Wild Vegas Casino
350% signup bonus
Mastercard, Visa, Neteller, Visa Electron
24/7 live chat & email support
Club Player Casino
450% signup bonus
Mastercard, Neteller, Visa, Visa Electron, bank transfer
Email support & 24/7 live chat
Prism Casino
350% signup bonus
Mastercard, Neteller, Visa, Visa Electron, American Express, Bitcoin
Email, live chat or toll-free phone
Royal Ace Casino
$1,000 free signup bonus
Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Bitcoin, bank transfer
Email support
CoolCat Casino
$3,300 plus 50 free spins
Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Bitcoin, bank transfer
Email, live chat, and helplines
Silver Oak Casino
$10,000 free casino welcome bonus
American Express, bank transfer, Mastercard, Visa, Skrill, Neteller
Email and live chat
Captain Jack Casino
$11,000 free casino welcome bonus
Neteller, Visa, bank transfer
24/7 live chat and email support (phone support limited to North America)
Dreams Casino
200% signup bonus up to $2,000
Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Bitcoin, bank transfer
24/7 live chat, phone support and email
Crush It Casino
200% signup bonus up to $2,000
UpayCard, Visa, MasterCard, Bitcoin
N/A
Slots Of Vegas Casino
250% signup bonus up to $2,500
Mastercard, Neteller, Visa
Email support, 24/7 live chat
21 Dukes Casino
N/A
American Express, bank transfer, ecoPayz, Mastercard, Neteller, Paysafecard, Visa, Entropay, iDEAL, Sofort, POLi, QIWI, Skrill, Bitcoin, WebMoney
Email support
Vegas Crest Casino
200% up to $1000 + 30 free spins
Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, Bitcoin, bank transfer
Pros and Cons of Operating an Online Casino in Costa Rica
Setting up an online casino in Costa Rica offers both advantages and challenges. Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of operating in this jurisdiction.
Quick and easy setup
Low-cost setup process
Freedom from marketing restrictions and other strict regulations
Tax-free operation
Limited regulation and government oversight
Difficulty securing both local and international payment services
Costa Rica Gambling Commission Contacts
Here’s a quick overview of the key contact details and information about the Costa Rica Gambling Commission: