Hello,

This article is to explore particular features of Costa Rica gambling license obtainting information.

History excursus and government policy

Casino regulations were established in Costa Rica Casino in 1886 and 1922. Casino owners usually create a union or corporation. Casinos organizations are subject to accreditation adn approval the Tourist Board of Costa Rica Institution. They must be located in a hotel 3* stars or above, and at least 150 meters away from hospitals, places of worship, and Schools. Anyone under 18 years old is not allowed in a casino.

Casinos should pay operational fees, different facility health permits, and any other tax applicable just like other businesses, in addition they are required to pay an extra 10% on the monthly net revenues and (for the number of game tables that casinos have got they usually pay $165 per table).

It is considered a crime in Costa Rica to collect or lose money by placing a bet on the outcome of a game,whose outcome is based on people’s good luck, and not on their abilities to play the game. That is why, it is illegal to earn money from games such as dice, twenty-one, baccarat? even poker, black jack, lotteries – except for the national lottery managed by the Costa Rican organization called “Junta de Proteccion Social – bingo – except those organized by the Red Cross and educational organizations such as Schools – and roulettes.

Meanwhile it is legal to play billiard, card games, canasta, domino, casino, rummy, 13, Caribbean straight poker, or any other game where the person’s abilities and skills will determine the result of the game.

The most interesting is that casinos in costa Rica got both legal games according to the lawand illegal games and games that are not clearly defined by law. The most popular games are rummy, and Caribbean straight poker. Games that are not clearly defined by Costa Rica gambling legislation and are played are certain types of games with dice or pai gow like Chinese style poker. Remember that Casinos also host games that are prohibited by Costa Rica legislation regulation such as roulette and gambling machines.

Since it is illegal to either collect or pay money for bets , the Casino implements a special method to arrange payments to get around the law. Casinos encourage players to purchase “tokens” that are used at their casino places. In this case players are given a credit line so that collections can be performed and that they are still protected by regular business laws, and not gambling.-Quite interestin, isn’t it?

So, what is under Costar Rica gambling jurisdiction? We must understand that according to this country laws, gambling activity can be considered under Costa Rica jurisdiction only when people within the physical borders of Costa Rica place bids, or if money is exchanged within the area. That means, a large number of online gambling companies are allowed to operate out of Costa Rica without any specific approval by refusing Costa Rican players and maintaining merchant accounts for the operation overseas, in other countries. Taking into consideration that the law is actually silent on the legality of online gambling in Costa Rica, there is minimal players protection for those using services operating from Costa Rica. Legislative proposals to regulate and tax online business have been under discussion over the past several years, but no such offer had been accepted and approved as of this writing.

Well, so, what is required to set up Online Casino in Costa Rica?

1. Create a corporation in Costa Rica that will provide network administration or intranet administration. It will cost you around $2,000.00 dollars.

2. Find a place in Costa Rica area for your office, hire personnel, and develop your website from Costa Rica as any other business. Remember that there is an operational permit fee that should be paid of about $50.00 for any type of business.

3. It is essential to block all the IP located in Costa Rica (as far as it was mentioned above no citizen or legal permanent resident of Costa Rica is allowed to play online casino set up in this country).

4. Take care of an offshore merchant account. Try Antigua, Bahamas, Gibraltar or countries in the Caribbean so that you can proceed your transactions outside of Costa Rica. Financial activities will be conducted through these merchant accounts.

Summary

Online business is not illegal according to Costa Rican legislation system either by hosting their servers with restricted access in Costa Rica, or by calling and messaging their players overseas to ensure accurate tfinancial ransactions and provide their players with the following services because:

1. No Costa Rican citizens or rezidents are allowed to bet;

2. Casino games or subjects of games bets don’tt take place physically in Costa Rica;

3. Actually,what online casinos should do is to manage their software to make sure that their financial transactions are properly assessed and provide their clients with services;

4. Casino transactions take place country other than Costa Rica;