One of the newest online casino destinations is Costa Rica where lenient gambling laws and regulations attract operators from all over the world. But are Costa Rican online casinos actually safe for players?

The questions is complicated because there are some reliable online casinos operating from Costa Rica, but the lack of proper regulation does attract rogue online casinos as well. That’s why we do not promote online casinos that are solely registered to Costa Rica and urge players to avoid these as well.

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Costa Rican Casinos Gain Popularity

Costa Rica has become a wildly popular destination for online casinos and even well-known operators have moved their operations to this territory. There are currently over 250 gambling companies registered to Costa Rica with more to come in 2025.

Since Costa Rica does not have its own gambling license, Costa Rican online casinos are simply gambling sites that have been registered to Costa Rica.

Most of the casinos do have a valid gambling license from another country such as Curacao. But there are still plenty of brands that operate completely without a license - and those are the ones players should be very cautious of. If you cannot confirm that an online casino has a verified license, do not play there.

Costa Rica Gambling License - Is There One?

Costa Rican Casinos

To make this matter perfectly clear: Costa Rica does not have a gambling license nor are the online casinos operating from there regulated by any governing agency. So there are no licensed Costa Rican online casinos, just gaming sites who have registered their company to Costa Rica as commercial businesses.

The laws and regulations regarding online gambling are very loose - or practically non-existent. Therefore it is completely legal to open an online casino to Costa Rica as longs as the casino does not accept local players.

The only license required is the Data Processing License that all online casinos need to apply. Operators also need to register with the Costa Rica Tax Authority and after that they are good to go.

Why Online Casinos Choose to Set Shop in Costa Rica?

Since Costa Rica does not have a gambling license, it raises a valid question: why so many operators choose this particular country as their headquarters?

Well, first of all, it is very easy. Opening an online casino takes next to nothing since the long process of obtaining a gambling license is eliminated completely. It’s simply enough to register the company and get a Data Processing License.

Also the company does not need to comply with licensing requirements or report back to the government. The nonexistent gambling laws and regulations don’t restrict operations at all but casinos can still accept players from all over the world.

It is also worth pointing out that opening an online casino to Costa Rica is very cheap. Gambling licenses are expensive (and for a good reason) and not all companies are willing to pay those fees. However if a casino is not ready to pay a few thousands euros to guarantee player safety - are they really in the position to pay out big wins?

Costa Rican Casinos & Legal Gambling

As mentioned before, Costa Rica does not really have any laws or regulations that prohibit or regulate online gambling - as long as the online casino does not accept Costa Rican players. That means that Costa Rican casinos can accept players all over the world.

So playing at a Costa Rica online casino is completely legal - however that does not mean that you necessarily should do that. If players run into any issues, there is no governing body available that they can turn to.

We are not saying that Costa Rica is a lawless wild west where companies can do whatever they like. Online casinos - just like other companies - must comply with anti-money laundering regulations, KYC policies, the Code of Commerce and country laws. But the lack of gambling license does reduce player protection significantly.

Issues with the Costa Rican Gambling License

Casinos that operate solely from Costa Rica do not fulfill the safety requirements that we expect from entities that offer real money gambling. And therefore we do not promote those casinos on our site. Even though there are some reliable operators that have moved their casinos to that particular territory, there are still loads of issues with the Costa Rican ”license.”

  • Player protection is nonexistent due to lack of government regulation.
  • The randomness of available games cannot be verified.
  • Low costs attract unreliable operators.
  • Opening an online casinos is way too easy and companies are not forced report back to any governing body.

So before Costa Rica gets an official gambling license, we advice players to avoid casinos that do not have an verified additional license from another country.

Why Other Casino Licenses Are Better

There are dozens of gambling licenses from various countries and territories for players to choose from. But when it comes to reliability, there are huge differences that players need to be aware of. It is not enough for an online casino to have a gambling license - they need to have a reputable and safe gambling license.

So what options are the safest? Amongst the most reliable gambling license providers are MGA, Estonian Tax and Customs Board, Kahnawake Gaming Commission, Curacao Gambling Control Board (who has just transferred to a safer regulatory model) and Anjouan Gaming.

The main difference between all of these gaming entities and Costa Rican online casinos is regulation. Obtaining a valid gaming license is a long and expensive process that includes comprehensive background checks and constant monitoring from gaming authorities. And if any misconducts appear, the license can easily be taken away. This kind of watch dog is crucial for players safety - and Costa Rica does not have one.

Key Takeaways:

  • Costa Rica does not have a gambling license.
  • Online casinos only register themself as a commercial business.
  • There is no government regulation or player protection.

FAQ: Costa Rican Online Casinos

Does Costa Rica Have a Gambling License?

No. Costa Rica does not currently have a gambling license and therefore casinos operating solely from there are unlicensed.

Are Costa Rican Online Casinos Legit?

Costa Rica does not have a gaming authority and therefore online casinos registered there are not regulated in any way. So unless the online casino has a license from another country, they are not safe to play at.

Are Costa Rica Casinos Legal?

Opening an online casino in Costa Rica is legal due to lenient gambling laws. It is also legal for players to play at Costa Rican casinos but we advice caution since the brands might be unlicensed.