Get AT LEAST $1,500 At These 10 Online Casinos In Costa Rica

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Joseph Yarnold

Joseph Yarnold Gambling Journalist

Joe Yarnold joined the Basketball Insiders team in October 2021, as a content editor and writer. He obtained his Master’s degree from Framingham State University and has experience writing educational and explanatory articles on all forms of gambling. Although he specializes in casino gaming, NFL, soccer and NBA betting, he has well-rounded knowledge and insight of most sports. His expertise also include researching and analyzing the latest federal and state gambling laws and regulations in the US.

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As a Senior Gambling Journalist, I bring a rich tapestry of expertise to the forefront of the gambling scene in the US. My extensive experience not only encompasses content curation but also extends into the realm of leadership within content marketing teams. Beyond the technical nuances, I specialize in crafting compelling brand identities that truly resonate within the ever-evolving online gambling landscape.

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Updated 20 Dec 2024

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Costa Rica may be best known for its beautiful beaches, volcanos, and biodiversity, but it’s also a hotspot for land-based and online casinos. The country has become one of the most popular places to play casino games and in this article, we’re going to look at whether gambling is legal in Costa Rica, the best real money online casinos in Costa Rica, and land-based casinos in the country.

The Costa Rica online casinos in this guide will also be ideal for players from the United States looking for online casinos options and local and tourist information regarding land-based Costa Rica casinos.

The Best Costa Rica Casinos Online

Below we’ve included a list of the best Costa Rica casinos online. This list is of the 10 best casinos in Costa Rica but also for United States players. Keep checking back to this page as we keep this list right up to date, noting any changes or new features that might affect our rankings.

1. Wild Casino — Biggest casino welcome bonus for players based in Costa Rica
2. TG Casino — The Best Telegram casino in Costa Rica
3. Bovada — Best Costa Rica casino for crypto payments, especially Bitcoin and Ethereum
4. Everygame — Best looking real money Costa Rica mobile and desktop casino
5. BetOnline — Largest range of table games for Costa Rica casino players
6. BetUS — Best Costa Rican casino and sportsbook promotions
7. Ignition Casino — Best for poker tournaments in Costa Rica
8. Lucky Block — Best in Costa Rica for number of games
9. Lucky Creek — Top Costa Rica online casino
10. Super Slots — Tons of promos to choose from for new and existing Costa Rica casino players

Top Costa Rica Online Casinos – Bonus and Games Comparison

In the table below we’ve looked at the best bonuses and casino games that you can claim. This is designed to be an overview of what each Costa Rica casino has to offer.

It’s not always the case that takin the biggest or the max bonus from each casino is the best route. If you play higher stakes or a high volume of games, then this will be the best route. But if you play mid-low stakes then you might be better off with a smaller welcome bonus that you can easily clear.

Security & Licensing of Costa Rica Online Casinos

Finding a safe place to bet your real money in Costa Rica is very important. You do not want to be scammed out of your own funds by a site which is not operating legally. However, finding a fully verified site is nice and straightforward. You can do this by signing up to any of the sites recommended on this page, or by ensuring any sites you source by yourself has a license displayed on every page from a specific jurisdiction.

Costa Rica Online Casinos Comparison – Payment Methods

Getting money in about of a Costa Rica casino is one of the most important features for any site. The table below includes a look at our top casinos in Costa Rica and what payment methods they offer. We’ve also included a look at any fees and payout times.

Games Available at Costa Rica Online Casinos

The games available to play at online casinos in Costa Rica are extensive, with plenty of variety across different categories. Below, you can read more about what is available when you sign up.

Slots

Slots games are usually provided on the best online casinos in significant numbers. All slots games should be provably fair, with high RTPs, while there should also be 3D versions of some slots games.

Table Games

Table games include the likes of blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. All of these games should have multiple lobbies on casino sites, to deal with demand, but also the varying experience levels of players who sign up.

Speciality Games

Speciality games are those which do not stand within any other category. Some sites may choose to have multiple of these, including: sic bo, keno, scratchcards, virtual sports, game shows, and bingo

Live Dealer Games

Live dealer games are the equivalents of the table games listed in the above section, but with real, human dealers, who interact with your account when you join a lobby. These may also include poker, which you can play against other players with a live dealer.

The Best Casino Bonuses Available for Players in Costa Rica

There are multiple different types of bonus which players in Costa Rica. They are not all designed in the same way, so you can read below to find which bonuses are more important to you when offered by the best Costa Rica casinos.

Match Deposit Bonus

A match deposit bonus is one where the house will match your first deposit into your new customer account. This will be by a certain percentage, e.g. 200% on first deposits up to $500.

No Deposit Bonus

When you receive a no deposit bonus, said free bonus funds will simply appear in your account once you opt in. You do not need to action anything else other than this, though your wagering requirements for these offers will tend to be much higher than on a match deposit bonus.

Free Spins

Unlike the previous two types of bonuses, free spins are specific to slots games at Costa Rica online casinos. Often, these will have to be used on a specific game too.

Costa Rica Casino Software Providers

Software is provided by the best online software suppliers for Costa Rica online casinos. Names such as RealTime Gaming (RTG), Visionary iGaming, Betsoft, Playtech and Yggdrasil are names you will begin to become accustomed with when you sign up for several online casino sites in Costa Rica.

Mobile Casinos in Costa Rica

You will be able to play on your favorite online casino site in Costa Rica on your mobile device, be that a smartphone or tablet. The majority of the best online casino sites offer an app downloadable via Google Play or the App Store. even if they do not yet offer this, each platform has a mobile-optimized website which you can play on your phone which includes all the options you would have on desktop, but available to play from anywhere you like.

Costa Rica Live Casinos

Some online casinos exist in Costa Rica where you can bet on live dealer games. This is where live dealers are dealing your cards, or spinning the roulette wheel in person, so you can have the feel of playing at a real facility. That Vegas feel is what makes live casinos so enthralling and exciting to play at, and more players than ever are turning to Costa Rica live casinos to get that feeling.

How to Play at a Costa Rica Online Casino

Playing at a Costa Rica casino is a simple process. Creating an account will only take a few minutes and we’re here to highlight how this works.

To do this we are using our top Costa Rica casino, Wild Casino. This sign-up process is as easy as it gets and you’ll be playing real money casino games in no time at all.

Step 1 – Create an Account

The first step is that you must set up and create an account. You can click on this link to be taken through to Wild Casino and from there all you need to do is click on the “Join Now” button.

Step 2 – Enter account Information

As the sign-up process begins you will need to enter your account information. They will ask you to include your name, address, phone number, email address and to create both a username and password for your account.

Step 3 – Deposit and Claim Welcome Offer

Once your account set up has been completed, you’re now ready to make your first deposit. You need to use the bonus code WILD250 for the first welcome bonus and this will get you 100% match worth up to $1,000.

You can claim this promotion using any of the payment methods that are available to you. Please note that depending on where you are in the world may mean that some of the payment options are not available to use.

Step 4 – Place Your Bets

When your deposit has been cleared and your bonus triggered, you’re ready to place your first bet. We recommend that you start on a game that has low minimum bet amount, such as the Wild Show slot. This will allow you to get used to how the casino works and real money casino games work.

Gambling Laws in Costa Rica – Is Gambling Legal in Costa Rica?

Gambling laws in Costa Rica aren’t as black and white as they may appear. For the most part gambling in the country is illegal and this includes both tourists and residents.

However, there are special licenses that have been granted by the Ministry of Public Security that allow certain sites in the country to legally run a range of casino games. Therefore, even though gambling is illegal, there are legal casinos in Costa Rica.

The policing of both legal and illegal venues is very low. There have been very few arrests made in the country for illegal gambling practices, so whilst laws don’t make gambling fully legal, activity in the country is high.

Is Online Gambling in Costa Rica Legal?

Costa Rica has unique tax laws which mean that companies who are based in the country pay less than they would if they were based in say, the United States as an example.

They also offer a full licensing service, which means that online gambling sites can apply for licenses and legally run within the country. By doing so it means that the gambling company is technically located in Costa Rica and therefore pays reduced tax rates as a condition of this.

Online gambling laws in terms of playing are split between residents and non-residents. It’s illegal for residents to gamble online (even if the site is based in Costa Rica) but it’s legal for tourists or non-residents to play online both whilst physically in Costa Rica and if they are accessing Costa Rica-based gambling sites.

History of Gambling in Costa Rica

The history of gambling in Costa Rica is relatively short. There’s not been many wholesale changes even over the last 100 years and the country continues to turn a blind eye to a lot of the old regulations that are still in place today.

• 1821 – Costa Rica gained independence from Spain
• 1999 – A bill was formed in the US that would prohibit online gambling in the country. Whilst the bill failed, many companies made contingency plans within countries such as Costa Rica to allow them to continue to host their online gambling platforms should any future bills be passed.
• 2000 – A decline for the Costa Rica gaming section started as the United States began chasing warrants for companies who were illegally located in the country and offering gambling services to the US.
• 2005 – The UIGEA was passed and this all but wiped-out businesses in Costa Ria. Most gambling sites located in the country left and those that remained saw their stock plummet.
• 2017 – Costa Rica is starting to revive itself within the online gambling sector. Companies are starting to return and take advantage of low tax rates and also the lessening of gambling laws in the US.

Land-based Casinos in Costa Rica – List of Casinos in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is home to no fewer than 30 land-based casinos. All these casinos are fully licensed which have been issued by the Ministry of Public Security.

A stipulation that’s in place for a lot of the sites that we will mention below is that they are kept away from public main streets to not entice people to enter. Many would argue that this is highly strange, but then, nothing is quite as it seems when it comes to gambling in Costa Rica.

Casinos San Jose Costa Rica

San Jose play host to 18 of the 30 casinos in the county. It’s often referred to as a mini–Las Vegas, such is the density of the casino sites. There are 5 located within a 10-minute walk around the Carmen District of the city.

Concorde Casino at Irazu Hotel

Address: Calle Luisa 3, San José, Costa Rica

The Concorde Casino is located within the Irazu hotel and is widely regarded as one of the country’s most iconic casinos. It’s located in downtown San Jose and next to several high-end shops and eateries.

In terms of the size of the casino, there are over 250 gambling machines, 9 table game and 7 poker tables. The total square footage of the casino floor is 4,400 sq. ft and this comes with 294 hotel rooms, spa, two restaurants and business meeting rooms throughout.

Casino Club Colonial

Address: Avenida 1ra, Calles 9 y 11, Costa Rica, Av. 1, El Carmen, San José, Costa Rica

Casino Club Colonial has been open since 2005 and was one of the first casinos opened in Costa Rica. It’s for this reason that it gets hundreds of thousands of tourists every year and is now an iconic part of the Carmen District where it’s located.

It comes with over 200 gaming machines and 5 table games spread across the 4,400 sp. Ft games room. Due to recent law changes, the casino is now no longer able to operate 24 hours a day and is open from 3pm to 5am.

On site includes a great steak restaurant called Magnolia, sports bar and fitness centre. Rates in the hotel start from just $79/night.

Other Casinos Located in San Jose

Here is a list of other casinos that are in San Jose:

• Fiesta Casino – Central & Calle 7, Catedral, San José, Costa Rica
• Grand Casino Escazu – Route 27 350 Metros Oeste Multiplaza, Guachipelin, San José, 10203, Costa Rica
• Casino Europa – San Jose, Costa Rica
• Del Ray Casino – Calle 1 Av. 9, Provincia de Heredia, Heredia, Costa Rica
• Horseshoe Casino – San José Province, San José, Costa Rica
• Lucky’s Casino – Calle 3 Avenida, San José, 10011-1000, Costa Rica

Casinos in Guanacaste

Guanacaste plays host to just a single casino in the form of Flamingo Beach Resort. IT’s one of the more stunning parts of the country and with it they get a lot of tourists visiting here.

Flamingo Beach Resort and Casino

Address: Flamingo Beach Road, Guanacaste Province, Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica

Set just back from the beach, Flamingo Beach Resort is arguably the most picturesque setting for any Costa Rica casino. It’s a small casino in terms of size with just 40 gaming machines and 5 table games, but given its location, means that it’s one of the most popular.

On site the casino has a 120-room hotel, which includes and ocean-front restaurants, swim up pool bar, spa, fitness center, kids club and scuba diving center. The casino floor measures 2,500 sq. ft, with blackjack and craps being the two most popular table games.

Casino Locations in Costa Rica

Below is a table with a list of the casino locations in Costa Rica. Within the the table we’ve included the address for easy access.

Costa Rica Casino Map

Below is a full map of all the casinos located in Costa Rica. The map highlights where they are in relation to the rest of the country.

When do Costa Rica Casinos Open?

Casinos are now all back open following a brief time closing due to COVID 19. Rule changes have come into place that state the casinos are no longer able to open 24 hours a day.

Most Costa Rica casinos are open from 3pm through to 5am, although some do differ. They are all open 7 days a week still.

The Future of Online Casinos in Costa Rica

The low tax rates and relative ease to get an online gaming license means that the future of online casinos in Costa Rica is bright. They are going to attract a wide range of casinos to the island and we are already seeing an influx as gaming laws are relaxed across the United States.

In terms of locals playing online casino games, then this looks a lot less promising. There have been no rule changes passed regarding this for a long time now and at the time of writing, no one with much authority is lobbying for a change in the laws.

As a result, it might be a long time still before locals are able to access online casinos.

What’s the Best Real Money Costa Rica Online Casino?

Gambling laws aren’t black and white in Costa Rica. The fact that gambling is illegal, yet the state willingly publishes licenses for over 30 locations in the country would back this up.

In terms of online gambling in Costa Rica, as long as the tax rates remain low and the licenses accessible, we would expect to see more online casinos located here. The best online casino in Costa Rica right now is Wild Casino. You can get up to $5,000 in bonus money when you register a new account using the link below.

FAQs About Costa Rica Online Casinos