Americas
Costa Rica
No single dedicated gambling regulator; the Ministry of Public Security (Ministerio de Seguridad Pública) licenses and supervises hotel-based casinos, while the state-run Junta de Protección Social (JPS) holds the exclusive monopoly over lottery and sports-betting products for domestic players.
Regulations & Licensing
Casino
RegulatedOnline Casino
UnregulatedBetting
ProhibitedOnline Betting
UnregulatedLottery
RegulatedBingo
MixedKey Legislation
- Gambling Law No. 3 (1922)
- Decree No. 20224-G (1991) – Casino Regulations
- Junta de Protección Social Organic Law
- Law No. 9050 (2012) & Decree No. 39231-MSP-MH (2015) – Casino & Data-Processing Firm Rules
Online Gambling
Allowed
- Registering as a data-processing / call-connection company to operate an online casino, poker room or sportsbook platform
- Serving players located outside Costa Rica
- Offering online bingo to non-resident players
Prohibited
- Targeting or accepting Costa Rican residents as players
- Using local Costa Rican financial institutions for gambling transactions
- Running a lottery or sports pool for the domestic market (reserved for JPS)
Taxation
Gambling-specific levyNone – standard corporate and municipal taxes apply to registered companies
License validity: No dedicated online gambling licence exists; operators rely on standard data-processing company registration renewed under ordinary corporate/municipal terms
Land-Based Gambling
Allowed
- Slot machines and table games operated inside licensed hotels
- State-run lottery ticket sales nationwide via JPS
- State-run sports pools and betting products via JPS
Prohibited
- Standalone casinos outside licensed hotel premises
- Private commercial sports betting shops
- Unregistered or unlicensed gaming devices
Taxation
Casino/gaming device feeSet under Law No. 9050 and Decree No. 39231-MSP-MH (per-device and revenue-based fees)
License validity: Annual renewal through the Ministry of Public Security
Regulation data is editorial and for information only — not legal advice.
