Costa Rica (generic business licence)
Costa Rica does NOT issue gambling licences. Sites “licensed in Costa Rica” hold only a generic business registration — not gambling regulation.
Why this is a Not a gambling licence licence
This page exists to correct a very common myth. Costa Rica does not regulate online gambling and issues no gambling licence. Operators "based in Costa Rica" simply incorporate a local company and hold a generic business or data-processing permit — there is no gambling authority auditing their games, protecting player funds or handling complaints. When a casino lists "licensed in Costa Rica" as its only credential, treat it as effectively unlicensed.
How it operates
There is no Costa Rican gambling regulator. A company registers locally and operates under a general business permit; no authority tests RNGs, enforces responsible gambling, ring-fences deposits or arbitrates disputes. The "licence" is a business registration, not gambling oversight.
If something goes wrong
Because there is no gambling authority, there is no regulator to appeal to. Your only practical recourse is the operator itself and any payment chargeback. Strongly prefer casinos that ALSO hold a real gambling licence (UK, Malta, or a strong offshore regulator); a Costa-Rica-only operator should be treated as unregulated.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Costa Rica gambling licence real?
No. Costa Rica does not issue gambling licences. A "Costa Rica licence" is a general business or data-processing registration with no gambling oversight behind it.
Why do so many casinos say they're licensed in Costa Rica?
Because it is cheap and easy to register a company there with no gambling-specific requirements. It lets a site claim a "licence" without meeting any real regulatory standard.
Is a Costa-Rica-only casino safe?
Treat it as unregulated. With no authority auditing games, protecting funds or handling disputes, your only recourse is the operator and your payment provider. Prefer casinos that also hold a real gambling licence.