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Costa Rican law reforms
Costa Rica has historically acted as an "operational" center for entertainment and digital services, where the offline segment is represented by compact casino lounges at hotels, and online activities have long existed in a non-rigidly codified frame. In 2025-2030 the window of opportunity is to move from fragmented norms and "market practices" to a clear regulatory system that is compatible with the requirements of payment providers and responsible play standards.
1) What pushes reforms
Fiscal agenda. Transparent taxes on gross gaming revenue (GGR) and earmarked contributions to social funds.
Payments and banks. Acquiring and alternative PSPs require a recognizable license, understandable KYC/AML procedures, separate accounting of player funds.
Consumer protection. Mandatory limits, self-exclusion, clear bonus rules and hotlines.
Tourism and image. Legally, the "white" model strengthens the confidence of tourists and corporate MICE races.
Technology. Live rates, crypto payments, provably fair - all this is easier to standardize through law and by-laws.
2) Three basic reform models
Model A - Registry + Baseline Surveillance (minimally invasive).
Operator register, key KYC/AML requirements, reporting, standard rules for responsible play, transparent T & Cs.
Pros: fast launch, low load on the state apparatus.
Cons: limited "recognition" by international banks, possible gaps in content certification.
Model B - "Full license with regulator."
Single online/sports license with RNG/platform audits, data provider certification, customer funds segregation, sanctions, and public registry.
Pros: access to mainstream payments, high level of trust, uniform RG standards.
Cons: Higher entry threshold, staffing and institutional procedures required.
Model C - "Hybrid export + local pilot."
Maintaining the export role of back offices and B2B (working with foreign markets), while a limited local pilot (for example, only sports bets under limits and hard RG).
Pros: gradual adaptation, reduction of internal risks.
Cons: the difficulty of distinguishing between traffic and marketing.
3) Tax architecture (landmarks)
GGR tax 10-20% (range used in a number of comparable jurisdictions), adjusted by vertical (slots/rates/live).
License fees: primary (introductory) + annual.
Targeted deductions for sports, culture, prevention of gambling addiction.
Ad tax with content and targeting restrictions.
Reporting on payments (fiat/crypto) and currency conversions.
4) RG-by-design
Age verification, deposit/time/rate limits, self-restriction log.
Self-exclusion and "cooling" procedure, visible help contacts.
Clear bonus rules (wagering, deadlines, prohibition of "hidden" conditions).
Transparent calculation of calculations, cash out, SLA for payments.
5) Advertising and Communications
Prohibition of aggressive messages ("get rich fast"), promo labeling.
Temporary "watersheds" for advertising, prohibition of targeting vulnerable groups.
Liability and limit info messages in each media.
Code of influencers and sports collaborations.
6) Payments and financial hygiene
Segregated accounts for customer funds; daily reconciliations.
KYC/AML circuit: sanctions and geo-filters, transaction monitoring, investigations.
Antifraud: velocity rules, behavioral models, 3-D Secure/2FA.
Crypto-frame: list of permissible assets (priority - stablecoins), disclosure of network commissions and conversion rates, on/off-ramp procedures.
7) Institutional architecture
Regulator/department: licensing, audit, sanctions, RG/AML/IT security manuals.
Accredited laboratories: RNG/games certification, annual audits.
Integration Sports Council: working with data providers, monitoring suspicious matches.
Public dashboard: statistics of taxes, complaints, payment times, the share of players with active limits.
8) Reform Roadmap (2025-2030)
Phase 1 - Preparation (0-12 months).
Public consultation on A/B/C models.
Draft law + set of by-laws (payments, advertising, RG, certification).
Pilots in a voluntary register (proto-license) with a "sandbox" for reporting.
Phase 2 - Start-up (12-24 months).
Entry of licenses and transition period for existing operators.
Launch of a registry, hotline, complaints portal, public reports.
Laboratory accreditation, first inspections and sanction practices.
Phase 3 - Deepening (24-36 months).
Expansion of verticals (props, fantasy, e-sports) within the approved perimeter.
Integration with banks and PSP, crypto-on/off-ramp standards.
Annual revision of GGR rate and regulatory KPIs.
9) Reform KPIs for the state
Market share transferred to the licensed perimeter (> 70% by year 3).
License processing time (<90 days), Player Payment Time (SLA).
Percentage of users with active limits (> 35% by year 2).
Decrease in the share of complaints and disputes year-on-year.
Volume of earmarked contributions and their transparent distribution.
10) Impact on the economy and tourism
Employment: support, risk analytics, IT/DevOps, marketing, compliance.
Investments: updating equipment, modernizing payment routes, local data centers.
Tourism: growing confidence in entertainment venues at hotels, MICE events, sports broadcasts as a reference calendar.
Image: Moving from a "grey area" to a "regulated jurisdiction" with social standards
11) Risks and countermeasures
Regulatory overload. Phased implementation, sandboxes, digitalization of procedures.
Payment failures during the transition. Redundant PSPs, transparent status communication.
Communication risks. Code of advertising and influencers, quick moderation of complaints.
Personnel deficit. Compliance/AML/RG academies, specialist accreditation program.
12) Practical checklist for operators (ready for reforms)
Bilingual T & Cs, public bonus and settlement rules.
Full KYC/AML playbook, geo-block logic and sanction filters.
Segregated accounts, daily reconciliations, payment SLA reporting.
RG package: limits/self-exclusion/timers, usage statistics.
Platform/game certification, DR plan and security incident log.
Map of compliance with advertising: inventory, age restrictions, tags.
Inference. For Costa Rica, gambling law reforms are a chance to turn an existing operational force (human resources, IT, tourism) into a transparent regulated ecosystem. The most realistic way is a phased model with quick registration and subsequent transition to a full-fledged license: this way the country will receive taxes and trust, players - protection and clear rules, and business - access to payments and predictable investment horizons.