History of gambling (Costa Rica)

History of gambling in Costa Rica

1) Colonial origins and charitable circulations (XIX - early XX centuries)

Lottery tradition. In Costa Rica, the early "game" was consolidated through charity rallies under the auspices of public care organizations. Over time, a state structure took shape that oversees social lotteries and directs revenue to health care and social support.

Cultural context. The lottery has become part of San Jose's urban everyday: stalls, street vendors, Sunday circulations, "good luck" numbers. This created a reputation for "socially acceptable" entertainment for the gambling industry.

2) Tourist modernization and the first casinos (1950s-1980s)

Growth of tourism. With the development of hotel infrastructure and air traffic, casinos began to appear at large hotels in San Jose and resort areas. The format is small rooms with roulette, blackjack, Caribbean Stud/poker tables and a fleet of slots.

Urban scene. By the end of the century, the "metropolitan" model was outlined: an evening in the capital = a restaurant/bar + a small casino at the hotel. Casinos operated as part of guest service, rather than as independent "mega-resorts."

3) 1990s: the "call center era" and the birth of the online industry

Jurrealia "data processing." In the 1990s, San Jose became a haven for a variety of sportsbook operators and poker rooms that legally registered the business as data processing/IT services companies, serving customers outside Costa Rica.

Offshore operating model. It housed back offices, support, trading teams and call centers for receiving bets by phone/Internet. At the same time, these companies, as a rule, did not conduct "onshore" B2C sales of services to the population of the country.

Economic trace. There were jobs for bilingual specialists, the demand for telecom services, office rent, fintech services increased.

4) 2000s: poker boom and multi-format

Poker rooms and tournaments. The wave of the global poker boom reached San Jose: cash games and series were held in hotels and small halls, Costa Rican back offices served international rooms online.

Slots and ETGs. In parallel, a fleet of slot machines grew, electronic tables (ETG) appeared, convenient for tourists and beginners: lower minimals, fast rhythm, less language barrier.

5) 2010s: "gray" online heir and offline stabilization

Regulatory status quo. Costa Rica has never built a classic onshore B2C mode for online games (as in jurisdictions with a permissive license). This kept the "hybrid": foreign operators keep back offices and legal entities here, but are focused on foreign markets.

Offline tourist scene. Casinos in the capital and resorts are entrenched as an element of evening leisure: "dinner → tables/slots → live music." Service, bilingual staff and quick payments of small amounts are important.

Responsible play. At the level of industry practices, age filters 18 +, KYC for large payments and basic AML procedures were strengthened.

6) 2020s: mobile, sports and post-pandemic adaptation

Mobile behavior. Short smartphone sessions have spurred interest in live betting and casual slots, even when the player is physically in a hotel or bar.

Sports events. The viewing-parties (football, boxing, MLB/NBA) became the anchor for evening checks; after the match, some of the guests move to the roulette/slots.

Tech way. Both offline and online ecosystems, e-wallets, transparent payment SLAs and KYCs before the first major cashout have become important.

Social and cultural markers

Lottery as a "social contract." The habit of buying tickets and linking the "game" with charity has formed a soft public attitude towards moderate forms of excitement.

Tourist style. Casinos are part of the city's night culture, not the purpose of the trip: chamber halls, a polite dress code, music and a bar.

Bilingualism and service. Bilingual staff is a competitive advantage that has historically fueled the offices of online operators.

Economics and employment

Service cluster. The history of online offices/call centers has instilled in the market the skills of support, risk management, IT infrastructure and payment integration.

Hotels and F & B. Casinos increase the load of restaurants/bars, extend the "evening" of the tourist and increase the average check.

Skills and training. The demand for dealers, technicians, AML/RG officers, IT admins and billing specialists supports niche training programs.

What makes Costa Rica different from its neighbors (historically)

Lack of a classic online license. Unlike, say, Panama, where the regulator issues onshore licenses, Costa Rica is known for its flexible "IT approach" of the 1990s-2000s (legal entities - yes, a B2C online license in the strict sense - no).

Bet on service and tourism. Small, but "warm" service areas at hotels, where the game is one of the modules of the evening.

Chronology (simplified)

1. XIX - early XX century. Charity draws → a state lottery tradition.

2. 1950s-1980s. Appearance and consolidation of hotel casinos (San Jose and resorts).

3. 1990s. The explosive growth of offshore sports books and poker rooms in the "data processing" format.

4. 2000s. Poker boom, slot expansion/ETG, becoming an urban night scene.

5. 2010s. Offline stabilization; online businesses continue to operate in overseas markets from Costa Rica.

6. 2020s. Mobile, e-wallets, event sports nights; responsible approach (18 +, KYC/AML) as the norm.

The history of gambling in Costa Rica is the path from social lotteries and compact hotel casinos to the "silicon" era of offshore online operators and today's mobile leisure model. The country has cemented its reputation as a welcoming, service and technologically flexible cluster: the lottery as a social foundation, casinos as an element of tourist nightlife, and back offices and technical teams as a legacy of the 1990s and 2000s, which still fuels the market with competencies.