Comparison with neighbors (Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica) - El Salvador

key> Context. In Central America, gambling ecosystems are close in format (compact halls, bingo, lotteries; "gray" online through international sites), but differ in the degree of tourist dependence, payment accessibility and regulatory clarity. Below is a pragmatic comparison of El Salvador with Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica without being tied to specific brands.

1) Short summary (in one look)

Parameter	El Salvador	Honduras	Guatemala	Costa Rica
Offline segment	Halls/bingo/lotteries, urban clusters	Resort and town halls, bingo; strong link to tourism (Roatan)	Town halls/bingo; local demand	Developed resort infrastructure; historically active sports bars/halls
Online for private operators	There is no full-fledged local B2C frame; players often go to international sites	Similarly: the online frame for private operators is unformalized/limited	Similar "gray" online environment	It has long been known as a friendly jurisdiction for iGaming hosting; consumer mode depends on the specific model
Tourism as a driver	BTC-PR and city weekends; resorts have less influence than neighbors	Cruising/Diving (Bay Islands), Evening Economy	Tourism is present, but demand is more "home"	Powerful resorts and national parks; stable flow of guests
Payments	USD + BTC as legal remedy (including KYC/AML), cards, e-wallet, stablecoins	Cards, e-wallet, stablecoins; not easy MCC for cards	Cards, cash, e-wallet point	Wide payment matrix (cards/e-wallet); tourists are comfortable
Products	Video slots, bingo, electronic tables; sports betting through international sites	Similarly + pronounced "fast" formats in resort areas	Similarly, emphasis on halls/bingo	Strong sports zones, show programs, event marketing
Perspective 2025-2030	BTC as a payment plus; when an online frame appears - upside	Growth due to tourism/omnichannel; online - the key to "whitewashing"	Stable offline, potential in service and payments	Competitiveness due to tourism, service culture

💡 Note: the wording about the online segment is generalized; Check current local regulations before product launch.

2) Regulation and transparency (high quality)

El Salvador. Offline formats are observable; there is no local "full" B2C license for online - a significant share of online demand goes to international sites. BTC is a legal tender but does not replace KYC/AML and RG.

Honduras. A similar picture: we see offline, online for private operators - unformalized/limited; tourism plays a big role.

Guatemala. Offline halls and lotteries on an understandable local basis; online - mainly through external platforms.

Costa Rica. Strong tourism economy and long-standing iGaming practices (hosting/operating models); details depend on the specific business structure and contracts.

Conclusion: the region is heterogeneous in terms of transparency online; in all four countries, KYC/AML, 18 + and RG advertising are important to the operator, regardless of the payment method.

3) Tourism and product

El Salvador. Urban clusters, evening visits 90-120 min; interest in BTC/Lightning as a "wow factor" for tourists and PR.

Honduras. Cruises/diving → "short bright night": fast slots, electronic tables, bingo events, English-speaking front.

Guatemala. "Home" demand + capital and tourist destinations; a classic mix of halls and bingo.

Costa Rica. Resorts and national parks provide a steady flow; bet on show/F & B and sport-bar formats.

4) Payments and UX

El Salvador: USD, BTC (including Lightning), cards, e-wallet, stablecoins. Practice - double marking USD/BTC, clear rates/commissions, fast cashout.

Honduras: "three whales" - cards + e-wallet + stables; explain in advance the commissions/limits, English-language stands in the resort areas.

Guatemala: cards/cash + dot e-wallet; emphasis on transparent checks and deadlines.

Costa Rica: wide matrix for tourists, established by UX payments; event programs as part of the "prod."

5) Responsible Gaming (RG) and advertising

Single best-practice for all four markets:

Age 18 +, visible warnings, honest T&C without promises of "easy money."
Deposit/loss/time limits, timeout, self-exclusion, reality checks.
Bilingual memos (es/en) in tourist areas; prohibition of retarget of self-excluded players.

6) SWOT for El Salvador amid neighbours

Strong: USD-denomination + BTC as a legal means (payment differentiator), urban clusters, understandable offline.

Weak: lack of a "full" online frame; part of the online GGR flows abroad.

Opportunities: omnichannel "zal↔tsifra" (promo/loyalty), tourism and BTC-PR, standardization of payments and SLA payments.

Threats: competition between resorts in Honduras/Costa Rica, payment failures, reputational risks with weak RG communication.

7) What to learn from neighbors (practically)

From Honduras: schedule for cruises/events, express-check-in/out, "5-min trainees" at the tables.

From Guatemala: local draw/bingo transparency, social formats and charity events.

From Costa Rica: service discipline, event calendar, F&B + show + sports screens as an anchor of traffic.

8) KPI panel for performance comparison

RevPAD/RevPOM (revenue per item/ ²) by day of the week and season.

Payments OK rate, median cashout (cards/e-wallet/crypto/Lightning).

Dwell Time (90-120 min target), hotel/cruise → lounge conversion.

Share of RG tools (accounts with limits/timeouts), calls to the help line.

Tourist NPS, return visits, proportion of English-language interactions.

9) Scenarios 2025-2030 (qualitative)

Optimistic (El Salvador): BTC-UX becomes payment standard; neat steps to the online frame appear; omnichannel strengthens retention, the "white" share of GGR is growing.

Basic: stable offline, service and payments are improving; The BTC PR effect supports tourism; online remains on international platforms.

Conservative: external shocks in tourism/payments; focus on local demand and low-threshold formats (bingo/slots), cost control.

10) Checklist to the operator of El Salvador

1. Payments: USD + BTC (Lightning/online) + e-wallet + stables; comprehensible courses/commissions and SLAs.

2. Service: bilingual "how to play," English-speaking front, safe transfer.

3. Marketing: event-grid (sports/music/bingo), storytelling "evening experience," without promises of "easy money."

4. RG/Compliance: default limits, timeouts, self-exclusion, incident log, 2FA for staff and players.

5. Partnerships: hotels/airlines/taxis; collaborations with the local scene and tourist clusters.

11) FAQ (short)

Is online in El Salvador regulated in the same way as offline?

No: there is no "full" local B2C frame for private operators; players often use international sites.

How does El Salvador compare favorably?

USD denomination and BTC as legal tender (with strict KYC/AML and RG).

Where is the stronger tourism drive?

Honduras (cruises/diving) and Costa Rica (resorts) have higher rates than El Salvador and Guatemala.

What quick improvements to give offline room?

Express-check-in, bilingual stands, honest SLAs for payments, calendar of events, "5-min trainees," safe transfer.

Comparison shows: El Salvador is competitive due to the USD + BTC payment stack, urban clusters and omnichannel potential; Honduras wins tourism; Guatemala - a stable "home" base; Costa Rica - service and resorts. The universal recipe for success for El Salvador is transparent payments, strong RG, bilingual service and event marketing, plus the use of BTC as a convenient (but safe) method, rather than as a "hype." In this configuration, the country can confidently compete for the evening leisure of tourists and local guests until 2030.