Gambling License in Costa Rica
Looking to launch your gambling business with ease and flexibility? Costa Rica is a well-known hub for online gaming operators, offering a crypto-friendly environment, minimal taxation, and a straightforward regulatory framework. While not part of the European Union, Costa Rica’s favorable international status and cost-effective setup make it an attractive jurisdiction for startups and established companies alike. Despite its advantages, navigating the licensing process can be complex and may require local legal insight.
Adam Smith provides expert guidance through every step of the licensing procedure, helping you secure your Costa Rican gambling license in as fast as 6–8 weeks. From legal structuring to government liaison, you’ll receive tailored support to ensure full compliance and a smooth launch.
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Costa Rica offers one of the most efficient paths to market for gambling and crypto operators, with licensing possible in as little as 6–8 weeks. Our team ensures all documentation and compliance steps are handled quickly and accurately.
With no restrictions on crypto transactions and a supportive legal environment, Costa Rica is ideal for operators looking to integrate digital assets. We guide you through the setup to ensure smooth operation from day one.
Enjoy low startup costs, no corporate tax on offshore income, and no requirement for local directors or offices. Our legal experts help minimize overhead while ensuring full regulatory compliance.
Costa Rica Gambling License – 2025 Overview
Costa Rica is a sovereign Central American jurisdiction known for its flexible regulatory environment and legal autonomy in areas such as corporate structuring, taxation, and online gambling. Although it does not issue traditional gambling licenses, Costa Rica permits companies to operate gambling-related businesses under a “data processing” company registration. This model has attracted a wide range of online gaming startups and established operators due to its regulatory clarity, cost-efficiency, and crypto-friendly stance.
Online gambling operations in Costa Rica have been governed since the early 2000s, with oversight primarily managed by the General Directorate of Taxation (Dirección General de Tributación). While exact numbers fluctuate, hundreds of companies have chosen this jurisdiction for its ease of incorporation and lack of restrictions on gambling or crypto transactions. Although not a formally licensed regime in the traditional sense, Costa Rica’s model is widely recognized in the industry and often serves as a practical entry point for international gaming ventures.
Why Choose Costa Rica for your Gambling License?
Register your gambling business in Costa Rica and target international markets, including US and EU countries. No offshore status stigma, you can attract players worldwide across various gaming experiences — online casinos, poker, slots and sports betting.
Costa Rica has a stable economy and political environment perfect for startups and established gaming companies. This jurisdiction provides regulatory predictability so your plans won’t be disrupted by policy changes.
Costa Rica doesn’t actively regulate online gambling sites or require strict reporting. Your business has freedom and flexibility to focus on growth, development and customer acquisition.
Costa Rica allows the use of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum for betting and winnings payout, so it’s a great jurisdiction for crypto gambling ventures. This is a clear competitive advantage over traditional fiat based gaming operators.
Companies earning revenue outside Costa Rica are exempt from local income and corporate taxes, reducing your operational costs. Costa Rica has agreements with Germany, Mexico and Spain to prevent double taxation.
Types of Gambling Licenses in Costa Rica
Costa Rica doesn’t grant a specific “gaming license”. Instead gambling businesses operate under a general “Data Processing License” granted by local municipalities. This license allows:
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Key Regulatory Compliance Requirements
Costa Rica doesn’t issue traditional gambling licenses but provides a setup for gambling operators via a Data Processing License which allows international gambling operations. To operate your online gambling business from Costa Rica smoothly and compliantly, certain key regularities must be observed.
Operators must implement robust Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) policies according to Costa Rican law (Law 9449). This means maintaining detailed customer identification records and transactional documentation, monitoring suspicious activities and reporting to authorities according to best international practices.
Companies must keep local accounting records in Spanish according to Costa Rican commercial regulations. Mandatory records include shareholders registry, accounting ledger, minutes of meetings and inventories for compliance and audit purposes.
A local Costa Rican registered address and official representative is required. This representative will communicate with local authorities and oversee procedural compliance on the ground.
Detailed records of players’ transactions must be kept for at least 5 years. Systems and software must be transparent to allow for external audits if requested by authorities.
Operators cannot provide gambling services to Costa Rican citizens/residents, therefore IP blocking systems must be implemented to prevent local user access.
- Company incorporation in a suitable legal form (Corporation or LLC).
- Office rental agreement documentation.
- Employee registration with Costa Rican Social Security (Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social).
- Insurance verification for employees to ensure adequate coverage.
- Local municipality inspection and compliance documentation.
At Adam Smith, we ensure full compliance with all these requirements. Our specialized guidance clearly outlines expectations, responsibilities and requirements so your operational setup not only complies with regulations but allows your business to thrive in Costa Rica’s favorable environment.
Steps to Get a Costa Rica Gambling License
Launching an online gambling business in Costa Rica offers many advantages due to the country’s supportive regulatory environment and robust economy. Costa Rica doesn’t issue specific gambling licenses but facilitates gambling operations registered as data processing businesses, so operators can legally serve foreign markets.
To get started and set up your gambling business in Costa Rica, follow these structured steps:
The first step is to choose the right corporate entity according to your business needs. In Costa Rica, the most common and advantageous legal structures are corporations (“Sociedad Anónima”) and limited liability companies (“Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada”). These entities allow 100% foreign ownership and flexible management structures, making them the best choice for international operators.
Prepare the necessary incorporation documents in Spanish, including articles of association, shareholder agreements, power of attorney, identification of beneficiaries, office lease agreements and approvals from local authorities. It is highly recommended to have a qualified lawyer to assist with this process.
Register your entity with the National Registry of Costa Rica, get a tax identification number (NIT) from the Internal Revenue Service and file a Declaration of Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) with Costa Rica’s Central Bank. Also, register as an employer with local social security authorities (Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social).
Submit the required documents and applications to the local municipality to get your data processing license. This license allows you to process client data and is a necessary step to legally offer online gambling activities from Costa Rica to international markets.
Due to strict banking regulations and US influence, traditional banking solutions in Costa Rica can be challenging. It’s often recommended to find offshore or European financial institutions that are used to gambling sector activities.
Implement robust Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) policies. Costa Rica requires strict AML/CFT compliance, which means continuous monitoring of customer activity, identity verification and reporting of suspicious activities to prevent financial crime.
If desired, secure server hosting arrangements within the country. Costa Rican regulation requires operators to block local residents from accessing the gambling platform via IP blocking.
At Adam Smith, our expertise in Costa Rican gambling compliance, company formation, licensing and banking solutions will guide you through the whole process from start to finish.
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Transparent Pricing for a Smooth Business Setup in Costa Rica
At Adam Smith, we believe in transparency and clarity. Our packages for setting up your Costa Rica gambling company provide a hassle-free experience, no hidden costs and a full overview of your investment from start to finish.
- Essential$6 500 3-4 weeks
- Advanced$9 750 4-6 weeks
- Premium$14 500 6-8 weeks
Our Team
Industry Leading Professionals for Your Success
Our team of highly experienced professionals delivers results driven business solutions for gambling operators in Costa Rica. Each team member brings industry specific expertise, commitment to quality and practical knowledge of Costa Rica’s regulatory environment. From our senior associates to dedicated compliance specialists and qualified lawyers, every team member is committed to your smooth operation, legal compliance and strategic growth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No, Costa Rica doesn’t issue gambling licenses. Companies operate under data processing licenses and general business regulations.
Approx. USD 6,500 for the initial setup, including registration, license fees and legal work.
No, companies based in Costa Rica cannot provide gambling services to Costa Rican residents.
International income generated outside the jurisdiction is tax exempt for corporate and personal income tax in Costa Rica.
About 3 weeks from filing to operational readiness.
Local banking is conservative; offshore banking is recommended for smoother operations.
Yes, dividends paid offshore are taxed at 15% for registered shares and 5% for bearer shares.
Yes, cryptocurrency payments (BTC, ETH, etc.) are allowed, making Costa Rica perfect for crypto gaming.
Costa Rica has double taxation agreements with Germany, Mexico and Spain.
No mandatory gambling audits but AML/KYC compliance checks and record retention are strictly enforced.
Articles of association, shareholder details, director identification, office lease agreement, AML policy documentation.
No, Costa Rica is not listed by FATF as a high-risk jurisdiction.
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Your Costa Rica gambling business begins here. Let our expert business consultants at Adam Smith guide your business from incorporation to market entry with speed and compliance expertise.
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