Online Gambling License in Costa Rica

Being one of the most crypto-friendly jurisdictions, Costa Rica has a lenient stance when it comes to GameFi projects. For some of them, however, it might be necessary to obtain a Costa Rica crypto license in addition to the local gambling permit. The requirement covers those crypto gaming projects that are in any way involved with fiat currencies: for instance, the ones that offer crypto on-ramp and off-ramp services on the platform. With the assistance of LegalBison, it will be easier to obtain the crypto gambling license in Costa Rica and synergize both business models in one project. 

Online casino is the most popular type of gambling business that can be licensed in Costa Rica. There are few requirements and the general application process is extremely straightforward and fast. Apart from securing a tax registration, opening a local office, and assigning a resident director, it is vital to make agreements with third parties, such as gambling operators whose products you are planning to list on the platform.

Online sports betting is considered a form of gambling and is legal in Costa Rica. In order to provide sports betting services to customers, you will have to secure a local gambling license. Notably, eSports betting falls under the same umbrella, and online betting sites remain compliant with local laws as long as they do not offer services to Costa Rican citizens.

Online lotteries and raffles in Costa Rica are regulated by the Junta de Potección de Social, the state lottery operator in the country. Platforms wishing to offer online lottery games in the country must go through the licensing process before doing so.

Poker is formally regulated in Costa Rica, even though its status borders between a game of chance and a game of skill. Online poker can be one of the multiple services provided by an online gambling platform as long as the company holds a Costa Rican license. 

Slot machines, commonly known as slots, fall under the category of games of luck, which are generally accepted by the Costa Rican authorities, although under the same set of restrictions as other forms of online gambling.

Play-2-Earn projects have recently gained a considerable level of popularity in Costa Rica. They are legal in the country, although proper legal preparation is required. Even more so, it is highly recommended to obtain a legal opinion from a lawyer to prove that your gaming model is associated with a game of skill and that it does not have an element of randomness in it.