For many years, Costa Rica has been a country to which tourists flow en masse, as well as retirees and expatriates who want to live a more relaxed lifestyle and enjoy the beautiful scenery of this part of the continent along with its friendly climate.
However, in addition to all the wealth of its nature and laid-back lifestyle, it recently also witnessed a sharp surge in sports betting. Residents and foreigners alike have embraced this type of entertainment and added sports betting to the variety of leisure activities in the country. As sports gambling is gradually and increasingly accepted worldwide, Costa Rica has become another big feeder of this trend, especially within its large expat and tourist populations.
Sports Betting in Costa Rica
Sports betting is by no means a new phenomenon in Costa Rica, as this country has always served as a home for several offshore betting companies, taking advantage of its relatively liberal regulations concerning gambling operations. Indeed, its regulatory framework attracted international betting platforms for years; it has been a hub for online sportsbooks catering to most markets around the world. As for the local population itself, engagement in sports betting has appeared only very recently.
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The sports wagering landscape has changed dramatically over the past couple of years, with more Costa Ricans, expats and even tourists taking part in different ways of betting, both on local and international events. According to a report emanating from the Costa Rican Chamber of Gambling, issued in 2024, casinos, online betting sites and sportsbooks have grown about 12% annually over the last three years, of which sports wagering bears a serious percentage.
One of the main factors driving this increase has been the truly great facilities provided by online betting platforms. The rise of smartphones, tablets and high-speed internet allows users to place bets at the click of a button with much greater ease than ever before, eliminating many of the accessibility barriers that could often restrict entry.
The Role of Online Betting Platforms
This is in part because of the proliferation of online betting platforms-think, for example, of the growth of sports betting in Costa Rica, where a bevvy of online sportsbooks has cropped up. Platforms originating from outside Latin America, such as Betway, accessed through the bet app download, are finding their way to new regions and offer professional, comprehensive sports options that appeal both to seasoned and beginning bettors.
The emerging platforms are therefore increasingly attractive to expatriates in Costa Rica, who are accustomed to similar services in their countries of origin, while at the same time attracting technology-savvy tourism that is seeking an easy form of entertainment.
Online sports betting sites in Costa Rica offer a wide array of options, from global leagues and sports such as the English Premier League and NBA to regional favorites such as football in Costa Rica. Other examples show more niche offerings, including virtual sports and eSports. Being able to bet on a wide variety of sports really appeals to the growing expatriate population of the country who may have personal links to international teams or leagues.In a survey conducted by the Latin American Gambling Association in 2024, a full 65% of expats in Costa Rica said they had placed some sort of sports bet in the past year, while 73% used online platforms for such bets. These figures reflect an increasing demand for smooth and easy-to-use platforms, serving a wide variety of interests.
A Local Twist: Betting on Latin American Sports
While international sports such as football, basketball and tennis control the global markets for bets, more local sports also get a fair share in the case of Costa Rica. Football is, by far and away, the most popular sport in the country and its national league, La Liga Promerica, draws much attention from local and expatriate bettors alike. Matches that involve major powerhouse teams such as Deportivo Saprissa and Liga Deportiva Alajuelense often attract a huge audience in local and expatriate betting circles.
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Besides soccer, other prevailing sports are boxing, baseball and horse racing, which equally have wide distribution for local gamblers. For example, boxing is a highly popular sport in Costa Rica; some boxers from this country have gained huge popularity worldwide, which motivates people to place bets on the most important combats. Horse racing is less popular, but it has found its niche among gamblers.According to the Costa Rican Institute of Sports and Recreation, otherwise known as ICODER, it’s estimated that sports-related activities, in particular, betting, raked in $95 million in revenues in 2023 and are expected to grow a further 8-10% by the end of 2024. Of course, this is highly satisfactory, with football leading the pack in Roof income, while smaller sports such as basketball and baseball have also seen some forms of betting action, especially as younger generations of Costa Ricans and expats move toward greater diversification in their sport-watching habits.
Legal Landscape of Sports Betting in Costa Rica
With these factors, Costa Rica’s legal approach to sports betting stands out from the rest of the countries, making it a very hot destination for any betting company and individual sports bettors. While many forms of gambling in Costa Rica-including sports betting-are legal, their government has failed to establish an appropriate regulatory framework to control online sports betting.
Instead, operators only have to follow general business law and obtain a license that permits for them to operate in the country. These licenses are relatively easy to obtain, making the country a popular destination for offshore gambling firms – though technically, they are not allowed to provide direct services to Costa Ricans. Local betting on international platforms is not heavily restricted and the almost non-existent regulatory framework created a kind of laissez-faire environment. That being said, the government of Costa Rica has, as of late, been keeping a closer eye on the industry as it takes center stage in the economy.The year 2024 and beyond does not hold an indication of broadly changing regulatory changes, but some analysts believe the government may consider introducing formal regulations to manage tax revenues better and ensure consumer protection. This, in a certain sense, ambiguous legal framework allows both local and foreign bettors to engage in sports betting without any sort of possible legal consequences. International platforms continue to operate their own free will and there are no reports of significant legal challenges against individual bettors.
This increase in sports betting, however, is a mirror of the global trends since online platforms have eased how people bet, regardless of their geographical location. Online sports betting websites, therefore, have become the avenue through which expatriates and travelers enjoy sports entertainment and participate in their favorite teams and sports leagues around the world. Meanwhile, the legal and regulatory environment has remained favorable for this trend to continue in Costa Rica. As such, as it continues to grow, sports wagering will be one of the main sources that contribute to this country’s entertainment rhythm, presenting opportunities initially for natives and then for international visitors.
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