Costa Rica is the most prosperous country in Central America, known for its biodiversity and nature tourism. Regarding sports betting in Costa Rica, it arrived in a similar way to the rest of the countries, although with variations in each place.
In Costa Rica, there is gambling regulation since 2012 but it is a regulation full of loopholes that do not prevent Costa Ricans from betting in houses in other countries, with which they can visit and bet on the main internet betting houses. Bearing that in mind, here are the best sports betting sites in Costa Rica for 2023 and see what you can expect to find there.
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Quick Jump
The current law is from 2012, which means that for a few years they have known the importance of regulating a market. To tell the truth, and if we compare it with the rest of the surrounding countries, Costa Rica had more than enough reasons to legislate in this regard. Not surprisingly, at the beginning of the century, betting companies and casinos began to appear in Costa Rican territory, much more focused on convincing the autistic Anglo-Saxon to play with them than on offering their services to the native people. But whatever it was, the fact is that they settled in Costa Rica, so it can be said that it is not a new element that they have just found, but that they have been accustomed to the business for some time.
At the beginning of the century, the first betting companies emerged in Costa Rica. To this must be added that since the 1960s there has been Totogol, a kind of pool, and that in 1994 another new sport betting game called Creatico was created, although it did not catch on. These games were indeed focused on the Costa Rican public, but as it happens with the different pools of the countries, this one was also focused on the national league, so currently they can no longer compete with the big bookmakers. In short, the fact is that there is currently legislation and a State that distributes licenses to establish themselves in the country.
However, this law does not prohibit online betting houses from operating with licenses from other countries, so the offer for Costa Ricans is enormous. This law, called the Tax Law on Casinos and Electronic Gambling Call Link Companies, is more focused on controlling than trying to ensure that the betting houses that operate have a license. Later we will talk about taxes, which is ultimately what matters in this regulation since otherwise, it has little to say.
In short:
The supervision of bets has always been the fundamental issue when it comes to regulating this system from the Government of Costa Rica. Already in 2002, seeing that there were more and more bookmakers and casinos on the ground, the state wanted to regularize their situation in order to claim taxes on their profits, something totally natural and that many other states had already put into practice.
Of course, they took advantage of the fact that already in the year 2000 there were some 120 gambling companies in Costa Rica and that, therefore, they could make a profit just as the bookmakers themselves did by settling there. Thus, as mentioned, as of 2002 the control was increasingly harsh in order for the bookmakers to continue their business in Costa Rica, but also to contribute more and more.
In this way, the current law was reached, that of 2012, the Tax Law on Casinos and Electronic Betting Call Link Companies, a law that makes it very clear what bookmakers can and cannot do, and what they must contribute to the State of Costa Rica.
The only ones that must pay taxes are the bookmakers. As for the user, he should not be worried about any of this. The only ones that must pay taxes are the bookmakers since the profits generated by the user are not taxed.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Costa Rica?
Online casinos are still a bit unexplored territory when it comes to regulations but since gambling is legal in Costa Rica, online gambling is possible as well, although at foreign sports betting sites.
When evaluating a bookmaker, there are several points to note. If you are a beginner gambler and don’t know where to start, it’s important to clarify these points. That way, you will know what is essential to look for in a sports betting site in Costa Rica.
Remember once again that this selection of bookmakers is subjective. Therefore, you should only choose a bookmaker if you think it fits what you are looking for. Our intention is only to help novice bettors to find a good sports betting operator. So, let’s quickly explain five of the main criteria evaluated, although there are many more things to note.
Undoubtedly, this is the most important criterion. After all, you can’t choose a bookmaker that doesn’t have a license and doesn’t offer security to bettors.
In fact, the least that respected sports bookmakers have is a license to operate and secure websites. In an industry like this, all the time you are dealing with sensitive user information and financial transactions, you must be protected through a secure connection, with SSL/TLS protocol or additional security features. For example, firewalls and so on.
Would you like to walk into a restaurant and find just one or two dishes to choose from? Most likely not. What we always want is possibilities of choices and, in a bookmaker, this is fundamental. Thus, the sports betting sites in Costa Rica should have a large number of online betting markets, that is, the types of sports bets that bettors can place.
A quality sports betting company offers a complete catalog of sports, competitions and markets. Thus, the bettor has many options to place their guesses, like many modalities besides football – basketball, tennis, volleyball, combat sports, motorsports and more. There are also eSports (electronic sports), which grow every year. And even more unusual sports, like darts and cricket, for example.
In terms of competition, the menus are also extensive. Just to exemplify, in football, there are huge championships, such as the Champions League and the World Cup, to smaller tournaments.
The number of markets must also be vast. Thus, the bettor can choose different types of bets on an event. As football is the most popular, let’s give examples of some markets you can find in a match:
The variety of markets may change depending on the sporting event. So always check every betting site and events.
Odds are very important in sports betting. In fact, they are essential. After all, they determine how much punters can receive in returns in case of sure bets. So, it’s quite simple: the higher the odds the bookmaker offers, the better. In this way, we always look for bookmakers with good odds.
It is also important to mention that the odds are subject to market fluctuations and changes. So always keep an eye on sportsbooks for the most up-to-date odds.
The ability to place live bets is essential at a good sports betting site in Costa Rica. More and more bettors are looking for the possibility of placing bets in real-time. So big sports betting companies need to have this option. Therefore, always check each platform to see the catalog available for live betting. And see if the sport you prefer to bet on has a good variety.
In addition, some online betting sites also have features such as live streaming. In other words, live video streaming of sporting events. This is a very interesting feature for the bettor who enjoys live betting. After all, nothing is better than following the event before deciding whether to place a bet or not and see trends from what’s unfolding in real time. Some carriers may not offer this functionality. So always check each bookmaker.
Also, remember that the live streaming feature is subject to geographic and technical limitations. And the feature is not technically free, which means you must have an account balance to use it.
Another important aspect that we analyze in the best bookmakers in Costa Rica are promotions. For example, welcome bonuses. Online betting operators that provide welcome bonuses for new users come out ahead. It’s always good to start online betting with a bonus, not least because many young gamblers want to try the platform first.
Therefore, we should always check the welcome bonus of each bookmaker. And, of course, the offers for the oldest bettor, who already has an account on the online betting site. If the company has a good catalog of promotions, this really counts in its favor.
In case you are one of the bettors who prefers to focus on one sport at a time, let’s say tennis, you are one step ahead. By knowing the discipline that interests you, you can compare the different bookmakers to analyze which of them provides you with a better condition when betting.
For example, in the case of tennis, look for a bookmaker whose tennis odds are better than those of the competition. That by offering promotions they never forget this sport. Likewise, that it covers more markets than the average and that it provides good coverage of both ATP and WTP events.
When we talk about how to bet, we refer to the format of your bet, whether it is a simple bet, combined, with Cash Out, live or with any other new alternative offered by the sportsbook.
Find the sports betting sites in Costa Rica that offer the services you need and join them. You can use our guide to learn about choosing a bookmaker or simply choose one from the list provided above.
Technology and Internet connection allows us to register an account on any sports betting platform in a matter of minutes. It’s so easy, that the only really difficult thing is to hit all the bets. The requirements to create an account in a bookmaker are quite easy to meet:
The registration process can vary depending on the page you want to join, but in general, it is as easy as creating a Facebook account.
That’s it! You now have a sports betting site account to bet with. Before betting you will have to do two extra steps that are essential for your stay in the bookmaker to be positive.
Before you can deposit or withdraw money from your account at the best sports betting sites in Costa Rica, you must go through identity verification. This is a process to maintain 100% security and prevent someone from using your name illicitly. Likewise, identity verification prevents people from creating accounts due to idleness or the mere fact of claiming a promotion.
The requirements to prove that you are who you say you are are:
The verification process does not take more than a week, so betting in a short time is possible.
Some bookmakers licensed in Costa Rica establish an initial deposit of a certain minimum amount to let you enjoy all the markets within their platform. Before making any deposit, investigate what is the minimum amount that you must enter in order not to make a mistake and keep some of the functions blocked. The initial deposit is also important when it comes to bookmaker offers, especially the welcome deposit bonus. These promotions require a mandatory minimum deposit to be valid.
One thing to consider is that the first deposit method you use will be your first withdrawal method as well, so think carefully about which one you will use.
After the money has been deposited into the account, you can place sports bets online in Costa Rica. Go to the bookmaker’s website (or access it by a mobile app) and find all the sports and markets that you wish to bet on. Select the matches and types of bets, choose the amount of money to bet with, and confirm your betting slip. All that remains is to wait for the good news.
Costa Rica, like any brave Latin American country, feels fervor when the sport begins. It is a nation that enjoys football and a few other sports quite a lot. This is noticeable in the popularity of certain sports in betting.
The king sport is the favorite of Costa Rican gamblers. Liga MX is filled with all the passion in the world and international events are equally relevant to every Costa Rican. Without a doubt, the main sport for your predictions.
The NBA has an important place in the hearts of Costa Ricans, such is the magnitude that this sport has of the most interesting markets within betting.
If you thought Americans were excited about the NFL, you haven't seen the Costa Ricans. Surprising as it may seem, American football is one of the most preferred sports to bet on.
Tennis is a popular sport in Costa Rica, although it is very far from the previous ones, the operators offer interesting promotions and attractive markets.
eSports exploded in popularity with LAN's involvement in its own professional League of Legends league, Valorant, CS: GO, and Dota 2, among others. The bets in this sport rose like foam.
When you log into an online sports betting site in Costa Rica to see the market selections for a sporting event, then you usually see fixed odds. This is the basic format of most betting, especially for newcomers to online betting. But just as the markets are huge, there are different types of bets.
Single bets are one of the main ones. This is where the market price is offered in conjunction with the direct result of an event. To bet on a football game, for example, you will have three fixed outright options. You can bet on a victory for the home team, a draw or a victory for the away team.
Each outcome will have probabilities assigned to it. You make your selection by adding it to your betting slip, enter your guess and complete your bet. This is the simplest type of bet available and is most common anywhere you bet online. It represents a positive factor as the risk is good and enough to get in and out quickly, as well as being easy to use for new punters who are getting familiar with betting. However, there are other types of bets that are worth exploring.
Multiples, such as doubles and trebles, are a way to increase your betting power. Let’s take a look at a good example – In the Brazilian league match schedule for the weekend you choose three match winners. Let’s say Botafogo, Corinthians, and Atlético-MG. These would probably all be very strong favorites to win their respective games.
Profit margins, therefore, would not be very good. But there is a way to boost that profit a little bit by playing a multiple providing extra coverage. Multiples give you a chance to earn higher profit for smaller bets. But while that sounds good, you have to understand that the chances of winning are smaller than individual bets.
Multiples are linked to singles and doubles, for example the first selection’s winnings are then lessened by what you bet on the second selection. If you have made a treble then the accumulated winnings from your first bets will be discounted on the third selection.
When you look at four selections your accumulators are named by the number of selections made (four times, five times, six times, etc). With these accumulators you need all the results to win. And then, the bigger the accumulator, the bigger the prize, but the harder it is to win. One wrong result and you will lose everything.
Full coverage bets are a great way to add in coverage to your individual bets. Let’s say you bet on three football games – Instead of a triple, you can play a Trixie. This means you are making three selections but are actually covered by four bets, two doubles and a treble, giving you complete coverage on your selections. The Yankee bet is four selections covered by eleven separate bets (6 doubles, 4 trebles and a quadruple accumulator). The more selections you make, the more coverage you have.
Unlike an accumulator, a full cover bet does not require all selections to win. In a Trixie, only two of your selections have to win to get something in return. In a Yankee, for example, you only need three picks to win in order to get some sort of return (which, of course, won’t be as big as if all four picks had won). So that provides good coverage.
You can expect to pay more on the initial bet than on an accumulator, just as you have to bet on essentially all betting combinations (e.g. eleven combinations on a Yankee). So a Yankee would cost you a stake of $44 if you bet 4 as your base unit, however you don’t have better coverage than an accumulator.
Spread bets are most commonly found in North American betting markets but also are becoming more popular all around the world. They offer greater rewards, but also greater risks.
For the Spread bet, the bookmaker will randomly set some points in a football match, for example, say 31-34. You have to decide whether you think the total points in the game will be less than 31 or greater than 34.
So you bet units stake, say for example $4. If you bet the game will end up with 31 points then for every point under that number you will win bet multiplied by the difference. So if there were only 10 points in the game, you would earn 31-10 = 21 x $4 = $84 profit. If, however, the score was five points higher than 34 points, then you would lose $20.
The more you are right in spread betting, the more you will win. The more you are wrong, the more you will lose. This is a form of betting that is popular, but with its own language and intensity, time is often needed to ease your way into this riskier form of betting.
The search for a perfect market in the world of betting (and even gambling) is a utopia, due to the fact that Costa Rican bookmakers try to cut the risks inherent in their business as much as possible. In the case of traditional bookmakers, their profit comes from the margins practiced.
Nowadays with increasing competition between bookmakers, these margins are a little lower. However, all sports betting sites in Costa Rica continue to practice them and gain an advantage in all games in relation to bettors. A brief approach to the margins practiced by bookmakers explains the disadvantage that the bettor has when betting on markets where the probability should be 50%.
That said, it’s up to the bettor to adapt to the environment and find the best ways to get his money’s worth and look for fairer odds. The one who manages to do that, will be the one that in the long run will achieve more positive results. For this, it is necessary for the bettor to be able to discover which games have the lowest margins. It is not certain that a house that has the best margins in a respective game, will be the one that has in the next game, so once again we advise that bettors have accounts open in several houses.
It is possible to calculate these same margins using the method of implied probabilities. For example, in the game between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, the 1st leg of the semi-final of the Champions League that was played – first, we must obtain a benefit indicator to calculate these margins. If a sports betting site in Costa Rica offers odds of 2.62 in favor of Bayern, 3.40 in favor of the draw and 2.62 in favor of Real Madrid, by calculating the profit indicator, we find out how much a bookmaker receives for every euro that it expects to share in the prize.
Benefit indicator formula:
In other words, the bookmaker expects to receive $1,057 for every dollar paid as a prize. Once the bookmaker’s benefit indicator is calculated, the bettor can calculate the payout share, that is, the bookmaker’s money that reverts to customers in a given bet.
Formula Payout Share:
In other words, for every dollar bet on this game, the bookmaker will pay its bettors 94.6 cents, which means that this market has a margin in favor of bookmakers of 5.4%. Obviously, the higher the commission charged by the bookmaker, the greater the impact on our bankroll.
A difference of 1.90 odds (5% margin) to 1.86 (7% margin) may seem insignificant to the bettor, the reality is that this difference in 100 bets translates to 2.4%, but if we increased this number for a universe of 1000 bets the difference of 0.04 in the odd would bring a 24% decrease in our profits, which is already a significant value.
That said, we consider it essential for the bettor to carefully choose the bookmaker he will bet on, in order to minimize the weight of commissions/margins in his profitability. This is one of the aspects that gamblers overlook, either due to laziness to make the calculations or even due to ignorance of the cause, the truth is that this is one of those fundamental aspects that in the long run can make the difference between profit and loss.
Bonuses and promotions play a fundamental role in Costa Rica bookmakers. It is thanks to them that many new users are interested in trying new operators. Next, we will leave you a list of the most outstanding ones.
It is not common for sports betting sites in Costa Rica to offer a no deposit bonus. While it’s considered one of the best bonuses as it means users don’t need to make a deposit, this is bad for the sportsbook. However, if you come across a no deposit bonus, it means that the only condition to receive promotional funds is to open a player account. You can get free bets or certain funds for bets.
A free bet or freebet is literally that – the possibility of making a prediction without spending any of your balance. Of course, for this you must meet certain conditions imposed by the bookmaker. Most of the time, the bonus has terms and conditions that affect the minimum rates of events in which said free bet is applicable.
The most popular promotion of all is the welcome bonus, it is the offer where the bookmaker will give you more money. With this you will get an extra percentage according to the amount of the initial deposit you have made.
If a bookmaker offers a 100% bonus on the first deposit with a limit of 500 colones, by depositing 500 you will earn that figure as an extra bonus. Which means your betting balance will be doubled.
Like most promotions, welcome bonuses have the strictest terms and conditions such as a time limit to use the bonus, the minimum amount of bets you can make and the famous wagering requirement to withdraw the money won to your account or wallet.
This is a bonus that gives you the option to bet a coupon and get your money back in case you lose the bet. Many sports betting sites in Costa Rica prefer to use this type of bonus instead of free bets.
A word that we often know from various payment systems or point systems for purchases. And in this case it has the same meaning. The bookmaker establishes a certain percentage of return of funds (cash back) in return, for example: to actively place bets with a value of X Costa Rican colones every day of the week. Conditions may vary, but the principle is the same.
Cashout is a bonus that is not found in all bookmakers and allows you to withdraw part or all of your bet before a market closes. The idea of using cashout is to avoid a larger amount of lost money. Be careful to use it all the time, because it could keep you from winning your picks.
By betting, you accumulate points, those points can be exchanged for other things or real money. Each of the bookmakers may offer slightly different incentives, but their concept is the same.
The promotion aimed at the most active and loyal users of bookmakers. The benefits to be received will vary according to the bookmaker, but as a general rule it is about access to individual bonuses and promotions, winnings in the form of free bets or real money. In special cases, being in the VIP club will take you to exclusive face-to-face events.
All international payment methods are available in Costa Rica. But since it is better to deposit in the currency in which you are going to bet, we recommend depositing and withdrawing in these three:
But if you are comfortable or prefer other forms of payment, you can also deposit through:
What Is the Best Payment Option for Costa Rican Players?
In general, most e-wallets are recommended for money transactions with sports betting sites in Costa Rica. Apart from being fast and secure, they offer anonymity, which is something Costa Ricans can greatly benefit from, especially since they have to access foreign betting sites.
Gambling online from Costa Rica is not a crime. On the other hand, it is important to know the status of these, since online games of chance are currently in an illegal state. This means that they have not been legalized, but at the same time they do not represent a crime.
Yes, it is safe to gamble in Costa Rica. Not as much as in countries where online sports betting is fully legal and regulated, where there are quality guarantees that are seen in few regulated markets, but it is safe. Each bookmaker has defense systems against possible hacking attempts or the like, which are very effective and it is truly rare that there is a case of, for example, identity theft or balance withdrawal through another person.
We have already indicated that gambling is not illegal there, in any way. In addition, it is a place where gambling licenses are issued, so betting from there is as safe or safer than in many other sites, even in sports betting houses in the United States.
In most cases, the minimum deposit and minimum withdrawal with bank transfer is $10, although you may find operators that offer $5 to $20. Regarding the maximum, this will always be limited by default by the gaming and gambling company in question. Don’t worry, you can increase it in your profile.
The only ones that must pay taxes are the bookmakers. As for the user, he should not be worried about any of this. The only ones that must pay taxes are the bookmakers, since the profits generated by the user are not taxed.
It would be best to check the withdrawal times of your preferred payment method, as not every option is as fast as some other. For example, e-wallets are way faster than bank transfers, with credit cards somewhere in between.
Find the sports betting sites in Costa Rica that offer services you need and join them, as all sites offer different services. You can use our guide to learn about choosing a bookmaker or simply choose one from the list provided.
Most sports betting sites in Costa Rica offer sports such as football, basketball, F1, tennis, baseball, or boxing (among other sports). In addition to sports, some bookmakers allow you to play poker and also offer bingo, casino and horse racing games.
Football is the favorite sport of Costa Rican gamblers. Liga MX is filled with all the passion in the world and international events are equally relevant to every Costa Rican. Without a doubt, the main sport for your predictions.
There are three types of odds – decimal, fractional, and American odds. Due to the proximity of certain countries, all three types can be found in Costa Rica. The most common type are decimal odds, which show the potential outcome as a decimal number (for example, 1.5). The lower the number, the better the chance of something happening.
Some bookmakers in Costa Rica will offer free bets. Of course, for this you must meet certain conditions imposed by the bookmaker. Most of the time, the bonus has terms and conditions that affect the minimum rates of events in which said free bet is applicable.
While it’s considered one of the best bonuses as it means users don’t need to make a deposit, this is bad for the sportsbook. However, if you come across a no deposit bonus, it means that the only condition to receive promotional funds is to open a player account. You can get free bets or certain funds for bets.
Getting help for gambling addiction in Costa Rica is quite easy. Here is a list of addresses where bettors can seek help.
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