Gambling License in Costa Rica

Gambling License in Costa Rica: What is required for licensing

The Data Processing license is issued by the local municipality, and to apply, you only need to have an office in the country and hire a legal representative. If the enterprise is foreign-owned, this position must be filled by a Costa Rican resident.

The state does not require what is usually requested in other jurisdictions for licensing:

• No business plan is needed;
• No profit plan requirements;
• No measures required regarding gambling addiction prevention;
• No requirements related to software;
• No financial reporting or mandatory bank accounts, etc.

There are also no requirements for a large initial capital. However, to obtain a gambling license in Costa Rica, at least 25% of the issued share capital must be paid during company registration.

If you want to operate in the gambling sector, Costa Rica imposes only one condition: the company’s activities must not target the country or its residents. This is because Costa Rican residents are prohibited from using such online operators’ services. The restriction also applies to the equipment needed for online operations — it must be physically located outside of Costa Rica.

Online Casino License: Costa Rica and its licensing specifics

When applying for a license, business owners must pay a one-time fee of $15,000 and then pay $1,500 quarterly for renewal. An additional advantage is that if the operator offers services in any country in the world except Costa Rica, from the government’s perspective such a company is considered self-regulated and therefore exempt from income tax.

If you are interested in a gambling license, Costa Rica issues this permit within 2–5 weeks. You can simplify and speed up the procedure by contacting our specialists. We will handle the entire licensing process, after which you can start operating in the online gambling sector as a licensed operator.