Costa Rica is a good choice for e-gambling businesses since it’s cheaper than regular casino licenses. Find out the main perks, how to get licensed, and how InteliumLaw can assist with getting started and staying compliant.
Even though Costa Rica is pretty popular, it’s important to know there isn’t actually an official Costa Rica gaming license. Instead, iGaming businesses operate without any specific licensing or regulations.
The country does offer something called a “data processing license,” which some people think of as a replacement for a gambling license. But even companies with this license don’t have to follow any strict rules.
In Costa Rica, a gambling company is just a regular business that says its main job is online gambling. This lets operators run online casinos and betting from Costa Rica, even though there aren’t any specific regulations for it.
However, if you would need a license for your needs, like cooperation with partners and payment institutions, we can help with it in Costa Rica. Contact our experts for more information.
Below we briefly present what you need to know about getting a Costa Rica Gambling License.
Getting and keeping an iGaming license in Costa Rica is cheaper than in other places, which is why a lot of startups and small bookmaking companies are drawn to it.
Costa Rica doesn’t have strict rules about iGaming. Companies just use a “data processing license” or other arrangement which is easier to get than a regular gambling license.
One big plus is the good tax setup. Companies in Costa Rica don’t pay much in taxes, because of the territorial system of taxation and since there’s no specific gambling tax, it can save operators a lot of money.
Costa Rica is known for giving businesses a lot of privacy, which can be helpful for operators looking to keep things more confidential.
There aren’t any limits on offering online gambling to other countries, so operators can go global. But they still need to think about the rules in the countries they’re serving.
Because Costa Rica’s rules aren’t as strict, some players and partners might not trust casinos licensed there as much as those in places with tougher regulations.
Not having strict gambling laws can sometimes make it harder to deal with banks and payment processors.
Costa Rica doesn’t have any strict rules for online gambling, and there’s no official license system. That’s why getting a gaming license here is cheaper than in places with stricter regulations. If you have more questions about the Costa Rica gaming license cost, reach out to us for the latest pricing info. The main elements of Costa Rica gaming license cost will include fees for the company incorporation, legal assistance fees, drafting of AML rules and Terms and Conditions for your web-site plus price of data processing license or another official confirmations that your gambling business is legit
Since there’s no official Costa Rica casino license, gambling businesses don’t have to pay any gambling license fees. Instead, fees for data processing license or licensing extract arise.
Gambling companies based in Costa Rica don’t have to pay taxes on their revenue when it’s made outside the country. So, the authorities don’t tax these companies. Generally, you just need to pay the yearly fees to keep the company running.
Getting in a Costa Rica gambling license register and starting operations there doesn’t demand many legal things. But, there are still steps you need to follow to operate legally with a “data processing license.” Here’s a quick rundown of the process:
The very first thing you have to do to get an online casino license Costa Rica is set up a company there. You should make sure that the documents for your company clearly say you're going to offer online gambling. There's a lot of legal stuff involved, so it's probably a good idea to get a lawyer to help out.
Although not exactly a gaming business certification, a data processing license is required to run e-gambling activities. The process involves applying to the Costa Rican government. The application usually asks for info about the company, the owners, and what kind of data you'll be handling (basically, the online gambling activities) plus registration with several government authorities.
You should be compliant with general games fairness rules and AML legislation. Our team could help you with drafting of respective Terms&Conditions for your web-site and development of necessary AML rules compliant with local regulation. This will help your business to increase trust among your players and meet the Cota Rican requirements.
You must open an account (fiat or, more often, crypto) for your company. This step can be challenging due to the nature of the business and may require finding a bank that accepts online gambling-related businesses.
Since the business is what it is, and Costa Rica doesn't really have a specific set of gambling rules, finding payment processors can be tough. A lot of companies just go with cryptocurrencies or other alternative payment methods to get around the hassle.
Basically, there are no strict rules for setting up a company with a data processing license in Costa Rica. All you really need to do is hand over KYC documents, like your passport, proof of where you live, and something to show where your money's coming from. Plus, development of proper T&C and AML policies are important. That’s pretty much it to get the company going and grab that Costa Rica online gambling license.
The whole process of getting a Costa Rica online casino license, from start to finish, usually takes about 2 to 6 weeks.
At Inteliumlaw, we focus on helping businesses get and use a Costa Rica iGaming License. We do a lot of things like setting up and registering companies to make sure they follow Costa Rica's specific laws. We advise on staying legal, banking options, and crypto solutions for gambling businesses in the country. Plus, we offer support to help you understand Costa Rican laws and assist with risk management and sticking to international standards.
Along with giving you professional advice and help with a remote gaming license Costa Rica and related stuff, we can also assist you in getting a license in other places like Curacao, Anjouan, and the Isle of Man. We also provide a lot of other business services, like setting up bank accounts and starting a company.
Costa Rica doesn’t actually give out specific online gambling licenses. Instead, most companies in the industry run under something called a "data processing license." Even though it’s not really meant for gambling, it’s the closest thing to it, and a lot of online gambling companies, especially startups, use it to operate in Costa Rica.
You’ll need to provide KYC documents for the owners and directors. These include passports, proof of address, and confirmation of where the money's coming from. If you want the full list, you can ask for it.
InteliumLaw can help renew your data processing license for online gambling by checking and updating your documents. We take care of the renewal application and deal with the local authorities for you.
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The accumulated experience and tracking of future changes in this area allow us to be proactive
for our clients and develop the most adapted business structures to modern conditions.
By submitting this form, you hereby authorize Inteliumlaw to process your information for the purpose of addressing your inquiry. You retain the right to revoke this consent at any point. For further details, please review our Privacy Policy.