Costa Rica, a small country in Central America, has gained a great deal
of popularity, not also as a tourist destination, but also as a
retirement paradise. The only type of gambling that is legal in Costa
Rica is in casinos, of which there are over 30 in the country, the
majority in San Jose, the capital. Costa Rica, or "rich coast" in
Spanish, is considered the most politically stable country in Latin
America, with perhaps the healthiest climate in the world, and one that
welcomes over 1.5 million tourists a year. The abundant flora and
fauna, the diverse scenery, and the lively excitement of the Costa Rica
casinos have brought in billions of dollars to the economy.
Costa Rica casinos feature all the popular international games including
mini baccarat (rummy 9), Let It Ride (tute accion), roulette,
blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, craps, pai gow, slots, and video gaming
machines. Club Colonial Casino, open 24 hours with 45 slots and 12
table games, the Garden Court Fiesta Casino Alajuela with 200 slots and
84 table games, and the Gran Hotel Costa Rica Casino, with 57 slots and
five table games, are all located in downtown San Jose. In addition,
there are other Costa Rica casinos in small towns and suburbs of San
Jose including Cabo Velas Santa Cruz, Cariari, and El Roble. Hotel Coco
Verde Casino in Playas del Coco is open 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., with 20
slots and four table games.
The largest Costa Rica casino is the Irazu Best Western Casino Concorde
in La Uruca, with 166 slots and video gaming machines and eight table
games. There is a large casino in Goicoechea, a suburb of San Jose, the
Radisson Hotel and Casino Europa, which has 219 slots and 13 table
games, also open 24 hours.
A number of gaming expositions and international conferences are held
here, including the annual poker industry conference. This event will
take place in Costa Rica in December of 2006 at the Marriott Hotel in
San Jose. In conjunction with the conference, there will be a poker
tournament at the Fiesta Casino for industry executive and professional
poker players, who will demonstrate their strategies and skills.
Costa Rica has become a major gambling destination in Latin America and
further development of Costa Rica casinos by domestic and international
investors is ongoing. The large corporation of Thunderbird Tres Rios is
planning construction of a hotel resort, casino, spa, and residential
complex that will attract more of the middle and upper class sections of
eastern San Jose.
