Costa Rica does not have an online gambling license in the regulatory sense. As of November 2026, we found no Costa Rican government body that issues online casino licenses, publishes a register of licensed operators, or handles player complaints against them.
Some offshore casinos still show a “Costa Rica” badge or claim to be based there. This page explains what that badge usually means, what it does not mean for players, and what to check instead. Where a detail could not be confirmed on an official source, we leave it out.
Does Costa Rica Issue Online Gambling Licenses?
No. We could not find a Costa Rican gambling regulator, license category or public register for online casinos as of November 2026. A casino that says it is “licensed in Costa Rica” is usually describing a company registered there, not a gambling license.
A company registration shows that a business exists under Costa Rican commercial law. It does not show that anyone has tested its games, audited its payments or agreed to hear player disputes. That is the role a gaming regulator plays in Malta, Curaçao or Anjouan.
What Does a Costa Rica Badge Mean on a Casino Site?
A Costa Rica badge in a casino footer is branding, not proof of regulation. Two casinos we reviewed show this pattern.
Our DuckyLuck Casino review found a Costa Rica badge in the footer with no license number attached, while the site’s own end-user agreement mentions Curaçao. Our SlotsandCasino review, a sister site run by the same Costa Rica-registered operator, found a “Costa Rica Gaming Authority” image in the footer that works as branding rather than a regulator’s endorsement.
What Protection Do Players Get?
Without a gambling regulator, players have no gambling-specific complaint route in Costa Rica. Your options in a dispute are the casino’s own support team and, in theory, the courts.
That means none of the following is guaranteed by a Costa Rican authority:
- A regulator that reviews payout disputes or orders a casino to act.
- An approved independent dispute resolution provider.
- A national self-exclusion register for online casinos.
- Required testing of game fairness by an approved lab.
- Published enforcement actions against operators.
Some casinos offer their own limits, self-exclusion or third-party game testing. Those are voluntary, so check each one in the casino’s terms and in our reviews.
How Does Costa Rica Compare With Curaçao and Anjouan?
Costa Rica sits below the offshore licenses we cover, because both Curaçao and Anjouan have a named regulator and a public register. The table shows what each offers as of November 2026.
| Point | Costa Rica | Curaçao | Anjouan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gambling regulator | None found | Curaçao Gaming Authority | Anjouan Gaming under the AOFA |
| Public license register | None found | Yes | Yes |
| Dispute route | Operator and courts only | ADR provider named in the casino’s terms | Operator, then the regulator |
| Published enforcement | None found | Public warnings | Yes |
For a framework with a mandatory dispute route and a self-barring service, see our Malta Gaming Authority license guide.
How Do You Check a Costa Rica-Based Casino?
Because there is no gambling license to verify, check the casino’s other trust signals before you deposit.
- Look for a license from a named gambling regulator with a public register, and verify the number there.
- Read the terms for withdrawal limits, fees and the complaint process.
- Check whether the games come from studios that publish independent test certificates.
- Read our review of the casino, if we have one, and our casino rating method.
Casinos We Reviewed With a Costa Rica License
None. As of November 2026, no casino in our review data lists Costa Rica as its license. DuckyLuck and SlotsandCasino show Costa Rica branding, as noted above, but our reviews treat them as having no regulator-issued gaming license.
US players who use these sites are playing at offshore casinos. Our offshore casinos guide covers the risks, and our online gambling laws by state page shows where state-licensed sites exist.
An unregulated site gives you fewer ways to get money back. Only deposit what you can afford to lose, and use our responsible gambling resources if you need support.
