Debates in the Legislative Assembly in San José have been reopened as the government confronts new estimates showing illegal operators account for 53% of Costa Rica’s lottery and betting sector.
The estimate was presented to the new administration of President Laura Fernández Delgado, who took office on 8 May. Delgado, elected on a platform focused on tackling crime, was informed that the Costa Rican economy loses approximately $300m annually to illegal gambling operators exploiting vague laws and limited oversight of online gambling activity.
Unlike most regulated markets, Costa Rica operates without a dedicated online gambling licensing regime or a centralised gambling authority. International online gambling operators have historically been permitted to establish corporate ent..