When you are thinking about Costa Rica, you are probably imagining jungles and beaches, not slot machines and poker tables, yet here we are. Costa Rica became a place where the casino industry is booming and became a tourist attraction.
However, the birth of the casino industry in Costa Rica isn’t accidental. We are talking about a place with over 40 casinos, specifically designed with the purpose of attracting tourists.
Why do we say that? Can locals also have fun playing some slot games? Not exactly.
Even though it is not illegal in Costa Rica to gamble, there are certain restrictions. Online casino apps are legal thanks to Law 13/2011, but not for everyone.
One of the most shocking ones is that gambling businesses are prohibited from providing their services to Costa Ricans, both online and in land-based casinos.
This means that the entire casino industry in Costa Rica was built for one purpose online – to attract tourists. Let’s explore the economic benefits of casinos in Costa Rica and find out whether their plan worked.
The Economic Boost of Casinos in Costa Rica
Casinos in Costa Rica aren’t new, in fact, gambling has been “legal” here since 1922 under Law No. 42, but their tourism pull kicked up a notch in the 2000s.
Fast forward to today, and casinos add a significant piece of the pie (money generated from tourism). The country has more than 40 licensed casinos, mostly in the San José region, and they are all big hotels, with pools, nightclubs, restaurants, and of course many casino games.
The travel and tourism market are projected to generate close to 340 million this year, which is a significant part of the country’s GDP. We are talking about an industry that has a growth rate of 6.42%.
That’s not chump change: it’s jobs—dealers, bartenders, security—adding roughly 5,000 direct roles, and indirect gigs like taxi drivers and hotel staff pushing it higher.
If you look at the country’s GDP over the years, you can see a huge spike, growing from $62 billion in 2020 to $86.5 billion in 2024, and a large portion of the country’s rise in GDP has to do with tourism.
Small Towns, Big Changes
But it is not only San José, you can find casinos popping even in the quieter spots like Liberia or Jacó. Jacó is a town of 10,000 people and a place where you can find the Croc’s Resort & Casino which managed to generate $10 million in revenue last year. So, obviously, it is a popular tourist destination.
The government in Costa Rica is smart with this move. They all know that the casino industry can be a fuel that can take their tourism to the next level, and since there is big money in circulation, this means that they will generate more in taxes. These taxes are later used for fixing the roads, improving the country’s infrastructure, health system, and schools, and also improving tourism.
But it’s not all rosy: rents spiked 20% since 2022, pricing out some locals who can’t match tourist wallets. Tradition’s bending too—since casinos don’t care much about these things, and they are only interested in making a profit.
Casinos and Eco-Mix
Costa Rica’s tourism brand is “Pura Vida”—pure life, tied to rainforests and zip lines. Casinos add a twist: in 2024, 15% of U.S. visitors (about 240,000 of 1.6 million) hit a casino during their trip, up from 10% in 2020, according to a Visit Costa Rica survey.
They’re not ditching the jungle—70% still visit national parks —but a night at the tables is now part of the package. Hotels like the Marriott in San José, with its 200-slot casino, saw a 25% revenue bump in 2024, blending eco-stays with gambling glitz.
It’s a win for the economy—tourism’s 8.2% of GDP—but it is a double-edged sword. Not everyone here appreciates the fact that casinos are now in charge of tourism in Costa Rica. After all, important stuff that needs to be seen in the country is often skipped due to long gambling sessions.
How Does the Future Look Like
Costa Rica’s casino tourism isn’t slowing down—ICT’s 2022-2027 plan targets 3.8 million visitors by 2027, with gambling as a quiet booster.
By 2025, online betting’s legal (since 2011, Law 13/2011), but physical casinos still rule, with revenue projected at $180 million, a 20% jump from 2023.
That’s more jobs—maybe 6,000 direct by year’s end—and tax dollars for a government eyeing 4% GDP growth.
Yet the social thread’s fraying: rural leaders in Guanacaste told La Nación in 2024 that they want tighter rules to keep their towns from turning into “mini-Vegas.” But this is the price a country needs to pay in order to get all the benefits from hotel and casino tourism.