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Obtaining a gambling license in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a unique jurisdiction located in Central America. It is important to note that there is no special license for online casinos here.
Despite the fact that more than 400 online casinos and bookmakers are currently registered in Costa Rica, the country has not developed specific legislation regulating the conduct of online gambling on the Internet. That is, any company (including an offshore company) registered in Costa Rica can carry out this activity, provided that it receives a Data Processing License and complies with general laws. Costa Rican citizens, as well as citizens of other countries where online casinos are banned or require a local license, cannot participate in such gambling projects. In order to exclude possible claims from the regulatory authorities of these countries, IP addresses are usually blocked.
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Who needs a license to process data in Costa Rica for gambling?
There is no specific licensing of online gambling in Costa Rica. However, in order to operate legally, companies that organize online gambling must obtain a Data Processing License. This license allows companies to legally host and operate servers in Costa Rica to process information, including online gaming data. A data processing license is issued by government agencies, but it is not a gambling license and does not directly regulate gambling.
This license is required for:
- Casino (online): owners and operators of online casinos. Companies that provide software for online casinos.
- Bookmakers.
- Online sports betting operators.
- Platforms for betting on esports events.
- Online games: developers and providers of online games with elements of excitement.
- Organizers of online lotteries and sweepstakes.
- Service providers: companies that provide hosting and support services for gaming platforms, as well as payment solutions for gambling sites.
- Partner programs: affiliates and advertising agencies working with gambling.
- Consultants and auditors: consulting companies providing services in the field of company registration and obtaining licenses for data processing.
- Independent auditors who verify operators compliance with general legal requirements.
Why do I need a data processing license in Costa Rica for gambling?
- The absence of specific legislation regarding online gambling companies in Costa Rica means that your business will not be directly regulated or tested by gambling regulators.
- The jurisdiction has a stable economy.
- The country is not considered a classic offshore jurisdiction, which may simplify working with counterparties from some countries.
- There is a long history of gambling in the jurisdiction (although without specific regulation of the online sector).
- A quick and relatively inexpensive project start.
- There are no direct bans on online gambling for international transactions.
- The requirement for the location of servers in Costa Rica in order to obtain a license for data processing.
- No annual fees for a specific gambling license (however, there are general corporate taxes and fees).
- There is no need for mandatory testing of the game software by the government authorities of Costa Rica.
- Income earned outside Costa Rica is not taxed (territorial taxation principle).
Requirements for obtaining a data processing license in Costa Rica
- To operate servers in Costa Rica, you must obtain a license for "Data processing".
- Registration of a local company is required.
- The company must have a registration agent.
- There are no residency requirements for directors and shareholders.
- Number of shareholders - at least one (for some types of companies).
- The time required to register a company and obtain a data processing license is about 3-6 weeks.
Required documents
- Passports for each shareholder of the company or a set of statutory documents;
- Power of attorney for company registration;
- Additional information may be requested by government authorities when registering a company.
It should be noted that the lack of legal regulation specifically for online gambling means that opening an account for a company registered in Costa Rica may be difficult in some international banks. Lotteries, poker rooms, slot machines, and bets located on the company's website must have a server location. In this case, the company will still need to obtain permission to host servers in Costa Rica (i.e., a license for data processing). The Law&Trust team will register the company for you, obtain the necessary permits to launch the project in one of the most open gambling jurisdictions, and tell you about all the pitfalls of an easy startup.
The process of obtaining a data processing license in Costa Rica
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Submit an ApplicationTo obtain a data processing license in Costa Rica, you must go through several stages. First, the company must submit an application to the relevant government agency responsible for registering companies and issuing general business licenses. The application contains information about the company, including information about the owners, directors, and key employees.
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Submit a Business PlanThen a business plan is provided, which describes in detail the company's activities, the planned types of data processing and the target audience.
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Confirm Sufficient Financial ResourcesYou will also need to confirm that you have sufficient financial resources to run your business and comply with general security and data protection requirements.
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Verify Compliance with Technical StandardsAn important step is to verify compliance with general technical standards, such as the use of certified software (if applicable) and the availability of a fraud prevention system (for general business activities).
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License IssuanceAfter reviewing the application and carrying out the necessary checks, the state body decides to issue a license for data processing.
Our services in obtaining a data processing license in Costa Rica
Law&Trust provides a full range of legal and consulting services for obtaining a data processing license in Costa Rica. We take care of all the stages of registration – from company registration to full legal support after obtaining a license.
What can we offer?
- Consultation and selection of the optimal solution;
- Full support of company registration;
- Preparation and submission of documents to the regulatory authority (to obtain a license for data processing);
- Due Diligence Legal support;
- Optimization of taxation and payment solutions;
- Support after obtaining a license.
