Last updated on: September 14th, 2023
Legal Sports Betting In Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the friendlier countries in the world for online sports betting operators, and it offers a good variety of betting options for residents, visitors, and even for those living in other countries. Although land-based sports betting is not yet legal in Costa Rica, the country is widely considered to be one of the most progressive in terms of legal Costa Rica sports betting sites & online sportsbooks. With this, a number of major international online sportsbooks operate out of Costa Rica.
The most popular sports to bet on in Costa Rica are soccer, baseball, and American football. Costa Rican sportsbooks offer betting odds on numerous sports leagues and events, both in the country and all over the world. No matter what you wish to bet on, there’s a good chance you’ll find it at a Costa Rican sportsbook. This page will act as a comprehensive guide to legal sports betting in Costa Rica, from the laws governing sports betting to how Costa Rican sports betting revenue is applied, to the best sportsbooks that accept Costa Rican players.
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Best Sportsbooks That Accept Costa Rican Players
| Rank | Sportsbook | Bonus Offer | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
75% Up To $750 Read Review | Visit Bovada! |
| 2 |  |
50% New Member Bonus!Read Review | Visit BetOnline! |
| 3 |  |
50% Up To $1,000 Read Review | Visit MyBookie! |
| 4 |  |
100% Up To $300Read Review | Visit Xbet! |
| 5 |  |
50% Up To $1,000 Read Review | Visit SportsBetting! |
#1
Is Bovada Legal In Costa Rica?
Best Place For Soccer Odds
Bovada has odds for almost every major sporting event, but soccer is one of the sports that they highlight at the top of the sportsbook. Whether betting on the FIFA World Cup, the MLS, or just Costa Rica’s national; team, Bovada has live betting, and future betting options. The online sportsbook also has prop bets that can be found for all sports, including betting on the Golden Boot Winner.
Rating: 
- International Sports
- Big Bonuses
- Crypto Deposits/Withdrawals
#2
BetOnline Sportsbook
Great For Live Betting In Costa Rica
With an enormous amount of sports action around the world, it can be difficult to always know when every main event is taking place, but BetOnline has an extensive live betting section that combats these issues by always presenting games to wager on. Whether betting on American football, soccer, or cycling, BetOnline will have it in the love betting section if it is currently taking place. For the major events, there will be a countdown on the live section as well.
Rating:
- Live Betting
- Fast Payouts
- Mobile Browser Betting
#3
SportsBetting Sportsbook
Betting On The NFL
The NFL has been becoming more popular in Costa Rica especially with the ability to bet on every single game. SportsBetting has odds for all of the action, and gives bettors the chance to wager on each individual money line, live bet on every game, and even place future bets on the Super Bowl and Conference champions.
Ratings:
- Future Betting
- Sign Up Bonuses
- Easy Registration Process
#4
MyBookie Sportsbook
Bet From Anywhere With Your Phone
Luckily for those that are using MyBookie to place your bets, you have the freedom to bet from anywhere with their mobile betting platform. They have continued to optimize their mobile platform to make sure that it is perfect and convenient for those looking to bet on the go. All of the features that you’d be able to take advantage of on MyBookie from a computer can be taken advantage of right from your phone or tablet. They are also compatible with some of the top mobile devices such as Apple, Android, and Google devices.
Ratings:
- Huge Player Bonuses
- Consistent Odds
- Easy Interface
- Rapid Live Betting
- Legal In Hawaii
#5
XBet Sportsbook
Top Safety Features
If safety is something that brings you into a specific online sportsbook, XBet is the one for you. They have some of the top safety features that an online betting site has to offer in encrypted links and 24/7 customer service. The links that they use to secure both their servers and your web browser protecting all of your personal and financial information. As for their customer service, it is a 24/7 operation and they’ll help walk you through any issues you may find.
Ratings:
- Worry-free Legal Betting
- Exclusive Bonus Offers
- Constantly Updated Odds
- Premier User Experience
- Full Mobile + Live Betting
Costa Rica Sports Betting Laws
Costa Rica gambling is interesting in that land-based sports betting is fully illegal but its online sports betting laws are some of the most welcoming in the world. As a result, major online sportsbooks taking Costa Rican players like Bovada and SportsBetting often base their operations in Costa Rica. It is also legal for players located in Costa Rica to bet online with sportsbooks based in other countries. Costa Rica’s stance on online sports betting is so firm that in 2012 Costa Rican courts overrode the U.S. government by refusing to investigate American bettors placing wagers with Bovada, citing national sovereignty. The legal sports betting omission by retail stores is unfortunate, but overall Costa Rica gambling laws are forgiving when it comes to sports betting laws.
Which Online Sportsbooks Are Based Out Of Costa Rica?
there are many legal online sportsbooks that are headquartered in the country. Costa Rica also has some of the loosest sports betting laws there are and also have extremely low tax rates which allow for the sportsbooks to have larger margins. Some of the online sportsbooks that are based in Costa Rica include:
- Bovada
- MyBookie
- XBet
| Costa Rica Info | |
| Status: | Legal and Licensed |
| Online: | Yes |
| Min Age: | 18+ |
| Restrictions: | None |
| Popular Sports: | Soccer |
Where To Bet On The Super Bowl In Costa Rica
With online sportsbooks readily available to players anywhere in Costa Rica, betting on the Super Bowl won’t be an issue. Even though American football isn’t one of the main sports in Costa Rica, the Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events. With this, online sportsbooks offer betting lines all year for the Big Game. It is extremely simple to log onto a book like Bovada and put down the best Super Bowl bet in Costa Rica. Whether you’re betting the favorite team to win the SB or even just exploring the betting line and player props for the Super Bowl, online sportsbooks allow you to make it happen, with live betting options as well.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Costa Rica?
Yes, online sportsbooks taking Costa Rican players are fully legal. Players both from Costa Rica and from all over the world can legally bet on sports using Costa Rican sportsbooks. Costa Rica residents can also legally bet online with sportsbooks based in other countries as well. Popular betting options for online sports betting include live, in-play wagering, prop bets, money lines, and more. Even if you live outside Costa Rica, particularly in the U.S., betting with a Costa Rican sportsbook is not a prosecutable crime. The online sports betting industry in the country is thriving and only looks to be primed for more growth in the coming years.
Costa Rica Sports Betting Markets
Costa Rica is a small country, and it has only three cities with more than 50,000 residents:
- San José
- Puerto Limón
- San Francisco
These three cities account for 450,000 of Costa Rica’s nearly 5 million people, and are the primary markets for legal betting sites in Costa Rica. In terms of actual sports in Costa Rica that residents choose to bet on, the most popular league in the country is Liga FPD. This is the top division of Costa Rican soccer. Costa Rica is still riding the high of its eight-place finish at the 2014 World Cup, and that has bolstered the popularity of the sport throughout the country. The country’s three top clubs are Deportivo Saprissa, Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, and Club Sport Herediano, which have accounted for a combined 92 of Liga FPD’s 111 total championships. The two biggest provinces for sports betting by far are San José and Alajuela.
Where Costa Rica Sports Betting Revenue Goes
Another big incentive for legal sports betting in Costa Rica is that the country only taxes sports betting revenues at a rate of two percent—far below the rate of similar taxes in other countries and municipalities. This money goes toward a lump sum for the federal government of Costa Rica, where it is applied toward various budgetary needs. With few gamblers in the country and even fewer wealthy gamblers, revenues are predictably low for sports betting market in Costa Rica. They are heavily supplemented, however, by gambling activity from players in other countries betting online with sportsbooks based in Costa Rica.
Legal Costa Rica Betting Sites
The most popular legal Costa Rica betting sites are legal throughout the world. They accept players from Costa Rica, from other Central American countries, and even from the United States. There are numerous legal betting sites in Costa Rica, but the best ones offer comprehensive 24/7 customer support, a wide selection of betting options, big deposit bonuses, and top-notch security for personal and financial data. Whether you are betting on a desktop computer or a mobile device, legal betting is always only a few clicks away in Costa Rica.
Countries With Legal Sports Betting
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ghana
India
Kenya
Mexico
New Zealand
Nigeria
Peru
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Russia
South Africa
United KingdomLegal Sports Betting in Costa Rica FAQs
Why are so many sportsbooks based in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica offers very forgiving laws and favorable conditions for online sports betting operators. Sites like Bovada can base their operations in Costa Rica while still offering legal sports betting to bettors in dozens of other countries. In general, Central America and the Caribbean are a hotbed for the sports betting industry.
How does currency exchange work with Costa Rican sportsbooks?
The easiest way to manage money with Costa Rican sportsbooks is to use cryptocurrency, which is valid in every country and does not require currency exchange. Most such sportsbooks accept major global currencies like dollars and euros, but for more niche currencies, look at e-wallet services that come with built-in exchange software.
Can you bet on sports in every province in Costa Rica?
Online sports betting is legal in all seven provinces of Costa Rica. Brick-and-mortar sports betting isn’t legal in any of them, but with the wide array of online sports betting options available throughout the country, that shouldn’t be a big concern. Mobile sports betting is likewise legal in all seven provinces.
Are tourists allowed to bet in Costa Rica?
All bettors who are at least 18 years old can legally bet online in Costa Rica. Additionally, 18-year-old bettors in many other countries can also legally bet with Costa Rican sportsbooks. Whether you are living in the country full-time or simply visiting for a few days or weeks, as long as you are on Costa Rican soil, Costa Rican law applies.
Why doesn’t Costa Rica have casino sports betting?
Historically, gambling has been illegal in Costa Rica, and that only began to change recently as the country adopted a laxer attitude toward online gambling. Laws are slowly changing, so brick-and-mortar sports betting could still be on the horizon, especially as Costa Rica looks for new ways to monetize the gambling industry.