As a nonsmoker, this is a public policy I applaud. In Costa Rica, as in Panama, smoking is strictly prohibited in public places, including bars and casinos. For example, the cheapest beer is usually $3.00. Nonalcoholic drinks are free, but those with alcohol will be charged at bar prices, which can be high. Of course, one can expect bigger crowds depending on the time and day of the week, as anywhere.ĭrink service is generally infrequent and undependable for players. Approximately only ten percent of the slots are being played at any given time. Most table games will be unmanned, and many that are manned have no players. Most of the time, the casinos are sparsely attended. Atmosphere music will be soft or nonexistent. Once inside, you should expect a quiet atmosphere where you can play in peace.

The Sheldon Adelson philosophy, 'We are a hotel with a casino, not a casino with a hotel,' seems to be the order of the day in Costa Rica. Signage tends to be small, and sometimes you have to walk through the hotel lobby to get to the casino. The typical casino has about six table games and 50 slot machines. General InformationĬasinos are definitely understated in Costa Rica. However, for the few visitors who are interested, I traveled there in March 2013, in part to report on the casino scene. Evidently, neither group has much interest in gambling. Most tourists come to Costa Rica for one of two reasons: to enjoy nature or prostitution. However, unlike the large Vegas-style casinos in neighboring Panama, the casinos in Costa Rica are usually a small appendage to a much larger hotel. Last updated: MaGambling in Costa Rica IntroductionĬasino gambling is legal and easily found in Costa Rica.

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