Costa Rica Sportsbook may be in trouble

[Ticaman]

Please do not quote me on this as I am concern more and more books will be going out of business in Costa Rica. Please also correct me if I am wrong on this. I am now in Costa Rica and as usual whenever I am down here I'd like to place a bet at one of the local books at the casino and sit down at the blue marlin bar to watch the game and the chicas. However,many books are closed down like the one at the Del Rey, Radission, Colonial and some others. I was talking to this guy working at one of the casinos and he said due to the new government, he wanted too much money from these sportbooks and they can not afford it, therefore, many of them are closed down recently and there will be more. Again, just my concern and I am not trying to spread any rumors here.

 

[JudgeWapner]

Tica,don't think anyone knows where this is gonna go.Was talking to a guy at a party the other night,prominent American business man down here,who is not in gaming industry.His thoughts were the CR government will legitimize the gaming industry here and treat them like any other businesses.Who knows.I for one don't have a clue.The walk up books you mentioned are fighting this,and I'll think they will win...for now.

 

[TheGeneral+]

What is the start-up costs and financial obligations/requirements by the Government currently?

 

[JudgeWapner]

General,don't know.It used to be you come down here and just open up shop.

 

[TheGeneral+]

I used to hear 10 dimes was required Judge and then do what you like. Was that ever the case?

 

[JudgeWapner]

As of 4 years ago General that was not the case.Now I really don't know.You do need a municipality liscense which is very cheap.You have to pay benefits for your employees into Caja.You also need insurance for your office.Now you are suppopsed to get a license for a book,but don't think many places do.It doesn't seem to insure you any safety from what I hear.It would be interesting to hear from someone who has just opened up to see what they went through.

 

[TheGeneral+]

Thanks for the responses Judge. To bad the Government appears to be trying to stick to the books. That has to be a hindrance to books, which may assist in hindrances to players.

 

[JudgeWapner]

General,if they push too hard they will leave like my old shop did.There is always gonna be some place that will take them.They do fuel an economy.

 

[wolfie_cr]

The license costs for a book with 20 employees or less is around 24000 dollars / year, on top of that the municipal license which might or might not be cheap, in San Pedro if they smell you are even closely related to gaming they will try to tax you at 3k/trimester making a big total of 36000 dollars/year just in those two items.

 

[tcbets.com]

The walk up books face different rules than the call centers do. All of the walk up locations were closed by the govenment on Superbowl Sunday.The government claims that the walk up sports business is illegal. The issue is supposed to be taken up in the next legislative session. As far as licencing fees are concerned it is supposed to depend on the size of the call center. I hope that this helps to answer your questions.

Thank You
www.TCbets.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

Thanks wolfie_cr & Tcbets

 

[JamesDean]

Right Now the operation license will depend on the size of the book...the government counts how many people is working and how many stations you have in your book and this will determine how much you have to pay. The top for a big sports books is up to 50 dimes per year.

This special license started last year with what they called ¨taxation emergency¨to cover some deficit of the government. This license was over in Jan, but since it was good for the government and the books (since this license is a authorization) this year it is going to be the same with the pacto fiscal (the new taxation law)

In this new law,,, the government is finally,,,making a diference between a sportsbook based online....and a regular Hotel Casino..so the taxation a license is diferent.

 

[Tico]

Ticaman...

With all due respect, your post does not seem to be "on the money"... I think what that guy told judge is closer to what is really going to happen. I too think the govt. will end up sanctioning the betting call centers entirely. Walk up books are a different animal... and do not generate a 1000th of the amount of jobs that call centers do.

 

[JJF]

There was a good article last week in the Tico Times newspaper about what has been happening lately with this. It seems there a few different proposals in the works right now regarding taxing/regulating sportsbooks there.

I remember reading the article and having a reaction that none of the proposals seemed too fair to the sportsbooks, but I don't know what will happen.