Costa Rica gov’t to fight crime by taxing online gambling

Calvin Ayre
Calvin Ayre
May 08, 2010
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Costa Rica's new president Laura Chinchilla

Costa Rica's new president Laura Chinchilla

Laura Chinchilla is to be sworn in as Costa Rica’s new president on Saturday. Part of her announced program will be to increase taxes on casino and online gambling businesses, and to apply those tax revenues to combatting the country’s growing rate of violent crime.

While I’m not usually a tax-and-spend advocate, I’m pleased to see Costa Rican officials eager to tackle the criminal elements plaguing the country. As you may already be aware, Bodog was based out of Costa Rica until 2006, when it shifted its headquarters to Antigua. I myself lived there for a decade before I too moved to Antigua. But part of the reason behind my decision to move was the day that began with me going to look at some real estate and ended with me being pistol whipped by Costa Rican gang members. If anyone ever wondered why armed guards and bulletproof Hummers feature so prominently in some of my television appearances, there’s your fucking answer.

At one time, Costa Rica was the center of online gaming in the Americas. It has since lost most of its non-credit online gaming companies to licensed jurisdictions like Antigua, Kahnawake and Europe. (Costa Rica’s new government is actually considering instituting a licensing regime similar to Antigua, which does not allow credit gaming operations, a move I wholeheartedly support.) While Costa Rica is no longer the place I call home, it will always have a special place both in my heart and in Bodog history. The Bodog Compound is still in Costa Rica and Bodog Europe will continue using it for various types of promotions. Bodog Europe is also planning to purchase an historic building in Central London that will be renovated and renamed Bodog House. With any luck, it will eventually occupy a similarly debauched position in the minds of the online gambling industry and the public at large.

Views and opinions expressed are those of the Author and do not necessarily reflect those of CalvinAyre.com
Tags: Article, Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla
  • So glad to see this happen! Costa Rica is proving to be smarter then the USA, go figure!
  • bobbygray
    ... one has to wonder if the new administration will use any of these proposed taxes to tackle crime and corruption within its within it's own ranks ... in anticipation of the inauguration today? cops are out in force indiscriminately pulling over gringos and shaking them down for "coffee money" (you remember that little charade right?) ...

    ... so let's see: corruption still rampant from lowest to highest levels in government (you can still buy your way outta anything here ... cops are on the take and most ex presidents of costa rica are under indictment) ... new taxes on online gaming to fight crime ... criminals are affluent and can pay their way out of trouble ... where will this $ REALLY be headed? ... right. into some officials back pocket.

    gaming companies here in CR (credit shops too Calvin) still employ a HUGE amount of the indigenous population (the gaming industry has CREATED the "middle class" here over the last 13 years) ... make these new "taxes" too painful? we'll pull stakes and head someplace else ... (we've done it before).

    lesson? costa rica government can't effectively "clean up" crime of ANY kind unless they get their house in order first ... don't bite the hands that feed!
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