| Costa Rica, a small country in Central | | | | Jose including Cabo Velas Santa Cruz, |
| America, has gained a great deal of | | | | Cariari, and El Roble. Hotel Coco Verde |
| popularity, not also as a tourist | | | | Casino in Playas del Coco has 20 slots and |
| destination, but also as a retirement | | | | four table games. The largest Costa Rica |
| paradise. The only type of gambling that is | | | | casino is the Irazu Best Western Casino |
| legal in Costa Rica is in casinos, of which | | | | Concorde in La Uruca, with 166 slots and |
| there are over 30 in the country, the | | | | video gaming machines and eight table games. |
| majority in San Jose, the capital. Costa | | | | There is a large casino in Goicoechea, a |
| Rica, or "rich coast" in Spanish, is | | | | suburb of San Jose, the Radisson Hotel and |
| considered the most politically stable | | | | Casino Europa, which has 219 slots and 13 |
| country in Latin America, with perhaps the | | | | table games. A number of gaming expositions |
| healthiest climate in the world, and one that | | | | and international conferences are held here, |
| welcomes over 1.5 million tourists a year. | | | | including the annual poker industry |
| The abundant flora and fauna, the diverse | | | | conference. This event will take place in |
| scenery, and the lively excitement of the | | | | Costa Rica in December of 2006 at the |
| Costa Rica casinos have brought in billions | | | | Marriott Hotel in San Jose. In conjunction |
| of dollars to the economy. Costa Rica casinos | | | | with the conference, there will be a poker |
| feature all the popular international games | | | | tournament at the Fiesta Casino for industry |
| including mini baccarat (rummy 9), Let It | | | | executive and professional poker players, who |
| Ride (tute accion), roulette, blackjack, | | | | will demonstrate their strategies and skills. |
| Caribbean Stud Poker, craps, pai gow, slots, | | | | Costa Rica has become a major gambling |
| and video gaming machines. Club Colonial | | | | destination in Latin America and further |
| Casino with 45 slots and 12 table games, the | | | | development of Costa Rica casinos by domestic |
| Garden Court Fiesta Casino Alajuela with 200 | | | | and international investors is ongoing. The |
| slots and 84 table games, and the Gran Hotel | | | | large corporation of Thunderbird Tres Rios is |
| Costa Rica Casino, with 57 slots and five | | | | planning construction of a hotel resort, |
| table games, are all located in downtown San | | | | casino, spa, and residential complex that |
| Jose. In addition, there are other Costa Rica | | | | will attract more of the middle and upper |
| casinos in small towns and suburbs of San | | | | class sections of eastern San Jose. |