License Name
Data Processing Licence (Licencia de Procesamiento de Datos) – Costa Rica
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Issuing Country/Region
Costa Rica
Regulatory Body
Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC); local municipalities issue the license
Types of Regulated Games
Not a gambling license; permits data processing for casino, sportsbook, poker, and lottery sites operated outside Costa Rica
Market Coverage
International (offshore only; not for Costa Rican residents)
Regulator's Reputation
Below Average
Legal Entity Requirements
Local corporate entity required (Sociedad Anónima/Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada); 100% foreign ownership permitted; must appoint local legal representative
Minimum Share Capital
No minimum share capital
Directors and Shareholders Requirements
No restrictions on nationality; at least one local legal representative with signing authority required
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Requirements
No official local AML regime for gambling; basic KYC/AML policies required by offshore payment partners
Data Protection Requirements
No specific local standards; internal policies often required by payment processors
Reporting Requirements
Annual tax filing to Dirección General de Tributación; no dedicated gambling reporting
Audit Requirements
No formal or regular audit required for gaming activity
Software Certification Requirements
Not required
RNG Certification
Not required
Payment System Requirements
Use of crypto or offshore payment processors; Costa Rican banks do not service gambling operations
Server Location Requirements
No local server hosting required
Domain Name Requirements
No restriction
Language Support Requirements
No local language requirement
Currency Support Requirements
No restriction
Legal Compliance Costs
Setup $6,000–$10,000; annual maintenance $5,000–$10,000
Background Checks
Not required by local law; may be needed by banking/PSP partners
License Scope Restrictions
Cannot serve or market to Costa Rican residents; not recognized as authorized gambling license in most jurisdictions
Jurisdictional Tax Compliance
Corporate income tax (27.5%–30%); zero tax on offshore earnings
Player Data Storage Requirements
No specific mandate
Cross-Border Operations
Permitted, provided Costa Rican players are excluded
License Application Transparency
Standard corporate registration; low regulatory transparency
Regulatory Contact Point
Local legal representative
Compliance Officer Requirement
Not mandatory; internal compliance documentation suggested due to PSP/EMI demands
Local Partnership Requirements
None required
Legal Dispute Resolution
Costa Rican courts for corporate matters
License Transferability
Possible via change of company ownership; regulatory approval not required
Sub-Licensing Rules
Not applicable
License Cost
$6,000–$10,000 (incorporation, municipal licensing, compliance setup)
Annual Fees
$5,000–$10,000 (maintenance, registered agent, address, filings)
Income Taxes
27.5%–30% on local income; zero tax if fully offshore
Player Winnings Taxes
No withholding
Financial Guarantees
None
Liquidity Requirements
None
Financial Reporting Requirements
Annual tax return; basic accounting
Application Processing Time
2–8 weeks (including company setup, licensing, and translations)
Required Documents
Notarized formation documents, director/shareholder ID, office lease or address, power of attorney (if using agent), Spanish translations
Business Plan Requirements
Not mandatory
Internal Policy Requirements
AML/KYC and responsible gaming documentation recommended for onboarding partners
Testing Requirements
None
Certification Requirements
None
Staff Qualifications
None specified
Physical Office Requirements
Registered office in Costa Rica required
Local Representative Requirements
Mandatory (licensed attorney or agent)
Marketing Restrictions
No marketing to Costa Rican residents
Responsible Gaming Measures
Internal policies recommended
Self-Exclusion System
Not mandatory
Age Verification Procedures
Not mandated by law; recommended for partner compliance
KYC Procedures
Not mandated by law; recommended for partner compliance
Customer Support Standards
Not required
Complaint Handling Procedures
Not required
Player Funds Protection
No segregation mandate
Payout Timelines
Not regulated
Bonus and Promotion Regulations
Not regulated
Permitted Games List
No restrictions; not a gaming license
Betting Limits
Not regulated
RTP Requirements
Not regulated
Jackpot Regulations
Not regulated
Live Game Requirements
Not regulated
Mobile App Compliance
Not specified
Affiliate Program Rules
Not regulated
Security Standards
None specified
Encryption Requirements
Not mandated
Backup Requirements
Not mandated
Monitoring Systems
Not mandated
Operation Logging
Not mandated
Anti-Fraud Systems
Not mandated
API Integration Standards
Not mandated
Hosting Requirements
No restriction
CDN Usage
No requirement
Scalability Requirements
No requirement
Uptime Requirements
Not regulated
Technical Support Availability
Not regulated
License Duration
Indefinite, as long as company/legal representative/municipal registration is maintained
Renewal Procedure
Annual maintenance of corporate and municipal documentation; no formal license renewal
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Administrative fines, company de-registration
Ownership Change Rules
Changes must be recorded with the public registry
Mergers and Acquisitions Rules
No special regulations
Subcontractor Regulations
Not regulated
Branding Requirements
No requirement
Intellectual Property Protection
Governed by national IP law; registration optional
Dispute Arbitration
Civil courts handle disputes
Insurance Requirements
Not required
Charity Contributions
Not required
Staff Training Requirements
Not required
Innovation Support
Not provided
Sustainability Initiatives
Not required
Accessibility Standards
Not required
Multilingual Support
Not required
Cryptocurrency Support
Permitted; crypto-only payment models used due to banking restrictions
Esports Betting Regulations
Not regulated
Fantasy Sports Regulations
Not regulated
Official Address
Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio, Edificio MEIC, Avenida 2, Calle 28, San José, Costa Rica
Work Hours
Monday to Friday, 08:00–16:00
Facebook URL
https://www.facebook.com/MinisterioEconomiaCR
Twitter/X URL
https://twitter.com/MEIC_CR
Departments
Consumer Protection, Regulatory Policy, Business Registry, Industrial Development
FAQ Question 1
What is Data Processing Licence (Licencia de Procesamiento de Datos) – Costa Rica?
FAQ Answer 1
The Data Processing Licence is a municipal permit issued in Costa Rica, commonly used by offshore iGaming operators to provide data processing and support services for online gaming platforms. It is not a gambling license and does not impose any gaming-specific regulation on operators; it serves to legalize company operations for international services, excluding Costa Rican residents, under local business law.
FAQ Question 2
Which jurisdiction issues Data Processing Licence (Licencia de Procesamiento de Datos) – Costa Rica?
FAQ Answer 2
The license is issued by local municipalities in Costa Rica, with corporate oversight from the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC).
FAQ Question 3
What is the cost of obtaining Data Processing Licence (Licencia de Procesamiento de Datos) – Costa Rica?
FAQ Answer 3
The setup cost typically ranges from $6,000 to $10,000, with annual maintenance costs from $5,000 to $10,000, including corporate upkeep, a local representative, and compliance filings.
FAQ Question 4
What are the main requirements for Data Processing Licence (Licencia de Procesamiento de Datos) – Costa Rica?
FAQ Answer 4
Key requirements are registration of a Costa Rican entity (Sociedad Anónima or S.R.L.), appointment of a local legal representative, holding a registered office in Costa Rica, basic annual tax returns, and exclusion of Costa Rican residents from services. No gaming-specific compliance or technical certification is required, but internal AML and KYC policies are recommended for accepting payments from international partners