Lottery gambling is legal in Costa Rica and operates as a state monopoly through the Junta de Protección Social (Social Protection Council), which manages all six different lottery games in the country (1). Costa Rica established its national lottery in 1885 with the goal of raising funds for the public hospital San Juan de Dios, and the tradition of using lottery proceeds for social welfare purposes continues today (1).
The Junta de Protección Social oversees lottery operations and distributes proceeds to various social programs including hospitals, retirement homes, HIV/AIDS programs, the Red Cross, cancer prevention, substance abuse programs, and immunization services (1). One lottery draw per year, held in November or December, is specifically devoted to immunization as mandated by Costa Rica's 2001 National Immunization Law, raising approximately US$100,000 to US$200,000 annually for vaccine purchases (1).
"Costa Rica established a national lottery in 1885 with the goal of raising funds for the public hospital, San Juan de Dios. The country now has six different lottery games, all managed by Junta de Protección Social."
Physical casinos in Costa Rica are regulated under Law No. 9050 and are authorized to operate exclusively as complementary services to the national hotel industry, with the Ministry of Public Security responsible for licensing and oversight (2). Online lotteries and raffles are regulated by the Junta de Protección Social, and platforms wishing to offer online lottery games must go through the licensing process before operating (2).
Source:
https://immunizationeconomics.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/BRIEF22.pdf
https://www.gamblinginsider.com/magazine/1182/costa-rica-effective-regulation-is-the-industrys-path-forward
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
