Costa Rica Casinos in Pura Vida-Land

So, in part two of my casino destinations series, where should we go? How about we go gambling in a whole new environment. In Las Vegas, Nevada, if you end up losing the farm at the craps tables and have nowhere else to go, well, there is plenty of desert to keep you warm. If the same happens in Atlantic City, New Jersey, you could have cold to deal with.

Let’s head south. Let’s go to the tropics. With American Airlines, Delta, and Continental Airlines, among others, all serving it, it should not be too hard for a resourceful guy or gal like you to get to Juan Santamaria International Airport, San Jose, Costa Rica.

Costa Rica

There are a couple of things to note about gambling in Costa Rica for first-time travelers to this destination. First, they have a game called Canasta (“basket”), which may catch your attention. Don’t be put off–it is basically roulette, but played with a Bingo hopper full of balls instead of a wheel. American roulette, to be exact. Same odds, same payoffs, same 2 house numbers waiting to clean out your pockets.

The other is Rummy. You will see that there are no Blackjack tables in casinos there. They have all been replaced with this variation of the game. It is played like Blackjack, but getting dealt that magical Ace-ten only pays you 1.5 to 1 on your bet. This is made up for with the possibility of a Rummy; getting dealt 3 of a kind or 3 suited cards in a row pays you 3 to 1. Other than that you are still playing Blackjack.

Once you arrive in this peaceful Central American gem, you have a variety of casinos to choose from. Practically across the street from the airport is the Fiesta Casino, with many of the lights and sounds previous visitors to Vegas will know and love. There re row after row of slots, a poker room, Pai Gow, Caribbean Stud, most everything you are familiar with. Overall, it is a very nice place, though it is not known for loose slots.

Beyond the airport accessible Fiesta, some of the better destinations in the capitol include the Best Western Irazu, Hotel and Casino Del Rey, and the Raddison Hotel and Casino, with possibly the best poker room in the city.

Once you venture out of San Jose and the Central Valley, most tourist destinations feature several casinos to choose from. Wherever you end up playing, remember that this is NOT Las Vegas, and the casinos are smaller and less likely to offer a chance to strike it rich. But they are still a lot of fun, with friendly locals playing right alongside you and sharing in the thrill of victories, and commiserating with you when the gambling gods remind you that luck eventually runs out.