Here are a few DO's and DON'T's in some of the various casinos in San Jose and throughout the Pacific Coast.

1) Tip the waitress when you are sitting at the table. Your glass will not get empty. Tip the dealer when you win. If you have the cojones and the money to sit at the table in the first place, then spread it around. They will remember you. Besides, it's not Vegas. The stakes are low.

2) Play "Blackjack" at your own risk. It is called Rummy in Costa Rica and three eights or two-three-four pays three to one, but twenty-one only pays what you bet.

3) For my money, Caribbean Poker (Tute) is the best game with the best odds that you can play in Costa Rica. It is a five card stud poker game. I once got four of a kind TWICE in ONE DAY in The Hotel Del Rey. Which is like saying that I WALKED ACROSS WATER. I sat at the table with C10,000 (a little more than $30US) and walked away some hours later with about $600US. You figure the percentages. I was talking with the Casino Manager, Chad McRae, later that night and he said to me: "If I had known that, I wouldn't have let you in again." (HA, HA, Sucker)

4) Don't play craps. If they have it, then they know less about what you are doing than you know about what you are doing. Most places don't have it though.

5) Roulette usually sucks. But, I see lots of people playing. Get a strategy. You'll need it.

6) Slot machines are slot machines. Take it as you will.

7) There is nearly always a sportsbook in every casino, so you can bet on your particular game.

San Jose
Pound for pound and dollar for dollar, The Hotel Del Rey has the best casino and other "amenities" that the Capitol can offer. You can go in there with C5,000 (about $15.50US) and get drunk and fed and stay for about two hours. The Del Rey caters to American men, whatever the age. Depending on what day and at what time, gorgeous hookers abound. And, most importantly, they will treat you right. You will get American service there. You don't always get American service in Costa Rica. Pura Vida!

Stay away from the Holiday Inn, Aurola. YOU WILL LOSE.

The Radisson has a NICE casino. It's like Vegas. It now has a sister (same management), The Hotel Royal Dutch. However, the Hotel Royal Dutch is right on Avenida Segunda, the largest street in San Jose. AND, has a mostly Costa Rican clientele. Which, will make a difference to you once you have entered the scene.

The Best Western, Irazu, also has a fairly decent casino. I was laid over a day heading back to the States and played in there. I lost, but, they are good and I would go back.

Manuel Antonio
There are only two casinos in MA. The Divismar and the Best Western Kamuk. Both are small scale and I am convinced that the American lady that owns the Divismar is dealing from the bottom in Rummy (twenty-one). However, you have to remember I was there first, some eighteen months ago. The Kamuk is OK, but, small scale. Gamble at your own risk.

Jaco
The Hotel Cocal is my favorite place to gamble. I usually win there. The dealers are good people and everyone is attentive. My friend, Darryl, now runs the casino, so if you are in there then tell him that I said Hi.

The Marriott is nice, but the place is never full and it is a few miles from the actual town, Jaco. The place is usually dead.

The Amapola is OK and it is a nice hotel. Make your own decision.

Tamarindo
The Amapola in Tamarindo is pretty nice and beats the one in Jaco, but the most fun that I had gambling there was in a little place that is right beside the Banco Nacional and down from the best internet cafe there. I can't even remember the name, but I did run into one of the dealers that I knew from the Best Western Kamuk in Manuel Antonio. He liked it. It is small, but when you turn in your chips, they just hand you cash in whatever denomination that you want.

That's the word on Gaming Costa Rica.

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our Central America Insiders page.