Costa Rica’s efforts to modernize its gambling regulations faced a significant defeat in early 2026 after the Security and Narcotics Commission of the Legislative Assembly rejected Bill No. 25,057.
The bill, designed to update the legal framework for games of chance and strengthen state controls, was voted down with five votes against and only three in favor. This decision reverses the momentum from November 2025, when the Junta de Protección Social (JPS) had announced the commission’s initial approval of the initiative.
Closing Legal Gaps
The JPS has been a vocal advocate for the bill, arguing that current laws are dangerously outdated. According to the JPS, the proposal “constitutes a necessary measure to close legal gaps that currently facilitate the proliferation of unauthorized activities, the result of a law that has been in force for more than 50 years”.
Supporters, including lawmakers Gilberth Jiménez and Pilar Cisneros, viewed the bill as a crucial step toward aligning Costa Rica’s gambling sector with modern economic and technological realities.
Political Division and Next Steps
Despite the urgency expressed by proponents, the commission remained divided. Lawmakers Gloria Navas, Priscilla Vindas, Alejandra Larios, and Gilberto Campos voted against the measure, though the specific motives for their opposition were not detailed in the final vote report.
The bill now moves to the Legislative Plenary accompanied by an adverse majority opinion. While a negative recommendation does not legally kill the bill, it leaves it with “virtually no chance for its approval” unless the full assembly votes to reject the committee’s findings. This outcome perpetuates uncertainty in Costa Rica’s gambling sector at a time when neighboring jurisdictions are rapidly advancing their own regulatory frameworks.
