www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I'm posting this on the General section because I think it may be very important. I just got a pretty reliable "word on the street" that there are currently 250 FBI agents here in CR getting ready to do a sting on the sports book operations here. I was told that they haven't even registered with the local Policia to keep it as quiet as possible. I don't understand how they can stop anyone who bets FROM HERE as opposed to from the U.S. with a legal sportsbook in SJ. Many of you may remember that the local police chose Super Bowl Sunday to close down the sportsbooks that were located in the Casinos a few years ago. It makes sense that if they are going to do something like this,they may as well do it on the busiest day of the year. This may be true or false information but I wanted to pass it on.Personally I believe that it's better to be safe than sorry.I have already notified the Company that I have an account with,to close the account and give me the money.

Note to Admin.... If you want to move this post,please leave a link from the General section so it can be read by everyone.

one way to verify that is to check if there are a larger number of people hanging out at Morazon Park.

also, I have on good source, that the statue of the Gordita on the pedestrian walkway is really a sculpture of J. Edgar Hoover in drag.

better watch out boys, one way tickets to Gitmo.

gotta run now, someone's at the door.......

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The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

I don't get that either. What gives them the right to go into a foreign country and arrest anyone for breaking laws back in the USA?!!

The same shit they've been pulling by rounding up druglords in other countries so they can bring them back to the US and charge them for operating a illegal drug empire.

It's a JOKE!!!!
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"If I was to live each day as if it was my last I would have been dead a long time ago." - Traylor Park

YO VB:

Are you serious or just funning with us? HELLO !!

I respect your post although I question your sources. Why would the US embark on utilizing 250 FBI agents in CR on a gambling investigation when the ranks are depleted in that dept. already. Makes no sense. They should be working on terror concerns. NAW, something is bogus here.

Can one imagine the expense of per diem and salary in order to do something like that?

Shit, I just hope that they don't crash the Superbowl party at Sportsman. There goes the neighborhood.

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Damn if I'm going to repeat this shit again. I need a drink.
I've been drinking vodka every day for 45 years and I have certainly never found it to be habit forming.

CRIMESTOPPER TIP- WIPE WITH YOUR LEFT

(BET WITH YOUR RIGHT, NO 'DIRTY' MONEY PLEASE.)

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

I did a quick check on "our" FBI. I couldn't find anything out about them dealing with sports books but I did find this story from 2005.

The Case of the Not So Accidental Tourists
04/29/05

These particular tourists were planning to visit Costa Rica, but not for its beautiful beaches, lush rain forests, dazzling waterfalls, or rich culture. They had crime on their minds.

Specifically, they were going to prey on young Ch*ldren. Costa Rica had fallen victim to the “sex tourist” trade—particularly by Americans taking advantage of nonstop air service from Miami to the capital of San Jose.

Costa Rican officials contacted us in 2002. We immediately offered to help train Costa Rican law enforcement to deal with the problem, but we also wanted to stop the crimes from our end.

So we launched Operation Turnaround, run by our Miami office with help from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica. It was the first undercover operation of its kind, designed to stop sex tourists before they could leave the U.S.

To identify these criminals, we created a bogus travel agency—Costa Rica Taboo Vacations—that offered to arrange trips complete with local “tourist companions” aged 14 to 27. We advertised our services in magazines and on the Internet and were swamped with requests for information.

From December 2003 to August 2004, we arrested 11 individuals as part of the sting. All 11 have since either pled guilty or were convicted at trial. They included a Florida cop, a New Jersey middle school teacher, and a South Carolina real estate agent and his wife.

All were ready to prey on Costa Rican Ch*ldren. They’d paid us to set it up; they’d packed their bags; some even packed little gifts for the Ch*ldren they were planning to abuse. Fortunately, it’s illegal for U.S. citizens to travel internationally with the intent to have sex with minors. Our agents arrested them before they left the country.

“The idea behind Operation Turnaround was to literally turn these individuals around—so they couldn’t reach Costa Rica to carry out their crimes,” said Special Agent Terri Patterson, who ran the operation.

Patterson hopes other Americans who think they can get away with abusing Ch*ldren around the world will take notice. “In a case like this involving K*ds, getting the word out there to deter others is important,” she said. “It sends a message that these crimes simply won’t be tolerated.”

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/april05/cac042905.htm

The FBI can (and does) pursue Americans who use foreign addresses to commit crimes that are illegal in the US.
Specifically, if US citizens are profiting from illegal gambling activities, that IS FBI territory.
Does this Sportsbook take internet bets from the US?

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It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.

I was informed that this isn't a joke. I assume that if the info is true, they aren't here to close just one sports book but many of the large ones. As I understand it Costa Rica is the largest location for this type of activity.The illegality comes from the new legislation being enacted in the U.S. making it illegal for any gambling operations to deal with U.S. clients,and we know that the US is the source of the largest percentage of this business. Obviously this is serious business given that seberal companies (even publicly traded ones abroad) have shut down their US operations.If the US succeeds in closing down the operations there will be a huge economic impact on the CR economy.The sports books employ thousands of people at above average salaries. Most of these people are CR residents who spend their money here on housing,cars,food and all the other necessities of life.

I believe the possibilty that this info is true enough to have already taken all my money out of the account that I had active. Let's all hope it doesn't come to pass.

I am very skeptical to believe there is any US legislation that prevents American citizens from making sports bets outside the US in legal gambling establishments.

That would be the same as preventing people from playing in the casinos of Costa Rica or anywhere else in the world.

I have been doing some online research and all I have found so far is information on the legislation banning US citizens from gambling ONLINE if they registered with a US address.

Here is a FAQ regarding online gambling from PartyPoker.com
https://secure.partyaccount.com/faq/non ... lation.htm

I'll stand by waiting to see where this is going but as of now I find it hard to believe:
1. The FBI is in Costa Rica to shut down the sports books. I find it hard to imagine that the FBI has any juristiction in Costa Rica unless they were invited to apprehend a fugitive.
2. There is any US law the says US citizens can't place a sports bet in Costa Rica.

But I could be wrong.

Damn once again Uncle Wit is on the ball

On a brief internet search I find legal basis for the FBI to act in Costa Rica, subject to Diplomatic agreements.

I cannot see Costa Rica opposing this law, and thereby risk losing the US cooperation (lax rules for tourists to Costa Rica).

Remember, the USA is still the 600 pound gorilla in Central America



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I am not a lawyer, but I watched a TV lawyer sitcom once.
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The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006
Text of the Law

SEC. 802.
PROHIBITION ON ACCEPTANCE OF ANY PAYMENT INSTRUMENT FOR UNLAWFUL INTERNET GAMBLING.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 53 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
SUBCHAPTER IV
PROHIBITION ON FUNDING OF UNLAWFUL INTERNET GAMBLING
§ 5361. Congressional findings and purpose
(a) FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Internet gambling is primarily funded through personal use of payment system instruments, credit cards, and wire transfers.
(2) The National Gambling Impact Study Commission in 1999 recommended the passage of legislation to prohibit wire transfers to Internet gambling sites or the banks which represent such sites.
(3) Internet gambling is a growing cause of debt collection problems for insured depository institutions and the consumer credit industry.
(4) New mechanisms for enforcing gambling laws on the Internet are necessary because traditional law enforcement mechanisms are often inadequate for enforcing gambling prohibitions or regulations on the Internet, especially where such gambling crosses State or national borders.


SEC. 803.
INTERNET GAMBLING IN OR THROUGH FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.
In deliberations between the United States Government and any foreign country on money laundering, corruption, and crime issues, the United States Government should
(1) encourage cooperation by foreign governments and relevant international fora in identifying whether Internet gambling operations are being used for money laundering, corruption, or other crimes;
(2) advance policies that promote the cooperation of foreign governments, through information sharing or other measures, in the enforcement of this Act; and
(3) encourage the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, in its annual report on money laundering typologies, to study the extent to which Internet gambling operations are being used for money laundering purposes.
(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—The Secretary of the Treasury shall submit an annual report to the Congress on any deliberations between the United States and other countries on issues relating to Internet gambling.

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What is not published is the nature of any diplomatic agreements reached.
I suggest being very careful, and observing US law.

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It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.

I'm with Vegas Bob on this one. Be very careful out there. They are cracking down.

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gone fishing

It would appear the FBI is getting very active in this area.

Some interesting links:

http://boston.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/press ... 091906.htm

http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/ar ... hp/3620731

http://www.olswang.com/news.asp?page=ne ... 0&aid=1699

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/ ... 0725.shtml

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 40,00.html

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It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.

I spoke with an owner of one of the sportsbooks and they are taking this very seriously. The ones that can are only carrying CR ID. and not sitting in the management offices at their work. Apparently there are a number of agents staying at hotels in central.

I wonder if any of the agents are covertly mongering in the Del Rey this weekend?

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http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
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