www.CostaRicaTicas.com

If you're a casino gambler heading to San Jose for the first time, you may be surprised by some differences between Vegas/Atlantic City/Reno or U.S. tribal casinos and those you'll visit in San Jose.

Now understand... because of my blindness, I am more often than not unwelcome at the tables. Casino management usually only welcomes me to play slots. That being said, here's what I've observed.

1. Blackjack rules may vary from rules in the U.S.

2. Roulette is more often than not played with a ball-drop device, similar to that used for bingo. I wonder if the odds are the same?

3. Games with which most American gamblers are unfamiliar, such as Toot and Rummy are very popular in many casinos.

4. None of the casinos which I visited had craps games running while I was there. The casino at the Holiday Inn Arroyo is an exception, and I was told that the Colonial has a craps table, although it wasn't running when I visited. I'm sure that a number of casinos have craps tables, but of the five casinos I visited, only the Tropical had a game running while I was there.

5. The casinos i visited, with the possible exception of the Colonial and Del Rey seemed incredibly close and crowded, even though there weren't many patrons at any given time. Note that the casinos I visited are very, very small when compared to U.S. casinos.

I enjoyed playing slots in the Horshoe, but this casino is also very crowded; my back was jammed up against the balusters on the stairway to the sports book/restaurant. By my guess, the 500 colones slots were placed so that only a tico midget could be comfortable sitting at them.

I'm going to catch some flames for this, but the worst offender in this category is the Fiesta Casino at Hotel Presidente. If you're afraid of the dark, clausstrophobic or enjoy fresh air, stay the hell away from this casino. Staff was almost nonexistent, and those who were there were singularly unfriendly. The slot machine ranks are placed so tightly together that if you fart you're likely to blow the person behind you off his chair. The Sky Box is also crowded, but at least is nicer and has better air. I will never again play in the Fiesta .

Disclaimer: I just re-read my comments about the Fiesta Casino and now believe I may have been a bit harsh. I'm suffering from G.I.S.B. (Gringa-Induced Seminal Backup) and probably need a trip south. Truthfully, I wasn't at the casino long enough (half hour) to really make a fair appraisal. I probably will give it another shot when I return(.
6. Expect drink service (complimentary for players) is often as good as, or better than in Vegas casinos. A large tip (500 colones) when the first drink was brought ensured that all drinks thereafter were strong and delivered often.

7. As is the case with many Stateside casinos, many Costa Rican casinos offer promotions, including drawings for cash prizes etc. Ask a casino employee about promotions and comps.

8. Besides gambling, there are other good reasons to visit San Jose casinos. Cash machines (ATM) are readily available and offer great exchange ratesCasinos usually offer very advantageous exchange rates if you change dollars to colones, but will seldom exchange colones for U$D.

Many casinos, most notably the Colonial offer good restaurants. (In the case of the Colonial, you'll want to request the limited lunch menu, which offers only slightly fewer options but much lower prices than the full Menu). Also, the Colonial had a great piano player the first time I visited there; the guy played mostly gringo music and was a pleasure to hear.

Many chicas furthermore, love to gamble and can help suck the money out of your wallet faster than a Hoover.

As is the case with any casino, you should feel free to question the dealers about rules of the games. Also, many of the dealers are reported to be less skilled than their colleagues in the U.S., and this can work either to the player's advantage or not. Watch each dealer carefully, call him/her on mistakes that would benefit the house, let the ones that benefit the player slide. Tipping the dealer with a "toke" (a chip played on the dealer's behalf) is welcome at most places, according to those table gamblers with whom I've spoken.

I urge veteran CRT gamblers to comment on my list of observations above, and to correct me accordingly. I was just thinking about sports books (so glad I didn't bet on the Vi-Queens to win the Superbowl), and this thought process led me to write this post.

The fact is, as I am usually unwelcome at tables, much of what I've reported is based on casual observation and limited personal experience, so come on, guys...chime in!

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

I've gambled in casino's in several countries, and in every casino, while you're gambling, you drink for free.

Last month, I was sitting at the $25 table in the HDR and it was getting late. I needed a little "pick-me-up" before taking mamasita upstairs for the night. I ordered a Red Bull (or Maxxim / whatever they call it now). When the waitress brought it, she asked me for $$$$. (I don't remember exactly how much because I was pissed).

I couldn't believe it. I've never been asked to pay for any type of cocktail or beverage while I was playing at a table. In most casino's I've been to, they also give you free cigarettes if you ask for them. I called the pit-boss over, and she verified that the Red Bull was not complimentary. I explained to her (as calmly and diplomatically as I could) that I thought it was bullsh*t. She could see that I was not happy. Nevertheless, I was winning, so I paid for it, and kept playing.

When I finished that particular Red Bull, the waitress brought another one and did not charge me for it. I thanked her and gave her a tip. As soon as that one was 1/2 gone, she brought another one for free.

Sometimes, I think they make up the rules as they go. Needless to say, after 3 Red Bulls, I was definitely "charged up". Mamasita was very pleased with me that night!

Has anyone else been charged for Red Bull (or any type of drink) while gaming at the HDR ?

Mikey-B

P.S. As a side note, I was in the Atlantis Hotel & Casino last weekend in Nassau, Bahama's. While playing 3-card poker, I ordered a Red Bull. There was no charge...............

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Before I get into El Ciego's observations let me add a note to what Mikey-B mentioned. I have never been charged for a drink or boca in the Horseshoe or Colonial. DO NOT PLAY AT THE DEL REY. That is just good advice whether you want a free drink or not.

In Iowa you are charged for your drinks. At tribal casinos like Harrah's Cherokee you can't even BUY alcohol.

Now on to El Ciego's comments.
1. Blackjack rules can vary from TABLE TO TABLE in the same U.S. casino. You have single deck (most paying 6 to 5 for blackjack), double deck, 6 and 8 deck shoes. You might have tables where dealer hits soft 17 and the next table stand (this is usually based on the number of decks).
They are also messing with the rules like resplitting Aces or double-downs after split. These are also usually based on the number of decks.

Some rules change if you're playing at the low-limit or high-limit table.

There are also different methods of shuffling. Hand shuffle, auto-shuffle or continuous shuffle machines. These can also change from table to table.

2. Roulette has one of the worst odds of any casino game. However, if you choose to play, and the table has 36 numbers with 0 and/or 00, and they are using an equal number of balls, the odds will still be the same as using a wheel. The kicker is there are 37 or 38 numbers but hitting one only pays 35 to 1.

3. Tute is Costa Rica's version of Caribbean Stud. Rommy is Costa Rica's version of Blackjack. I don't play tute so I can't say if the rules are different than Caribbean Stud but Rommy is similar except you don't get paid 3 to 2 on blackjacks. You do get paid an instant 3 to 1 on a 3-card straight flush (or maybe just a 3-card straight) or 3 of a kind.

4. The Horseshoe used to have a craps table but no more. The Colonial usually has a game going when I've been there. Tman has been known to play the "Don't" just long enough to get his bar money for the night.

5. Surveys show that people actually enjoy the close in feeling when playing slots. It gives them a certain "womb-like" effect.

Thanks Witling. i knew you'd be able to clarify what i thought I observed!

"Close-in, womb-like feeling?" Bring on the amnionic fluid... but I hate it. I felt extremely uncomforatble at the Fiesta, although the tight quarters don't bother me all that much elsewhere in C.R.

Any other gambling observations? By the way, the odds are as you say for roulette, but I still enjoy it...when they let me play.

Thanks again Wit!

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

The Horseshoe has a craps table that has been in operation for over a year. Most Casinos here in SJ only give you the low end drinks for free while you are gambling. If you want some upper shelf stuff (like Red Bull) then expect to be charged. Mikey,obviously since you were playing at a $25 min.table,and complained,someone higher-up spoke to the cocktail waitress and told her to give you whatever you wanted for free. Witling is absolutely correct..... Do NOT gamble for more than a few dollars at the DR. Do a search of these boards to see why.

I was not aware of this. Thanks VB.

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

I always bet "wrong" (Don't pass) when playing craps. Not only do I win money (sometimes), but I get to piss off every other player at the table. It's fun!

You know craps is a game where the house has a big advantage when both right bettors (Pass) and wrong bettors (Don't Pass) lose at the same time.

My gambling experience in CR is limited compared to others, but let me add some comments from what I've observed.

Agree wholeheartedly with the admonition about the Del Rey. I've had my clock cleaned in short order several times there - can't pinpoint the problem, but somehow it doesn't seem everything is on the "up and up".

Spent a lot of time at the Casino Paradiso at Amon Plaza on my last trip, and have to give this place my highest recommendation. First of all, it's small but comfortable, and there's very few distractions, other than the gorgeous cocktail waitress Fany and dealer Jessica (sorry guys, both are the exclusive honies of the casino owners). There's a friendly ambience, and best of all, they play actual American blackjack (2,000 col. min.), with rules that don't unduly favor the house. Dealer stays on soft 17, you can double on any two cards, and double after splits. I was doing fine there overall until my last visit, when I couldn't pull any cards to save my life. Still, I don't think there is anywhere else at this point I would go to gamble in San Jose.

At Del Rey they pay 1:1 on blackjack and you push on black jack. Early surrender is available. I did not notice dealer hit on soft 17 at all. Could have missed that but think not. Minimum was 1000 colones. Yes, double after split and soft doubling allowed. Pretty advantageous rules esp. with early surrender. Pit boss watches your play like a hawk. But they did not shut me down even when ridiculously up. It's a 4 deck shoe. Have to try amon sounds good

Dittos to what Get Rythm said about the Paradisio. Also, my favorite place. Very comfortable. I play a lot of tute there and I beleive someone asked the diff. between tute and Caribbean Stud in the states - 2 big differences: 1. In Vegas, you don't get paid a bonus for a straight and 2. In Vegas, you cannot bet more than $1.00 while in Costa Rica, you can bet as little as 100 colones and a much as 2,000 colones (Del Rey limit is 1,000).
Hope that answers the question posed.
LV (formally tuteman) Steve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.