www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Have played a lot (too much?) craps in San Jose. The following are the tables I know of and how I rate the dealing and play factors:

Colonial Casino...next door to Hotel Delrey side entrance. This is the largest most elegant casino in downtown San Jose in my opinion. Mostly Ticos playing here. Large parking lot for easy parking if you are driving. Nice big craps table. Minumum play now in colones is 1000 colones ($2)...used to be 500. Only in Panama can you play craps cheaper of anywhere I have been ($1 minumum tables are standard at Panama casinos). Minimum in dollars is $5...max USUALLY $200 unless you ask for special limits. They will probably allow $25-500 limit spread if you want that. The tico regulars usually start play here in early-mid afternoon, so it is the most likely table in town to have early action. While its nice that they play in both colones and dollars, the dealing team is really subpar. Some of these dealers have been dealing 3+ years that I have been playing there...and still dont know how to count or pay off correctly. Especially if you are the unusual guy like me or Circus who play the DONT quite often. You have to really watch your payouts because Ticos miscount all the time. Dont know if it's genetic...or trying to get an extra edge sometimes . If you play often here, you will see many arguments between players and staff/management on correct payouts. Ah...Costa Rica...

Horseshoe Casino... The Horseshoe is probably the most "gringo friendly" casino in the gulch. Small and hard to move around in, but always has action. The craps table is smaller, but has the most professional dealing team. They only take dollar action with $5-$300 normal spread. They will also do big stakes spread on request...I have seen $50-$2000 on this table before. Definitely where the high roller craps players play. Usually play is only at night here though on the weekends you will find some daytime play. Again, because of location and dealing quality, this is the preferred place to play craps.

Casino Aurora...top of the Holiday Inn at Morazan Park. They have one of the nicest tables...and usually a pretty good team that deals there. Problem is, very limited play. Most times you go up there are very few players and hardly ever a craps game. Go figure. Guess its Location, Location, Location. This casino is same owners as the Colonial. One thing I dont like here is the payout process. When you finish playing they have to call over a manager who watches the count. Then they write you a piece of paper with the amount. All this while other players sit around idly waiting for play to resume. Then you take the paper over to the cashier for payout. This extra step can take an extra 5 minutes waiting...even in an empty casino.

Fiesta Casino...the new casino by the airport with Dennys Restaurant attached. They have a nice new table there that sees some consistant action at night. Dollars only last time I was there, $5 minumum. Problem is, the dealer team is newer than the Casino...and seem to have the typical problem of counting odds and pushing chips fast enough. Can be a long night helping them count and waiting on the chips to be pushed around the table. It is definitely the largest and newest Vegas style casino in town and plenty of eye candy...especially at night and on weekends.

Tryp Coribici Hotel Casino...business hotel located next to Parque Sabana on the highway headed out to the airport. This large casino is primarily geared to locals and guests. They have a large antiquated craps table...one of the largest I've ever seen. Not much play here, and the table upkeep is terrible. The felt hadnt been changed in 10 years it looked like...can hardly see the numbers. And the table is like concrete for a table. The dice dont bounce on this surface. The dealers seem to be adequate, but last time I played there they started playing games with what was or wasnt a qualified roll...so I left stating I would never play there again.

These are the main tables in town. Casino Paradiso at Amon Plaza Hotel used to have a craps table, but have put it in storage. They didnt have enough dealers, or play to invest in dealers it seems. Personally I think they should reinstate and promote a quality craps game there as they have the friendliest, most attractive and quality dealers in town in general.
Just need ways to promote their location better...

Watch for the upcoming Tmans report on Craps Panama style . Hope to see you at a craps table near you .