www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I spoke with the casino host at the Fiesta Casino in Alauella last night.He informed me that the new laws will take place in the next week or two. His casino will be closed from 6am to 3pm.I assume that is the final hours allowed for all casinos. This has to be one of the dumbest ideas that these Tico legislators have come up with. As far as I can see there is absolutely NO upside for the Country by closing for 9 hours a day. The downside is that there will be some 3000 people with no jobs. This could also affect tourism since the tourists generate a lot of the income in these places.

I am curious, what was the imagined upside to the new law?

does anyone know why the selected hours of closure were chosen?

why 3 in the afternoon as opposed to 12 noon or other hour?

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double post, blame it on the broken wrist.

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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)

Think you forgot this is happening in Costa Rica where "upside" and "reason" do not necessarily enter into the thought process.

The legislation was a pet project of "Laura" (that's how her campaign web site and bumper stickers now refer to her) when she was 1st VP. The original idea was to limit the hours to 8 per day (6 PM - 2 AM). When the casino operators objected and pointed out the loss of jobs that would cause a compromise was negotiated. Not sure that would have been possible if "Laura" was still the VP.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Didn't they originally start all this crap because they were afraid of some big-money Russians coming to CR and buying / running the casinos? I thought that was the original reason... or something like that!

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

Like so many things political it is hard to ferret out what is real and what is a smoke screen.

My take is that she used the Russians to advance her own agenda. It was pretty well established the Russians met all the of the qualifications, ie: amount of rooms, separate casino entrance, etc. to qualify under the new proposed rules. The operating hours would have effected every casino so it can not be assumed it was directed at keeping the Russians out.

As I said that is my take on it and certainly a case can be made for a few other scenarios. In politics not all things are as they seem.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I hope the sports bar in the casinos will still be open. Maybe they will find a loophole like bingo isn't considered a casino game.

Nothing political is EVER certain here in Costa Rica,however I was told by people at the Colonial yesterday that the new law becomes effective at 5am tomorrow. Casinos still aren't sure of the necessary closing hours and nothing has appeared in the press. One casino told me that they thought they had to close from 5am till 2pm,and another said they thought it was 6am to 3pm. I also forgot to mention that the new law also makes it illegal for a casino to serve alcohol in the casino. Laura must think that it's a terrible thing for a Gringo tourist to spend $20 playing Tute and having a few beers at the casino's expense. Let's see if CR once again resorts to a Government of DELAY,waiting for legislators to be sufficiently "paid off" to end this ridiculous change that will affect a few thousand casino workers. Laura Chinchilla should be asked if she is going to feed all these hard working newly unemployed people. Beware gentlemen....her next project is to make prostitution illegal.

No worries VB, she's not gonna beat Johnny....

Yea, and Don Oscar had a 20 point lead the last week of the last election, according to the pollsters, and won by the hair on his chinny chin chin.

Far to early to predict the outcome of the election. We do not even know which of them, Laura or Johnny, is going to get the nomination.

This far out in the last U.S. Presidential election Rudy and Hilliary were all ready declared the nominees. We all saw how that worked out.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Let us pray...........

well, I tried wading thru the local CR english language papers and finally tried stumbling thru the spanish language paper, La Nacion, and all I could find was an article about fears in CR over tourism, or lack thereof, in the economic section of La Nacion.

if such casino laws, or legislation affecting the trades of the little darlings, ever comes into practice, would not there be severe effect on the economy of CR?

I certainly enjoy reading the views and reports of our resident CRT members and long time visitors of CR.


ps - I just found this article in La Nacion date March 14th, 2009

http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2009/marzo/ ... 05760.html



the article says there are over 400 casinos in CR.

could someone more fluent in spanish explain the article?

it apears we have an economic clusterphuck in the making.

_________________
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 remember reading, I think it was around the time of the issue with the Russians, that the reason for the casino hours change was that Laura and her ilk don't want CR to be known for casinos and don't want tourists coming for gambling. They want to keep projecting the eco-paradise image, doesn't matter to them if thousands would lose their jobs.

The latest we have from the meeting this week is 3pm to 5am and drinks can not be given away. However they did not say how much youmust charge. Welcome to the 100 colones allyoucan drink if gambling world. Colonialhas signs posted and we intend to follow the hours if the others are complying. It will cost major jobs at the Colonial and Fiesta. We open at 11am and close at 3am now so nottoo much damage and no firings here.


BKTUNA

Not to hijack the tread,but when are the elections? I saw a few ads last week on tv but could find no info. thanks