www.CostaRicaTicas.com

From Inside Costa Rica Monday April 11, 2005:













Casino Hours To Be Limited to 18 Hours
A proposal by the special Legislative Commission will limit casino hours in Costa Rica from 12 noon to 6am the next day - a total of 18 hours - away from the current 24 hours of operation by most casinos.

According to the Asociación Nacional de Casinos (Casino Association) the change will mean adjusting the work schedule of some 3.000 employees that currently work in casinos and is mentioning that some may have to be fired.

Jorge Hidalgo, representing the Casino Association, that they are in agreement with the restricted hours of operation and will comply if adopted. However, the association wants a fairer way to tax the casinos, one based on earnings rather than on the number of tables and gaming machines, which may prompt some casinos to close completely.

According to the Municipality of San José, of the 19 casino licenses, only 13 are in operation and contribute "very little".

The Municipality of San José is also looking closely as some operators within their jurisdiction, investigating their licenses.

Casinos can only operate within and part of a three star or higher hotel. Two casinos in San José, the Colonial and the Horseshoe, do not form part of a hotel.

In the case of the Colonial, they had their license before the current "hotel" rule and is currently adding a hotel to their property. However, in the case of the Horseshoe, the Municipality is investigating any possible irregularities with the issuing of license and will be sanctioned if irregularities are found.

The Municipality of San José is also enforcing the law that prohibit casinos to open alternate doors for public entry. To that end, they have asked several casinos to close their alternate doors to access the gaming tables and machines.

The casino association is staying firm in it's position that the Municipality of San José is exaggerating the problem, that they rules done make sense and have no legal basis.




The Municipality of San José is investigating how the Horseshoe Casino got it's license.






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