Betting in San Jose
The capital city of Costa Rica is San Jose (Spanish for Saint Joseph). San Jose is the nation’s biggest city and has a population of approximately 288,054 citizens. It is home to the seat of government and the centre of all political and economic matters in the country. San Jose is situated in the Central Valley and it an important transportation hub.
Founded in 1738 as a Spanish colony, the city’s initial growth was slow because of inadequate water infrastructure. Signs of European presence throughout history in San Jose can still been observed today, notably in the city’s architecture and art, as well as in the museums, theatres, buildings, plazas and parks.
San Jose is made up of 11 districts, which are divided up into barrios or neighbourhoods. There are four main areas within the centre of the city, the Merced, San Francisco, Catedral and the Hospital districts. The city has a grid system of streets and avenues which are numbered and a highway loop known as the Circumvallation and Route 39, surrounding the capital on three sides.
Some of San Jose’s best casinos can be found within hotel establishments. Located downtown On Avenue 2, Calle 4, The Royal Dutch Hotel & Casino Europa offers round-the-clock gambling opportunities. There are 100 games machines and half a dozen games tables including Baccarat, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker and 3-Card Poker, plus a native game known as Tute. The venue also features 70 hotel rooms and a sports bar. Elsewhere, on Avenue 1, Calle 9, the Hotel Del Ray is host to the Casino Del Rey. It provides 75 slot machines and 10 gaming tables such as Caribbean Stud Poker, Blackjack, Rummy, Canasta/Roulette and Tute. The property also serves international cuisine in the Del Rey Cafe or alternatively, the Blue Marlin Bar serves three main meals a day.
The Club Colonial Casino, a few streets away on Calle 11, is open for business 24/7 and provides 125 games machines and 12 table games including Let It Ride, Craps, Pai Gow Poker, Blackjack, Roulette and Mini-Baccarat. There is an onsite restaurant called the Magnolia which serves American-inspired food and drinks.
The large international resort-casinos are generally located on the outskirts of the downtown area. North of the San Francisco District punters will find the Radisson Hotel & Casino Europa. Its facilities comprise of over 100 guest rooms, several restaurants, more than 200 gaming machines and at least a dozen games tables, all open for round-the-clock play.
Located to the west of Merced District is the Crown Plaza San Jose Corobici. It offers gambling activities within its casino, a Keep-Fit Club plus an outdoor swimming pool. The Barcelo San Jose Palacio Spa & Casino can be found directly opposite to the Crown Plaza San Jose Corobici, and features 254 hotel rooms, two restaurants, a couple of bars, 18 games machines and 15 games tables. The venue is open for business every day.
The biggest gambling company operating in San Jose is known as Thunderbird Resorts. They own five venues throughout the city, three of which come under the Fiesta Casino brand name. Their flagship venue can be found on Avenue 2, Calle 7 and is housed within the Hotel Presidente. It has over 5,000 square footage to accommodate some 150 slot machines. The other two Fiesta Casinos are hosted by the Holiday Inn Express which is close to the airport and the Ramada Plaza Herradura just off of the highway, which has 87 gaming machines and 9 games tables, plus three restaurants.
Lucky’s Casino is another brand name owned by Thunderbirds Resorts. Lucky’s Casino operates within the Hotel Villa Tournon which is situated in central San Jose and offers 50 games machines. In the San Isidro de El General district in the southern area of San Jose, bettors will come across the Perez Zeledon venue. Here, players have 118 games machines to choose from.
