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watchOS 26 Announced With New Liquid Design Language, Apple Intelligence Features, Wrist Flick Gesture, Workout Buddy, And More

WWDC 2025 just happened and brought tons of exciting news in terms of software upgrades. We got to see the next-generation OS for iPhone, Macbook, and more. The keynote did not let down the Apple Watch fans, as watchOS 26 turned out to be one of the most significant updates in years, especially with how AI remained […]

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WWDC 2025 just happened and brought tons of exciting news in terms of software upgrades. We got to see the next-generation OS for iPhone, Macbook, and more. The keynote did not let down the Apple Watch fans, as watchOS 26 turned out to be one of the most significant updates in years, especially with how AI remained the focal point, allowing for more customization and personalization of features.

watchOS 26 is here, and it’s a game-changer,  introducing powerful Apple Intelligence-driven fitness features, with the all-new Workout Buddy taking center stage

While the hype remained about the other upgrades, the watchOS 26 overhaul cannot be ignored, given how it was heavily inspired by the Vision OS, making it one of the major updates for the wearable in a while. In terms of design, we see a fresh look that gives it a more clean look and the translucent UI seems to align with the rest of the software updates. The design language is more cohesive, especially with the Solarium or Liquid Glass theme that brings the interface closer to iOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS.

With the help of the translucent background, the UI elements would pop out more clearly and add more layering, giving it a 3D touch. The animations would also be more fluid and smooth, especially on the smaller screen, and the AI prompts would not feel cluttered. Users have also been long waiting for a control center that can be customized, and this has been made possible with the watchOS. The update now extends third-party widget support in the control center, a feature that has been long anticipated and is definitely a usability upgrade given the amount of personalization that can be added up, allowing users to have control over what appears and where.

watchOS updates

One of the most promising upgrades is the AI-powered WatchOS 26, which will now be available for Apple Watch users. WatchOS 26 is bringing Apple Intelligence to your Apple Watch, although the features will not be directly available on the wearable’s hardware and would require pairing with the iPhone. Hence, the watch would feel smarter, given how options like smart notifications and AI-driven reply suggestions can now be used to get more personal replies.

Apple is also introducing more advanced health and fitness tools in the watchOS 26 that are meant to provide a proactive approach to well-being, and one of the major announcements in the update was the Workout Buddy, which is an AI-powered fitness coach to help make the workout experience more personalized and engaging by provided real-time voice guidance during your sessions and even giving motivational prompts every now and then. The AI coach is able to learn from your workout patterns and then provide suggestions accordingly and even match the music according to the workout. This feature is integrated into the Workout app and does not depend on any third-party downloads.

watchOS 26 also introduces a new wrist-flick feature that can help users trigger actions on the Apple Watch by simply flicking their wrist and not having to touch the screen. This Assistive Touch and gesture-based control system allows for clearing notifications, silencing alarms, exiting an app, and returning to the home screen simply by gestures and engaging in a hands-free experience. Additionally, the Live Listen and Live Caption options on the Apple Watch allow you to start or stop a live listening session on the watch, so there is no need to take out the phone constantly. With the help of the live captions on the Apple Watch display, you can check out conversations instantly and discreetly, allowing for quicker accessibility.

The watchOS 26 public beta will be available next month, and the final release is expected in fall 2025.



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Apple Could Dive Further Into Formula 1 Partnership After Success of ‘F1’ Film

The United States broadcast rights for Formula 1 could be set for a bidding war. According to a report from Samuel Agini and Michael Acton at the Financial Times, Apple is in discussion with the racing series to take over the rights to broadcast Formula 1 in the United States. Those rights are currently held […]

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The United States broadcast rights for Formula 1 could be set for a bidding war.

According to a report from Samuel Agini and Michael Acton at the Financial Times, Apple is in discussion with the racing series to take over the rights to broadcast Formula 1 in the United States. Those rights are currently held by Disney’s ESPN, but their agreement ends at the conclusion of this season.

Apple has already established extremely close ties with Formula 1, having recently produced the film F1 starring Brad Pitt with a huge buy-in from both the drivers and the ownership groups of the racing league. Should Apple go through with the deal, it would add another heavy hitter to the tech company’s growing roster of sports rights, which currently includes Major League Soccer and a weekly package of MLB games.

Beyond Apple, it would not be surprising to see Netflix, whose documentary series Drive to Survive helped spark interest in the sport in the United States, make a bid for the broadcast rights moving forward.

According to the Financial Times, ESPN currently pays roughly $85 million per year for the rights to broadcast Formula 1 in the U.S. That number is expected to drastically increase with the next deal, regardless of which company ultimately lands the prize.

More on Sports Illustrated



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Best Prime Day smartwatch and fitness tracker deals: My 20 favorite sales live now

When is Amazon Prime Day 2025?  Amazon Prime Day takes place from July 8 through July 11 this year. This is when the retailer cuts deals on thousands of products, mostly ones it owns (think Kindle, Ring, and Alexa). To get in on the deals hype, other brands will discount their products during Prime Day […]

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When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? 

Amazon Prime Day takes place from July 8 through July 11 this year. This is when the retailer cuts deals on thousands of products, mostly ones it owns (think Kindle, Ring, and Alexa). To get in on the deals hype, other brands will discount their products during Prime Day to boost overall sales. 

Are health trackers really cheaper on Prime Day? 

I’ve seen some sweet discounts on health trackers during my time as an editor covering these events. We’ve seen record savings on tech, including Apple Watches and Oura Rings. 

Should I buy a smartwatch or a smart ring?

A smartwatch functions as a health tracker and an around-the-wrist companion to your phone. You can answer texts, set timers, ask the smartwatch’s AI assistant questions and more with an Apple Watch, Pixel Watch, Galaxy Watch, or Garmin. It will record your exercise and sleep and deliver that through the smartwatch’s health app, as well as on your phone’s health app. A smart ring is a little different. It doesn’t have a screen, so it won’t distract you throughout the day with pings or messages. All of the data it collects is displayed on your phone. If a smartwatch is a lifestyle wearable with health functionalities, a smart watch is a health-centered wearable. 

How did we choose these Prime Day deals?

I cover health wearables for my job, and I’m particular about the products I like and don’t like. If something isn’t worth my while, I’m not writing about it. The same goes for these deals. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. 

We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. 

What are the best Prime Day deals so far?

ZDNET’s experts are searching through Prime Day sales to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:

You can also find the best deals from other retailers competing with Prime Day sales:





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What we noticed in Q2’s sports tech investment

Welcome to the second 2025 installment of the SBJ Tech Funding Round(up). As usual, we’re diving headfirst into the money movement on the sports tech front. Here is a pair of trends we noticed in Q2: League and governing body connections: Three of the rounds this quarter featured the involvement of leagues or governing bodies. […]

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Welcome to the second 2025 installment of the SBJ Tech Funding Round(up). As usual, we’re diving headfirst into the money movement on the sports tech front.

Here is a pair of trends we noticed in Q2:

League and governing body connections: Three of the rounds this quarter featured the involvement of leagues or governing bodies. Toca Football extended its relationship with MLS through 2036 as part of its $35 million funding round announcement in April. Toca is still on track to open its first U.S.-based Toca Social locations in late 2025/early 2026, just in time to hopefully capitalize on the excitement buildup around next year’s FIFA World Cup.

USTA Ventures made an undisclosed investment into Edge Sound Research, a startup that’s infusing audio capabilities to radiate live-play sound into the backs of seats for fans. We’ve since learned that the USTA Ventures’ investment is part of a larger $2.75 million funding round (just reported by my colleague Rob Schaefer on Tuesday) that will help the company continue its momentum.

And lastly, Jomboy Media added MLB as a minority investor, part of a strategic partnership that will see Jomboy Media content proliferate through MLB digital channels and various other benefits for the media startup founded in 2017.

Big funding milestones: Between FloSports’ eclipsing a $100 million of total funding in its existence and Teamworks’ massive Series F, some large-scale monetary milestones were hit.

While FloSports didn’t share specific figures for its Series D, the OTT streamer had previously published rounds of $47 million in 2019 (Series C) and a previous $32.2 million in 2016 (a lump sum combination of A and B rounds and anything before those). So quick math tells us that this Series D was a little more than $20 million at the least, which will be funneled into the streamer’s content acquisition strategies.

Teamworks’ $235 million round coincides with the rev-sharing model that’s now gone into effect with the NCAA and its member institutions. The company works with more than 6,500 sports teams across the world, with a collegiate client list that includes Georgia, Notre Dame, Alabama and Ohio State and a slew of others. Teamworks also acquired data firm Telemetry Sports in June, the 11th acquisition for the company since 2022.

My SBJ Tech colleague Joe Lemire mentioned to me this week that his gut instinct said we covered more acquisitions than normal in the past few months. I think his gut was right!

Along with Teamworks, we saw AR firm Eventshop scoop up another startup to enhance capabilities, WSC Sports acquired Infront Labs for a content boost, Hudl bought Titan Sports for a GPS enhancement, LeagueApps added facility management tools from RecTimes, and Win Reality bought Blast Motion for its virtual reality and sensor tech.

Lastly, a company piquing my interest

Owl AI, the new startup launched by X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom, launched officially in the last week of June with $11 million in seed funding. Owl AI has experienced quick growth in capabilities and potential since it emerged. Its initial ideation focused on using AI to boost the judging process for X Games events. But it quickly turned into something that could provide coaching assistance and even predict event outcomes (like when it correctly projected all three medalists in the men’s SuperPipe at X Games Aspen).

Other leagues quickly showed interest to Bloom in Owl AI’s potential, and I’m intrigued to see where the technology turns up.

Other investments covered by SBJ from Q2:



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Bay Area lawmaker pushes to require AI companies to release safety policies – East Bay Times

By Shirin Ghaffary, Bloomberg A California lawmaker is making another effort to regulate artificial intelligence in the state after legislation that would have held large companies liable for harm caused by their technology was vetoed last year by Governor Gavin Newsom. State Senator Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, has introduced a bill that would […]

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By Shirin Ghaffary, Bloomberg

A California lawmaker is making another effort to regulate artificial intelligence in the state after legislation that would have held large companies liable for harm caused by their technology was vetoed last year by Governor Gavin Newsom.

State Senator Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, has introduced a bill that would require companies developing AI models above a certain computing performance threshold to publicly release safety and security protocols that assess the potential catastrophic risks to humanity from the technology. Under the law, AI companies also would need to report any “critical safety incidents,” such as theft of sensitive technical details, to the state attorney general. Companies that may be affected by the proposed legislation include OpenAI, Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Anthropic.



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This 5-star fitness watch with a dedicated Hyrox mode and full-color maps was already good value – now it’s insanely cheap thanks to Prime Day

I’ve written about a lot of great deals this Amazon Prime Day already, but I think this is the barmiest of the lot so far. A five-star fitness watch for $80 / £80, with full-color maps, GPS capabilities and 160 sports modes, including a dedicated Hyrox one? Impossible, I hear you cry. Well, for those […]

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I’ve written about a lot of great deals this Amazon Prime Day already, but I think this is the barmiest of the lot so far. A five-star fitness watch for $80 / £80, with full-color maps, GPS capabilities and 160 sports modes, including a dedicated Hyrox one? Impossible, I hear you cry.

Well, for those of you looking for a cheap new gym companion, the Amazfit Active 2 is on sale from $99.99 down to just $79.99 at Amazon US, a 20% saving on this already-cheap smartwatch. Virtually the same discount applies in the UK: the Amazfit Active 2 can be found from £99.99 down to £80.74 on Amazon UK.

• Check out Amazon’s full sale

This is the cheapest we’ve seen this already great-value watch so far, and it’s unlikely to go any lower. The Active 2 outperforms many of its contemporaries from the likes of Garmin and Apple for less than half the price, and it’s the only watch in its class with a proper Hyrox mode. Of course, if you are looking for something else, it’s worth checking our Amazon Prime Day live hub.

Amazon Prime Day deals: Amazfit Active 2

In our Amazfit Active 2 review, we gave the watch an enormous five stars: although it’s not quite perfect, it’s unbeatable for the price, while the stainless steel bezel and smorgasbord of features make it feel more premium than it is. If you’re after an affordable fitness companion, this is the Prime Day deal to get.

More Prime Day Amazfit deals



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Costa Rica iGaming Market Research Report | iGamingToday.com

Costa Rica, known for its stable democracy and innovative perspectives on technology, has now become an important destination for the global iGaming market. Costa Rica’s location in Central America, its welcoming business environment, and technical features for continued development, including digital accessibility, and a range of suppliers for developers, have allowed many online gambling operators, […]

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Costa Rica, known for its stable democracy and innovative perspectives on technology, has now become an important destination for the global iGaming market. Costa Rica’s location in Central America, its welcoming business environment, and technical features for continued development, including digital accessibility, and a range of suppliers for developers, have allowed many online gambling operators, software developers, and companies that service gambling operators to access and maintain their successful gaming businesses. 

In addition, the flexible nature of the law in Costa Rica is an attraction for many companies, including start-ups and established brands that desire to add their operations to an international industry, with a limited amount of regulations, and uncertainty as to what the future brings in terms of regulations.

Furthermore, in recent years, Costa Rica’s advances in some lesser-known aspects of iGaming and the transfer of knowledge from each cohort of online-based technology entrepreneurs to the next cohort of entrepreneurs have been a huge asset, alongside the government’s ongoing endorsement of tech-based entrepreneurship in Costa Rica. 

Table 1: Key Statistics

Metric Value (2025)
Market Revenue US$794 million
CAGR (LatAm iGaming, 2022–28) 18.4%
Number of Gamers 1.4 million+
Female Gamers 39.8%
Age Group (Majority) 17–38 years
Popular Game Types Casino, Sports Betting, Poker, eSports
Leading Operators 888 Holdings, bet365, Betsson France
Crypto Adoption High

Market Overview

Market Growth and Size 

Costa Rica’s gambling and iGaming market is experiencing significant growth, with domestic and international operators alike taking advantage of the flexibility of the regulatory environment. The estimated revenue for the gambling market in 2025 is approximately US$794 million, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.34% between 2025 and 2029, which is expected to result in a projected market volume of US$871 million or more by 2029. This number incorporates both traditional land-based gambling and casino-style wagering through online gambling, where online gambling continues to gain traction due to technology adoption and changing consumer preferences. 

The player base in Costa Rica is also already considerable, with over 1.4 million active gamers. This figure is indicative of a high level of penetration in terms of population, as well as a significant value for the territory’s iGaming stature within the region. Enhancements in the availability of high-speed internet and mobile devices have further fueled this growth, opening online gambling access to a wider demographic of consumers.

Table 2: Costa Rica iGaming Market Size & Growth (2025-2029)

Year Market Revenue (US$ million) Growth Rate (CAGR %)
2025 794 2.34%
2026* 812
2027* 832
2028* 852
2029* 871

*Projected values

Costa Rica iGaming Market Research Report

Major types of games available

As can be seen, the gambling range of activities in Costa Rica is very diverse, accommodating all types of players:

  • Casino Games: Slots, table games (such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat), and live dealers are available through both land-based (usually associated with hotels) and online casino platforms.
  • Sports Betting: Sports betting is likely the largest vertical in the gambling industry as many Costa Ricans participate in wagers based on football, basketball, and international sporting events. Online sports wagering options are appealing as more convenient and easier to place wagers from mobile devices.
  • Poker: Poker, whether offline or online, possesses a consistent player base in both tournaments and cash games.
  • Lottery: The national lottery, provided by the Junta de Protección Social, holds a monopoly on any legal lottery game and is a dominant part of the local gambling market.
  • eSports and Fantasy Sports: eSports has led to the creation of professional teams, tournaments, and dedicated arenas, which points to an increase in interest in competitive gaming.

Table 3: Popular Game Types in Costa Rica iGaming Market

Game Type Description / Popularity
Casino Games Slots, Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat; popular online & offline
Sports Betting Football, basketball, international sports; strong online presence
Poker Online and offline tournaments and cash games
Lottery State monopoly operated by Junta de Protección Social
eSports & Fantasy Sports Growing interest with professional teams and tournaments

Costa Rica iGaming Market Research Report

Demographics of Players

Costa Rica’s iGaming and gambling audience is youthful, diverse, and digitally engaged: 

  • Age: Most players are between 17 – 38 years of age, and college students/university or young professionals, who are highly tech-savvy and open to game experiences. 
  • Gender: Approximately 40% of gamers are women, which shows a relatively equal gender divide and a wide market. 
  • Preferences: Gamers in Costa Rica tend to prefer mobile video games, which translates into over 70% gaming an average of three-plus hours each day. Electronically, gamers preferred video games that included social connection, immersive experiences, and game elements to video games they could do alone.                                                                                                                                     
  • eSports, online multiplayer games, and mobile casino games are very popular with younger users. 
  • Spending Habits: Gamers in Costa Rica spend on average between $500 and $1,000 on gaming products and services in any six months. 

Table 4: Player Demographics

Demographic Details
Age Range 17–38 years
Gender Distribution ~40% female, 60% male
Preferences Mobile gaming, social features, gamification, eSports
Spending Habits Majority spend between $500 and $1,000 every six months

Costa Rica iGaming Market Research Report

Regulatory Landscape

Overview of Existing Gambling Regulations

Costa Rica’s gambling landscape represents a unique combination of strictness and permissiveness. Land-based casinos are sanctioned; however, they must be operated as an extension of a hotel. This is structured under Law No. 9050 and overseen by the Ministry of Public Security. There are specific tax and operational obligations for these casinos. The national lottery represents the only state monopoly for gambling and is controlled by the Junta de Protección Social, the government agency that also controls other legal games of chance.

Online gambling, on the other hand, occupies a grey area within this legislative context. There is no legal framework or regulatory authority to govern online gambling. Instead, businesses can leverage the freedoms provided to them by their location in Costa Rica, as demonstrated through the Data Processing License, for example, to run an online operation from Costa Rica (as long as they do not target Costa Rican residents or utilize local financial institutions to transact funds). 

Licensing Requirements and Regulatory Bodies

Costa Rica does not have a formal license for online operators to use for gambling. Rather, companies must:

  • Register as a legal entity (typically an Ltd. or SA) in Costa Rica and have a local address.
  • Apply for a Data Processing License through the local municipality, which gives the company a license to process data, but it is not a gambling license.
  • Follow provider terms that, in effect, prohibit the provision of services to the residents of Costa Rica and gambling transactions through local banks.

Details on Taxation and Compliance

Costa Rica has a very favorable tax regime for iGaming operators:

  • No direct taxes are placed on profits derived from international gambling operations.
  • The only taxes incurred by operators are normal business registry and maintenance taxes.
  • A company that operates predominantly in the domestic market will have some tax obligations locally, whereas most online operators are exempted as they are primarily international customers.
  • For Costa Rican residents, there are no taxes on gambling winnings, which is even more attractive for operators to use as a base in Costa Rica.

Compliance focuses on:

  • AML & KYC polices and internal controls and transaction monitoring;
  • Business regulations, including registration, documentation compliance, and limited-term audits

Upcoming Changes in Legislation

As of mid-2025, dialogue continues on the potential for online gambling regulations to enable formalization to improve investor/supplier confidence, claims of player protection, and market confidence. However, there has been no significant movement on legislation. Industry players believe that the potential reforms may provide:

  • An established regulatory body for online gambling. 
  • More stringent compliance and reporting requirements. 
  • Tax changes or licensing fees for online operators.

Table 5: Regulatory Overview

Aspect Details
Land-based Casinos Legal, must be attached to hotels; regulated by Ministry of Public Security
Online Gambling No formal license; Data Processing License for international operations only
Lottery Monopoly by Junta de Protección Social
Licensing Authority No dedicated online gambling regulator; municipal Data Processing License
Taxation No direct gambling taxes for international operators; standard business fees apply
Compliance AML, KYC, business registration, periodic audits

Competitive Landscape

Key Market Players

Costa Rica’s iGaming space is made up of a range of locally-owned start-up businesses and international businesses that have made an operational or administrative base in the country due to its flexible regulatory environment. Costa Rica does not offer formal online gambling licenses, but rather companies build their operations in the country using a Data Processing License, which allows them to operate legally in their target international markets. 

Some of the international operators with an operational presence in Costa Rica are 888 Holdings, bet365, Betsson France, and 22bet. A handful of long-term players, such as Wild Vegas Casino, Club Player Casino, CoolCat Casino, Prism Casino, and Royal Ace Casino, have specialized in casino and poker games with good rewards for players loyal to their online casinos.

Table 6: Key Market Players

Operator Type Focus
888 Holdings International Global iGaming platforms
bet365 International Sports betting, casino
Betsson France International Casino, poker, sports betting
Wild Vegas Casino Local Online casino, slots
Club Player Casino Local Online casino, poker

Market Share Distribution

As there is not, as of now, a formal licensing regime or an official regulator to provide exact market share data, the data is limited. The Costa Rica market is largely dominated by international operators, who use Costa Rica primarily as an operational and managerial location for their platforms targeting Latin America, Europe, and other, still-emerging regions. 

Meanwhile, the local operators will typically focus on niche markets or game verticals, ie, crypto casinos or poker rooms. The market does remain fragmented, with no single operator delivering the largest market share, which creates a competitive environment in which innovation, offering variety, and unique approaches can thrive.

Partnerships and Strategic Alliances

Strategic partnerships are an important component within the iGaming ecosystem of Costa Rica. Operators regularly engage with software developers, payment processors, and technology companies focused on blockchain and AI in order to expand their platform functionalities. Partnerships with international gaming companies allow a Costa Rican-based operator to utilize the latest technology, expand their game library, and enter new markets efficiently. 

Additionally, many operators will partner with marketing agencies and affiliate marketing networks for customer acquisition and retention optimization, taking advantage of Costa Rica’s business-friendly environment in order to scale. These partnerships are all very important for operators that need to remain competitive while working in a low-regulatory environment with high operational demands.

Costa Rica’s competitive landscape ultimately shows how this is a dynamic sector that thrives on innovation, where flexibility and strategic alliances are the keys to winning.

Table 7: Strategic Partnerships & Alliances

Partnership Type Purpose
Software Providers Enhance game portfolios and platform capabilities
Payment Processors Support cryptocurrency and traditional payments
Marketing Agencies Customer acquisition and retention
Affiliate Networks Expand market reach
Technology Firms (AI, Blockchain) Innovation in security, personalization, transparency

 Consumer Trends

Player Behavior and Preferences

  • Mobile gaming is the dominant mode of play, driven by widespread smartphone adoption and affordable data plans.
  • Players seek personalized experiences, gamification, and social features such as leaderboards and achievements.

Costa Rica iGaming Market Research Report

Payment Methods and Technology

  • Cryptocurrency payments are widely accepted, with blockchain technology ensuring transparent and secure transactions.
  • Traditional payment methods (credit cards, e-wallets) are also supported for international players.

Costa Rica iGaming Market Research Report

Social and Cultural Influences

  • Costa Rica’s young, educated, and tech-savvy population is highly receptive to new gaming experiences and technological innovation.
  • The rise of eSports and gaming culture is reflected in the establishment of professional teams, tournaments, and dedicated arenas.

Opportunities & Challenges

Growth Potential For New Entrants

  • Costa Rica provides a business-friendly climate with low barriers to regulation and openness to innovation. Considerations for new businesses and investors are valuable. 
  • Costa Rica’s reputation as a technology hub for innovative and daring new businesses and as a port to Latin America is advantageous as it provides ample opportunity for a quick and quick launching pad for regional expansion. 

Regulatory and Operational Challenges

  • A lack of a formal online gambling or sports betting license raises questions for operators who are looking for long-term certainty in continuing to operate in a system that is stable and regulated. 
  • Any future regulation may lead to more to movers having to adhere to rules and compliance that could affect their debut swiftly. 

Innovations and Investment Areas 

  • AI, machine learning, and gaming have the ability to personalize for players, detect fraud detection and reinforce responsible gaming. 
  • Blockchain and crypto gaming have the ability for secure payment processing as well as outcomes for transparent gaming. 
  • Mobile-first platforms and cloud-based gaming will allow for a better audience reach and a lower barrier to entry. 
  • Sustainability of the operations in CI, to a certain extent comparison to studio operations in the US or Canada, including eco-friendly server hosting from a renewables standpoint, aligns with attention at the national level.

Conclusion & Recommendations

Costa Rica’s iGaming industry is unique because of its adaptability, innovation, and reach. Without major regulations and a technologically literate labor force in a supportive business environment, the country has been able to establish itself as a prime destination for iGaming operators and investors. While the lack of formal licensing brings inherent risks, it also presents unmatched opportunities for new and established brands to trial and grow new ideas. 

Strategic Recommendations for Market Entry

  • Market Entry: New entrants should take advantage of Costa Rica’s low-cost, low-barrier operating environment to trial new products that can leverage mobile and blockchain technology.
  • Compliance: Operators need to be aware of the potential for future liability in compliance with international AML regulations and keep an eye on any potential changes in regulation going forward.
  • Sustainability: Investing in environmentally friendly infrastructure and responsible gaming initiatives will increase brand credibility and long-term viability. 
  • Regional Expansion: Use Costa Rica as a launching pad to access Latin America’s broader markets by establishing local partnerships and forming international partnerships (with brands in Europe and North America) that might have local ties. 

Future Outlook for the iGaming Sector in Costa Rica

As the worldwide gaming industry continues to experience change, Costa Rica is poised to retain its position as an innovation engine and center of global operations. Ongoing dialogue surrounding regulation denotes a shift towards more formalization, resulting in enhanced investor certainty and sector reliability and sustainability.

Data and Sources:

  1. NuxGame: Costa Rica Gambling License 2025 Guide
  2. Statista: Gambling Market Forecast Costa Rica 2025
  3. Research and Markets: Gambling Market Report 2025
  4. Gambling Insider: Costa Rica: Effective Regulation and Market Outlook 2025
  5. Rue.ee: Costa Rica Gambling License 2025 Overview
  6. TGM Research: Sports Betting and Gambling Industry Data Costa Rica
  7. ENV Media: iGaming in Latin America Outlook 2024-2025
  8. The Business Research Company: Global Gambling Market Report 2025-2034

 



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