07/29/2003 - 11:21 PM ET

Costa Rica will Pull the Plug on Sports Books in October?

Christopher Costigan, Sports911.com

Some might find it difficult accepting doom and gloom forecasts pertaining to Costa Rica from a Panamanian official who has it in his best interest to see another nation's businesses relocate to Panama en masse.  Forget the fact that he wishes not to use his real name (a la the rest of the online gambling community).  

Then again, since the writing is already on the wall, most sports book operators are more prone to believe what was said in today's meeting with the gentleman who aspires to become Panama's president (and likely will) by the end of this decade.  

He is, by some accounts, one of the most influential men in all of Panama.  The official, who we will call Juan Valdez, wishes not to have his real name out there for public consumption, claiming a recent "smear campaign" in the local papers (reportedly orchestrated by a disgruntled sports betting company CEO) has threatened this gentleman's political future.  He is also the final link and the main man behind Panama's first master license. 

"There is no such thing as a master license," insisted Valdez.  "Only licenses!" 

In speaking with him further he alluded to the idea that the government of Costa Rica was looking to crack down on internet gambling operations in the very near future.  

Coming from a man who wishes to remain in the shadows for whom we must assign the alias of Juan Valdez, this might otherwise be passed off as simple rhetoric.  He is, however, a prominent figure in the Panama landscape with strong government ties and as we've already made mention of, this individual is being groomed to become the President of Panama following the next election in 2009.  

"When October comes, the (Costa Rican) government is going to hit them (the sports books operating there) real hard right in the middle of football season."

October represents the time for tax collection and license expirations in Costa Rica.  

"I say with 50/50 accuracy this is going to happen."

It's what he did not say that was most telling.  

Valdez assured us he has close friends within the Costa Rican government who provide him information.  He did seem more than 50 percent certain of his prediction and quite specific in regard to the month of October.  

"People in the Costa Rican government are telling me that they have to get rid of this industry (offshore sports gambling) and the President of Costa Rica is quoted as saying verbatim 'If I could shut them off tomorrow I would."

The only thing standing in his way is the Libertarian Party, which Costa Rica President Abel Pacheco refers to as hypocrites for their "moralistic" position while at the same time "holding a deck of playing cards in their hands".  

"The guy is a moralist and he does not believe in this industry," Valdez commented.  "While Costa Rica knows that sports books leaving will hurt their employees, they figure that an emerging tech industry will replace these jobs quite soon."

Valdez also informed us that Costa Rica is currently negotiating a TLC (Trade Agreement) with the United States.

"This is something to keep in mind when October comes as the U.S. will make requirements of Costa Rica."

According to Valdez, the Costa Rican government is furious that only a handful of the known sports book operators in that country signed up for a gaming license, let alone pay the required one year fee.  

"For them, that was the last straw," Valdez claimed.  

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