Comments on: 3,000 Jobs Gone? Why? http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2008/06/09/3000-jobs-gone-why/ The Blog for Travelers, Retirees, Expats and anyone who needs to know the REAL Costa Rica. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:41:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Brian http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2008/06/09/3000-jobs-gone-why/comment-page-1/#comment-13476 Brian Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:08:18 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=287#comment-13476 Interesting, Tim... I wondered the same things that you mention when I heard about the "Hours Limitations" and other new rules that were to be imposed on the casinos earlier this year. It all seemed a bit (monetarily, anyway) counterproductive. Like them or not, the casinos are foreign tourist cash cows for the country. Most of my Tico friends seemed to believe that these new rules were tied in with a coming, wider-spread crackdown & general governmental "discouragement" of all things gambling-related in Costa Rica, a lot of my friends believe that the entire Sportbook Industry will be sent packing in the relatively near future. I have no idea how true any of that is, I'm a high tech Gringo outta Baltimore who's lived & worked here for about 4 years, most of my Tico & Tica friends are hi-tech types as well.. Many of whom started out as tech support with the Sportbooks. I wondered at the time whether the rules had more to do with anti-crime initiative, or something similar. Personal observations have led me to conclude that the Del Rey, Fiesta, and a few of the other casinos in Centro are not just the place to go to gamble, but also full of tourists (and Ticos) looking to purchase and consume drugs. Particularly the white powdery one from Columbia. And, like any city with an area where lotsa $$ changes hands for prostitutes & narcotics, there's a 1 block radius crimewave around most of those areas, for many hours of the day.. Eby, I respectfully disagree with the statement that Costa Rica will never be a magnet for "sinning foreigners" - If you've ever been to DelRey Casino/Hotel on a Friday, Saturday, or pretty much any other night, - heck, it's wall to wall "sinning foreigners". I've met guys from all over the world that have been "Touristing"? here for 20 years, they fly down (or over, whatever) a couple of times a year to "Sin in various ways". Some are great people. Some are not. Not judging, just observing & reporting reality as I've seen it. & Eby, I'm not a fan of the prostitution or drug connections with the casinos, I think it's a shame, and a blight on central San Jose, and the country. On the other hand, the ammount of money that this segment of tourists brings into the country is I would suspect significant... Interesting conundrum. Interesting that the "Hours Rules" aren't being enforced, kinda makes me wonder whether what Mats brought up - the whole thing may be a part of an international agreement, never intended to be enforced, might be true. Anyway, Nice meeting you all- Brian Interesting, Tim…

I wondered the same things that you mention when I heard about the “Hours Limitations” and other new rules that were to be imposed on the casinos earlier this year. It all seemed a bit (monetarily, anyway) counterproductive. Like them or not, the casinos are foreign tourist cash cows for the country.

Most of my Tico friends seemed to believe that these new rules were tied in with a coming, wider-spread crackdown & general governmental “discouragement” of all things gambling-related in Costa Rica, a lot of my friends believe that the entire Sportbook Industry will be sent packing in the relatively near future. I have no idea how true any of that is, I’m a high tech Gringo outta Baltimore who’s lived & worked here for about 4 years, most of my Tico & Tica friends are hi-tech types as well.. Many of whom started out as tech support with the Sportbooks.

I wondered at the time whether the rules had more to do with anti-crime initiative, or something similar. Personal observations have led me to conclude that the Del Rey, Fiesta, and a few of the other casinos in Centro are not just the place to go to gamble, but also full of tourists (and Ticos) looking to purchase and consume drugs. Particularly the white powdery one from Columbia. And, like any city with an area where lotsa $$ changes hands for prostitutes & narcotics, there’s a 1 block radius crimewave around most of those areas, for many hours of the day.. Eby, I respectfully disagree with the statement that Costa Rica will never be a magnet for “sinning foreigners” – If you’ve ever been to DelRey Casino/Hotel on a Friday, Saturday, or pretty much any other night, – heck, it’s wall to wall “sinning foreigners”. I’ve met guys from all over the world that have been “Touristing”? here for 20 years, they fly down (or over, whatever) a couple of times a year to “Sin in various ways”. Some are great people. Some are not. Not judging, just observing & reporting reality as I’ve seen it. & Eby, I’m not a fan of the prostitution or drug connections with the casinos, I think it’s a shame, and a blight on central San Jose, and the country. On the other hand, the ammount of money that this segment of tourists brings into the country is I would suspect significant… Interesting conundrum.

Interesting that the “Hours Rules” aren’t being enforced, kinda makes me wonder whether what Mats brought up – the whole thing may be a part of an international agreement, never intended to be enforced, might be true.

Anyway, Nice meeting you all-

Brian

]]> By: Tim http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2008/06/09/3000-jobs-gone-why/comment-page-1/#comment-13067 Tim Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:43:50 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=287#comment-13067 Doug: I know of no such law as the "shorts rule". While you are correct that many hospitals and a few government offices prohibit wearing of shorts, it is not law. It is their policy and their rules, and frankly, I agree with it (though I was irritated as hell the first time I was visiting my brother and had to return home to change clothes!) Mats: No, not pressure from the outside. Not sure the real reason. Some say they passed it only to discourage a Russian gambling consortium from coming to CR. Quien sabe! Doug: I know of no such law as the “shorts rule”. While you are correct that many hospitals and a few government offices prohibit wearing of shorts, it is not law. It is their policy and their rules, and frankly, I agree with it (though I was irritated as hell the first time I was visiting my brother and had to return home to change clothes!)

Mats: No, not pressure from the outside. Not sure the real reason. Some say they passed it only to discourage a Russian gambling consortium from coming to CR. Quien sabe!

]]> By: Mats http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2008/06/09/3000-jobs-gone-why/comment-page-1/#comment-13066 Mats Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:47:43 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=287#comment-13066 Wild guess - the law was introduced as a result of international pressure (perhaps from the US or the U.N.) or as part of an international trade agreement, with no intention of actually enforcing it. Wild guess – the law was introduced as a result of international pressure (perhaps from the US or the U.N.) or as part of an international trade agreement, with no intention of actually enforcing it.

]]> By: Doug Headedtothailand http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2008/06/09/3000-jobs-gone-why/comment-page-1/#comment-13065 Doug Headedtothailand Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:36:05 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=287#comment-13065 How about that new "law" that prohibits you from wearing shorts to the hospital but OIJ wont even fill out paperwork for a theft if it's not for items over $600 in value ? Costa Rica. The new El Salvador.......... How about that new “law” that prohibits you from wearing shorts to the hospital but OIJ wont even fill out paperwork for a theft if it’s not for items over $600 in value ?
Costa Rica. The new El Salvador……….

]]> By: S. Eby http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2008/06/09/3000-jobs-gone-why/comment-page-1/#comment-13064 S. Eby Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:43:48 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=287#comment-13064 This writer has no idea that Costa Rica is (and has been) a heaven only because Ticos have throughout history taken care of this country like no other in Latin America. This is the reason why Costa Rica will never be a tourist magnet for 'sinning' foreigners as the writer calls it or crazy 'Spring-Breakers' that trash the country. Furthermore, Costa Rica does not want to compete with other countries with more 'services' such as Mexico and instead, it makes every effort to attract only environmentally conscious tourists (thus its mantra 'eco-tourism'). In my view, the well educated workers of Costa Rica can forgo such casino jobs for others more rewarding and less damaging to society and in the long run, higher paying jobs. And don't forget there is after all, a very good reason why Casinos can't open their doors (read jobs) wherever they want in almost every region of the world. There is an irrefutable impact to the area where Casinos operate, which is more often than not, a negative one. Ticos don't need more Casinos. Let those Casino-driven tourists go to Aruba, Mexico or any other places where they will be completely and utterly catered to while Costa Rica preserves its fabulous way of life. Viva Costa Rica! This writer has no idea that Costa Rica is (and has been) a heaven only because Ticos have throughout history taken care of this country like no other in Latin America. This is the reason why Costa Rica will never be a tourist magnet for ’sinning’ foreigners as the writer calls it or crazy ‘Spring-Breakers’ that trash the country. Furthermore, Costa Rica does not want to compete with other countries with more ’services’ such as Mexico and instead, it makes every effort to attract only environmentally conscious tourists (thus its mantra ‘eco-tourism’). In my view, the well educated workers of Costa Rica can forgo such casino jobs for others more rewarding and less damaging to society and in the long run, higher paying jobs. And don’t forget there is after all, a very good reason why Casinos can’t open their doors (read jobs) wherever they want in almost every region of the world. There is an irrefutable impact to the area where Casinos operate, which is more often than not, a negative one. Ticos don’t need more Casinos. Let those Casino-driven tourists go to Aruba, Mexico or any other places where they will be completely and utterly catered to while Costa Rica preserves its fabulous way of life. Viva Costa Rica!

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