Jonathan Zaun, editor of Newswire.net, recently published an article about how the international poker circuit has been transformed in recent years, and he mentioned Jaco Beach as one of the best tropical destinations for “poker refugees.”

As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star, poker refugees are those players from the United States who were affected by the Black Friday events of 2011, when law enforcement agents from the United States upheld the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) by raiding online poker centers in Costa Rica.

The UIGEA forced some U.S. poker players to move abroad to continue sitting at virtual tables, and many of them chose Costa Rica, where major Internet gaming brand PokerStars keeps an operation center. These poker refugees soon became expats and began exploring the world of live poker tournaments in Jaco Beach.

Following is an excerpt of the aforementioned article by Jonathan Zaun. To read about poker destinations other than Jaco Beach in Costa Rica, visit Newswire.net:

For most people, the game of poker usually inspires images of crowded tables and smoky rooms, but today poker players ply their trade in exotic locales all over the world.

Following the poker boom of 2003, Texas Hold’em and other poker variants became household names across Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America, as millions of new players embraced the game. Tournament series like the World Poker Tour, the European Poker Tour, and the World Series of Poker Circuit International grew poker on a global scale, and today you can find a table even while soaking up the sun in a tropical paradise.

Providing a stark contrast to the dimly lit and dusky setting of old-time poker rooms located in landlocked areas like Las Vegas, the modern casino gaming resorts which have sprung up in places like the Bahamas, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Aruba, offer a refreshing seaside vibe. Indeed, while casinos like the Tropicana and Treasure Island strive to emulate this unmistakable atmosphere, they just can’t come close to the real deal. And even while the casino industry continues to thrive in Sin City and throughout America, poker players are increasingly seeking alternative accommodations in more eclectic environs.

Jaco Beach, Costa Rica

Another recipient of so-called poker refugees, Costa Rica has more than earned its longstanding reputation as the “Switzerland of Central America.”

Open to visitors from all walks of life, Costa Rica is located just north of the equator, offering oceanic views of the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Boasting a thriving vacation rental industry, Costa Rica was a natural fit for many online poker players living in America who found themselves searching for an affordable second home on short notice.

An area known as Jaco Beach has proven to be especially popular with poker pros, developing into a close-knit community similar to that found in Playa Del Carmen [in Mexico]. Today, dozens of players congregate in Jaco Beach at any given time, sharing the burden of rent and expenses while pursuing the life-changing score which every grinder dreams of securing one day soon.