Panama lists 28 gaming venues in the iGaming.bet B2B directory, across 7 cities. Cities with the highest concentration of venues: Panama City (18), Colón (3), David (2), Penonomé (2), Arraiján (1).
Among the most popular casinos in Panama are: Veneto Casino - Wyndham Grand Hotel (Panama City), Ocean Sun Casino - JW Marriott Panamá (Panama City), Fantastic Casino La Chorrera (La Chorrera), Fantastic Casino 5 de Mayo (Panama City), Fiesta Casino - Royal Decameron Playa Blanca (Farallón), Fantastic Casino Vista Alegre (Arraiján), Fantastic Casino Penonomé (Penonomé), Crown Casino Sheraton - San Francisco (Panama City), Royal Casino - Marriott Panamá (Panama City), Crown Casino Continental (Panama City).
Panama has one of Central America and the Caribbean longest gaming traditions, with the first formal casinos operating since the 1940s in Panama City major hotels. The interoceanic canal and Panama condition as an international trade hub attracted from the outset a clientele of business travelers and merchant marines from around the world, creating a natural demand for high-level hotel gaming. The model of casinos linked to five-star hotels and international resorts was established early in Panama and remains the central axis of the country gaming industry.
In Panama, gaming is regulated by the Gaming Control Board (JCJ), under the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The JCJ was created by Cabinet Decree 2 of 2008, which modernized the country gaming regulatory framework establishing new license categories, minimum capital requirements for operators and responsible gaming standards. Casino licenses in Panama are divided into three main categories: hotel casino licenses (minimum four-star category), independent gaming hall licenses and ship casino licenses for cruise routes. Online gaming in Panama operates under Law 48 of 2012, which Panama was one of the first Latin American countries to approve.
Panama City concentrates the vast majority of the country casinos, with the luxury hotel corridor of Punta Pacífica, Coco del Mar, Marbella and Casco Viejo as the highest high-level gaming density areas. Sortis Hotel, Spa & Casino in Panama City is the country highest-level casino resort, with 24-hour gaming floor, active poker room and one of Central America most complete sportsbooks. Casino Veneto Hotel & Casino in the Banking Area is the capital oldest continuously operating casino and one of the most traditional in the region. International chain hotels in Panama, Marriott, Hilton, Westin, Hard Rock, Trump and Wyndham, each have their integrated casino, making Panama the Central American country with the highest concentration of five-star hotel casinos.
Outside Panama City, Colón has in its Free Zone the country second gaming hub, while David in Chiriquí province is the most active gaming market in the interior. Cruise routes transiting the Panama Canal have onboard casinos operating under Panamanian license during days at sea, making Panama one of the world main registers for maritime gaming. Gaming tourism in Panama is composed mainly of Latin American business travelers and transit tourism from Tocumen International Airport hub, Central America largest airport and the region highest-connectivity.
The Gaming Control Board has regulated the Digital Fiscal Lottery promoted by the General Directorate of Revenue. The fine print establishes that non-winning invoices may be subject to a tax audit.
Online betting generated US$547.7 million through August, an increase of 60.1 percent, while the National Lottery sold US$549.5 million, a decrease of 2.7 percent.
Two draft bills aim to penalize overpricing and matched betting, and to replace decrees from 1969 and 1970, in response to annual losses of up to US$300 million.
Gross gaming revenue reached US$1,897.7 million between January and July, with Class A slot machines remaining the market's cornerstone.
Rodrigo Cigliutti and Isidro Carbonell reviewed in Panama City the plan for the committees working on responsible gaming, security, and fraud prevention.
The LNB is preparing to modernize ticket sales and logistics as it seeks to regain ground against the illicit market.
The gambling market grew by 16.5% year-on-year between January and June, with the online channel being the most dynamic segment.
The 11th edition will be held on May 4th and 5th in Panama City, with the Gaming Control Board as the institutional host.
More than 50 officials participated in the first session, and the institution aims to add at least another 50 nationwide.
A bill proposes to criminalize the illegal sale of lottery tickets and chances, which, according to official figures, costs up to 200 million annually.