Panama Lottery trains inspectors to combat illegal sales
Panama's National Charity Lottery (Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia de Panamá) conducted a training session for its inspectors, aiming to strengthen oversight actions against the clandestine sale of chances and tickets and against other irregular practices affecting the sector.
The initiative seeks to reinforce the capabilities of personnel responsible for control operations. According to the institution, inspectors received training on verification procedures, identification of infractions, and mechanisms to act in cases of clandestine sales and the so-called "chances casados" (married chances), a practice repeatedly reported by ticket vendors and sector associations.
Isidro Carbonell, director of the lottery, told local media that more than 50 inspectors participated in the first session and that the entity is recruiting at least 50 more nationwide to replicate the work. The executive also noted that many of the officials participating in the program volunteered to support the inspection efforts.
Authorities indicated that the trained officials will actively participate in operations across the country, with the purpose of detecting and sanctioning activities that generate economic losses for the institution and affect the transparency of the lottery system. In recent weeks, the entity reported having identified hundreds of establishments involved in the irregular commercialization of tickets and chances. Regarding the consequences for those who engage in these practices, Carbonell explained that cases will be referred to the competent authorities depending on the detected infraction.
The reinforcement of oversight occurs in parallel with a legislative debate. Ticket vendor associations expressed their support for the draft bill promoted by Congressman Roberto Zúñiga to criminalize the clandestine sale of lottery tickets, although they warned that stricter penalties must be accompanied by a profound modernization of the institution to curb the growth of the illegal market. Vendors argue that clandestine networks have expanded due to their ability to operate through digital platforms and electronic transfers, while the lottery continues with a model they consider obsolete, based primarily on in-person and cash transactions.
Zúñiga's initiative seeks to enable the intervention of the Public Ministry and strengthen the entity's sanctioning powers. According to figures released by the legislator and the institution itself, the clandestine sale of lottery tickets causes losses close to 200 million dollars annually, resources that fail to enter the State and affect the funding of charity programs, in addition to harming the more than 10,000 authorized ticket vendors in the country.
Tags: Panama National Charity Lottery, Isidro Carbonell, Roberto Zúñiga, clandestine lottery sales