OFF THE CUFF: Gambling sin tax looming?

AN AVERAGE of $8.7 million a day was gambled in Panama during the first two months of the year says a report from the country’s Comptroller.

The total amount was $516.4 million, an increase of $32 million compared with the same period last year.
Type A slot machines, which have larger limits, saw a 10.8 percent increase in wagers compared to last year.
The government, looking for ways to keep election promises is considering taxing gambling winnings to fund a pension increase for Social Security recipients. The move is unlikely to cause much uproar as casino winners are in the minority, but it could cause resentment among the less well-heeled who line up twice a week to buy their loteria tickets and often face an illegal tax imposed by sellers.