Panama Approved a Bill to Tighten Controls over Gambling

Guest Contribution – The National Assembly of Panama has passed Bill No. 403, which significantly changes the regulatory framework for the gambling industry in the country. The bill was a response to the rapid growth of the iGaming sector and aims to establish a stricter regulatory regime for both land-based and online operators. At the same time, the document strengthens measures to prevent gambling addiction, which is becoming an increasingly noticeable problem as the industry becomes more digitalized.

The initiators were deputies Raúl Pineda and Crispiano Adames. According to the proposal, Bill No. 403 establishes a single set of rules for all forms of gambling and enshrines the principles of responsible gambling in law.

Fund for Combating Gambling Addiction — a Key Element of the Reform

One of the most significant innovations was the creation of a special fund to combat gambling addiction. Gambling operators are required to allocate 10% of their profits to the Instituto de Salud Mental (INSAM) — the National Institute of Mental Health. The funds raised will be directed to specific purposes:

• treatment and rehabilitation of people suffering from gambling addiction;
• construction and financing of specialized centers providing assistance for disorders related to gambling.

A similar funding model, in which the industry directly funds harm reduction measures related to its own activities, is used in a number of European jurisdictions. However, for Panama, this is the first initiative of such scale.

This funding model was chosen because the problem of gambling addiction in the country is becoming increasingly serious. One of the main reasons for its spread has been the increased accessibility of gambling. This refers not only to online casinos themselves, but also to their mobile applications. Now players can gamble practically from anywhere — all they need is a smartphone with internet access.

We decided to check whether access is really so easy, and for the test we chose monopoly live apk for Android. This application is offered by many major operators, which makes the test more representative. It turned out that it is fully accessible to players in Panama. This means there is a lack of restrictions on gambling, which inevitably increases the risk of developing gambling addiction.

Biometrics as a Safeguard for Minors

Bill No. 403 introduces a direct ban on minors’ participation in any form of gambling. Such restrictions existed before, at least on paper, but now the law sets fundamentally new technical requirements for operators. Companies are required to implement biometric verification systems capable of confirming the age and identity of each user. This approach makes it much more difficult to bypass age restrictions, especially on online platforms, where previously it was enough to enter any date of birth.

Betting Advertising Now Subject to Strict Restrictions

The bill introduces a wide range of prohibitions in the field of advertising and promotion of gambling. The restrictions cover virtually all communication channels:

• traditional media, including television and radio;
• social networks and other digital platforms;
• sports events and venues.

A separate provision concerns influencers and public figures: they are completely prohibited from promoting the services of betting companies and casinos. This measure is especially relevant, considering that in recent years bloggers and celebrities have become one of the main tools for attracting a young audience to online gambling.

Junta de Control de Juegos Will Take Digital Control over the Market

For the practical implementation of the new rules, a separate regulator will be created — the Junta de Control de Juegos (JCJ). This body will be authorized to control the entire gambling industry in Panama. The key feature of the JCJ is its technological capabilities: the regulator will use modern digital tools that allow it to monitor market participants’ transactions in real time. In essence, this means a shift from periodic inspections to continuous monitoring, which significantly reduces opportunities for violations.

Taken together, Bill No. 403 forms a multi-level system of oversight for gambling in Panama. The document simultaneously tightens regulation of both the land-based and digital segments, introduces additional protective measures for vulnerable groups, limits advertising opportunities for operators, and expands the role of the state in an industry that until recently operated with a relatively high degree of freedom.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Advertisements placed in our Guest Contribution sections are in no way intended as endorsements of the advertised products, services, or related advertiser claims by NewsroomPanama.com, the website’s owners, affiliated societies, or the editors. Read more here.