Panama is passing Law 527, which is introducing a new regulatory framework for strengthening the management of gambling activities and addressing problem gambling as a public health issue.
Published in the Official Gazette, the law gives the Executive Branch 6 months to fully implement the provisions. Officials believe that with the reform, social risks linked with the growth of online betting will be reduced, especially among young people.
The new framework includes stricter requirements for casinos and online betting sites. There are mandatory spending and time limits for players, alerts for suspicious behavior, and improved verification with facial recognition and biometrics.
Online operators will be required to enforce biometric age and identity checks to prevent underage user access. Land-based casinos will be required to adopt facial recognition systems to prevent access from those who are excluded by the Gambling Control Board.
Authorities can also expand their power to block unauthorized gambling platforms such as websites, apps, or IP addresses that have no Panamanian licence. Telecommunications must enforce blocking orders within 5 days or face fines up to 1 million balboas.
The law also introduced a fund that is managed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It will support gambling addiction treatments and prevention programs that are led by the Institute of Mental Health. Funding comes from the fees collected from gambling operators.
The Gambling Control Board must also conduct annual audits of casinos to ensure compliance. Alongside, the Ministries of Health and Education will develop public awareness programs in schools.
Penalties for disobedience can range from 25,000 to 100,000 balboas. Repeated violations will lead to doubled fines or temporary business prohibitions.
