Panama: Canal to Expand, Gambling to Maintain Current Size

Those who wish to gamble in Panama don’t find much holding them back. Gambling has been completely legal in the small country for some time now, and it seems as though this will be the case in the foreseeable future as well. 

Panamanian gambling laws allow basically all forms of gambling that one could put a finger on. The country is home to a few large scale casinos, bingo halls and poker tournaments. The nation also runs a lottery from which proceeds are used for social causes like hospitals and charities.  

So open is the Panamanian government to gambling that internet gambling in Panama is also exclusively legal. Through different taxes, the Panamanian government is able to do very well on behalf of the gambling industry. 

Online casinos in Panama see a lot of action but it can be generalized that the gambling industry as a whole seems to be a smooth run operation. Many of the local gambling establishments are privately owned, but all operations in the nation are strictly regulated and controlled by the Junto de Control de Juegos. This is the title given to Panama's Gaming Commission, part of the Ministry of Finance.  

As a matter of fact, the only problem that the Panamanian government seems to experience via gambling, comes from the canal. Cruise ships that run through the canal often have gambling services on board, and these are not in compliance with local laws. 

Plans have recently been drawn up for an expansion of the canal. Gambling is going to be one of the criteria that by which its determined whether a ship can use the canal one operations are under way or finished.