In the country there are 67 concessions to operate gambling halls from which 48 operate in the province of Panama. This year three casinos are expected to start operating in the city, not counting the two applications already approved by the Gaming Board. So there will be five new casinos in town.
The appetite for gambling increased significantly in the last period. In the past five years people have invested us$ 7.350 million; slot machines are the ones that attract most of the players. Only last year us$ 2.117 million were wagered, 35% more compared to 2011. This is the highest increase in the past 11 years. Panama is growing in terms of bets.
The state has also been benefited from the action of gamblers. Between 2008 and 2012 the Gaming Control Board (JCJ) has raised us$ 275 million in taxes that become welfare for people. The 2013 also seems to continue with this trend, as in the first two months of the year there was a record of us$ 13.7 million, an increase of 2.3 million compared to the same period of 2012.
In the whole country there are 17 casinos, of which 9 operating in the capital city, and this number will increase this year as five new casinos enter the market. The first will be located at the Hilton on Avenida Balboa, and will be operated by US-Panama Nav.
The second work in the Royal Sonesta Hotel in via España, under the management of Club Flush Entertainment, while the South African company Sun International will manage the hotel casino Trump Ocean Club. The rule is simple to open a casino in the capital city. One requirement is that your property must be part of an hotel complex with 300 rooms. The JCJ already passed two preliminary applications for betting halls that will operate in the Ritz-Carlton and Sortis.
SAGSE Panama 2013 will take place May 8 & 9 in the Convention Center Hotel El Panama. For more information, visit www.sagsepanama.com or email Alan Burak at [email protected].