Who licenses online gambling in Panama?

The Junta de Control de Juegos in the Ministry of Economy and Finance, under Decree Law 2 of 1998 and JCJ Resolution 11 of 2020, through a Contract of Administration and Operation carrying up to five Gaming Licences.

What does a Panamanian online gaming licence cost?

B/.50,000 key money per Gaming Licence, a B/.500,000 performance bond, a B/.100,000 annual prize bond, and 10% of gross revenue (stakes less prizes) paid to the JCJ every month.

Can a Panama-licensed operator use a foreign domain or run without a local office?

No. Resolution 11 of 2020 requires a .pa domain for each Gaming Licence and offices and a call centre in Panama. Servers may be abroad if their location is disclosed and certified.

What changed with Law 527 of 2026?

It bans gambling by under-18s, requires biometric identity and age checks online and facial recognition in full casinos and Type A halls, requires time and spending limits, creates a treatment fund for the Instituto de Salud Mental, and lets the JCJ order internet providers to block unlicensed sites.

What are the penalties under Law 527?

Online operators face B/.25,000 to B/.100,000, doubled on repeat, with possible suspension or cancellation of the licence and temporary blocking of the domain or app. Telecoms operators and internet providers that fail to execute a blocking order face B/.300,000 to B/.1,000,000 per infraction.

Is there self-exclusion in Panama?

Yes. The JCJ keeps a self-exclusion register covering casinos, slot halls, sports betting agencies and internet gaming, for a minimum of two years. Online operators must also offer their own self-exclusion of at least two years and player-set limits.

Is online gambling legal in Panama?

Online casino and online sports betting are both legal for licensed operators in Panama. The status of every vertical is at the top of this page. Last verified 25 Oct 2026.

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Sovereign state

Latin America

ISO PA

Panama: gambling regulation and licensing

Republic of Panama

Online sports bettingRegulated
Online casinoRegulated
Online pokerRegulated
Land-based (reference)Regulated

Regulator: Gaming Control Board
Headline tax: 10% GGR
Licence required: Yes
Last verified: 25 Oct 2026

Summary

Panama licenses online casino, poker and sports betting through the Junta de Control de Juegos (JCJ), the gaming control board in the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Under Decree Law 2 of 1998 the State holds the right to run games of chance and contracts it out to private operators, who pay the State a share of revenue. The internet regime is JCJ Resolution 11 of 6 March 2020, which replaced Resolution 65 of 2002. An operator signs a Contract of Administration and Operation carrying up to five Gaming Licences, one per .pa domain, pays B/.50,000 key money per licence, posts a B/.500,000 performance bond and a B/.100,000 prize bond, keeps offices and a call centre in Panama, and pays the JCJ 10% of gross revenue (stakes less prizes) each month. Operators licensed only elsewhere may not operate or advertise in Panama. Land-based casinos pay 12% on tables and 18% on slots. Across all operators the JCJ recorded B/.1.96 billion in stakes and B/.342.1 million in gross revenue in 2022. Law 527 of 2026, published on 28 May 2026, adds a ban on under-18s, biometric identity and age checks online, facial recognition in casinos, time and spending limits, and a treatment fund. It also lets the JCJ order internet providers to block unlicensed sites, with fines of up to B/.1,000,000 for providers that do not comply. The Executive has six months from promulgation to issue implementing regulations. AML supervision sits with the Superintendencia de Sujetos No Financieros under rules updated in February 2026.

Common pitfalls

Relying on descriptions of the old Resolution 65 regime: Resolution 11 of 2020 replaced it, with higher bonds, a .pa domain, a local office and call centre, and a 10% share of gross revenue. Assuming a foreign licence is enough to serve Panamanian players: art. 2 of Resolution 11 bars operators licensed only elsewhere from operating or advertising in Panama. Reading the Law 527 ceiling of B/.1,000,000 as an operator fine: it applies to internet providers that ignore blocking orders; operators face B/.25,000 to B/.100,000.

Key facts

Regulator: Gaming Control Board (JCJ)
Regulator type: Gaming board
Headline tax: 10% GGR
Licence required: Yes
Minimum age: 18+
Tax base: Share of revenue (participación en los ingresos) of 10% of gross revenue, defined as total stakes less total prizes paid, payable to the JCJ within the first ten calendar days of each month, with a 1% monthly surcharge on late or underpaid sums (JCJ Resolution 11 of 2020, arts. 3, 15, 43 and 44). Land-based rates differ: a full casino pays 12% of gross revenue on tables and 18% on Type A slots.
Capital: Panama City
Currency: PAB
Official languages: Spanish

How to get a gambling licence in Panama

The regulator is the Gaming Control Board (JCJ).

We record 2 licence types for Panama.

For the Contract of Administration and Operation of games of chance through the internet, with Gaming Licences, the application fee is PAB 50,000 (as of 6 Mar 2020).

Local presence: A local company or establishment is required; there is no local server requirement; sites must use a .pa domain.
Financial guarantee: B/.500,000 performance bond in favour of the JCJ (art. 13) and a B/.100,000 insurance bond for prize payments, renewed each year (art. 14).
Headline tax: 10% GGR (see Taxation for the full position)

Licence fees in Panama

Licence type	Application fee	Annual fee	Term
Contract of Administration and Operation of games of chance through the internet, with Gaming LicencesB/.50,000 key money (derecho de llave) per Gaming Licence, paid to the National Treasury once the Comptroller General has endorsed the contract (art. 12), plus 10% of gross revenue each month (arts. 15 and 43). System and supplier registration cost B/.1,000 each (arts. 71 and 74).	PAB 50,000 (as of 6 Mar 2020)	Not yet verified	Not yet verified
Land-based contractsFull casino: B/.1,000,000 key money, then 12% of gross revenue on tables and 18% on Type A slots monthly. Applicants need five years of experience in the relevant activity.	PAB 1,000,000 (as of 23 Sept 2026)	Not yet verified	Not yet verified

Built from the record on this page, last verified 25 Oct 2026. The Licensing and Taxation sections carry the full detail and sources.

Legal framework

Primary statutes

Decree Law 2 of 10 February 1998, restructuring the Gaming Control Board
Decreto Ley N° 2 de 10 de febrero de 1998
Year
1998
In force
Yes
Summary
The State exploits games of chance and betting through the JCJ, directly or through third parties, for its exclusive benefit (arts. 1 to 3). Art. 5 also subjects games offered from abroad by electronic means to supervision. Minors may not enter gaming halls (art. 86); operating without JCJ authorisation is an infraction (art. 87). As amended by Ley 49 of 2009, fines reach B/.100,000, doubled on repeat, with suspension or cancellation of the Gaming Licence (art. 98).
Law 527 of 2026 on the prevention and control of problem gambling
Ley 527 de 2026, que adopta medidas para la prevención y control de la ludopatía en Panamá
Year
2026
In force
Yes
Summary
Applies to everyone operating games of chance, betting platforms and sports forecasting in Panama. It bans gambling by under-18s (art. 7), requires biometric identity and age checks online and facial recognition in full casinos and Type A halls (art. 8), time and spending limits and risk alerts (art. 3), and limits payments to methods legally accepted in Panama (art. 10). The JCJ can order telecoms operators and internet providers to block unlicensed sites, apps, domains and IP addresses (arts. 12 and 13). In force the day after promulgation.

Secondary instruments

JCJ Resolution 11 of 6 March 2020, regulation of games of chance and betting through the internet
Resolución N° 11 de 6 de marzo de 2020
Year
2020
In force
Yes
Summary
The current internet gaming regulation. It replaces Resolution 65 of 25 October 2002 in full, gave existing contract holders six months to comply, and sets the contract and Gaming Licence model, fees and bonds, the 10% share of gross revenue, player account, self-limitation and self-exclusion controls, technical standards, geolocation, and fines of up to B/.100,000.
JCJ Resolution 5 of 3 June 2022 on the self-exclusion procedure
Resolución N° 5 de 3 de junio de 2022
Year
2022
In force
Yes
Summary
Approves the procedure for joining the JCJ self-exclusion register, which covers gaming halls, casinos, sports betting agencies and internet gaming.
SSNF Agreement JD-01-2025 on AML/CFT for the gaming sector
Acuerdo N° JD-01-2025 de 9 de diciembre de 2025
Year
2025
In force
Yes
Summary
Replaces Resolution JD-005-015 of 2015. Customer due diligence from B/.2,000, enhanced due diligence from B/.10,000 and for politically exposed persons, cash transaction reports to the UAF from B/.10,000, and a compliance officer. Applies to physical and internet operators; in force on publication on 23 February 2026.

Key amendments

6 Mar 2020JCJ Resolution 11 of 2020 replaces Resolution 65 of 2002 as the internet gaming regulation, requiring a .pa domain, offices and a call centre in Panama, a B/.500,000 performance bond and a 10% share of gross revenue.
9 Dec 2025SSNF Agreement JD-01-2025 updates the AML/CFT rules for casinos and internet gaming, published on 23 February 2026.
28 May 2026Law 527 of 2026 is published in Gaceta Oficial 30534-B: under-18 ban, biometric checks, facial recognition in casinos, payment controls, a problem gambling treatment fund and JCJ blocking orders binding on internet providers.

Pending legislation

Executive regulations implementing Law 527 of 2026
Stage
Due from the Executive within six months of promulgation (art. 14)
What it changes
Sets the minimum technical and health standards for the preventive tools, biometric verification and blocking regime (arts. 4 and 14).

Case law

Supreme Court of Justice, judgment of 4 May 2006 on Decree Law 2 of 1998
4 May 2006
Declared unconstitutional art. 31 of Decreto Ley 2 of 1998, which had barred new authorisations for Type C machines.

Licensing

Licence required: Yes
Application window: Not yet verified
Local establishment required: Yes
Local server required: No
Local domain required: .pa
Bank guarantee or bond: B/.500,000 performance bond in favour of the JCJ (art. 13) and a B/.100,000 insurance bond for prize payments, renewed each year (art. 14).
Certification requirements: The gaming system must be bought from a JCJ-registered supplier and registered before use with a Certificate of Compliance from an Authorised Entity registered with the JCJ (arts. 29 and 74). Servers may sit outside Panama if the operator discloses their exact location and holds a Certificate of Compliance (art. 29).
Barriers to entry: The applicant, or its majority shareholder or president, needs at least five years in the gaming industry (art. 6). A company must be incorporated in Panama or registered there as a foreign company, have a legal representative in Panama, and pass a probity investigation that reaches the ultimate beneficial owner (arts. 5 and 7). The operator must keep offices and a call centre in Panama and use a .pa domain (arts. 29 and 31). The contract needs the endorsement of the Comptroller General before key money is paid (art. 12).

Licence types

Contract of Administration and Operation of games of chance through the internet, with Gaming Licences
Scope
Online casino games (poker, blackjack, roulette, slots) and betting on sporting events, motor racing and greyhounds, under one to five Gaming Licences per contract, one per web domain (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 16)
Application fee
PAB 50,000 as of 6 Mar 2020
Fee basis
B/.50,000 key money (derecho de llave) per Gaming Licence, paid to the National Treasury once the Comptroller General has endorsed the contract (art. 12), plus 10% of gross revenue each month (arts. 15 and 43). System and supplier registration cost B/.1,000 each (arts. 71 and 74).
Land-based contracts
Scope
Full casinos, Type A slot halls, bingo halls, sports betting agencies, Type C machines, the racetrack, raffles, tombolas and commercial promotions, each authorised or contracted by the JCJ
Application fee
PAB 1,000,000 as of 23 Sept 2026
Fee basis
Full casino: B/.1,000,000 key money, then 12% of gross revenue on tables and 18% on Type A slots monthly. Applicants need five years of experience in the relevant activity.

Taxation

Headline GGR tax: 10% GGR
Effective date: Not yet verified
Tax base: Share of revenue (participación en los ingresos) of 10% of gross revenue, defined as total stakes less total prizes paid, payable to the JCJ within the first ten calendar days of each month, with a 1% monthly surcharge on late or underpaid sums (JCJ Resolution 11 of 2020, arts. 3, 15, 43 and 44). Land-based rates differ: a full casino pays 12% of gross revenue on tables and 18% on Type A slots.

Earmarked levies

Problem gambling treatment fund: 0.5% of the annual revenue all regulated operators pay to the National Treasury (an allocation of that revenue, not an extra charge) (Instituto de Salud Mental, for a national gambling addiction treatment centre (Ley 527 of 2026, art. 5))
JCJ operating budget: 5% of the State revenue from the gross profits operators pay under their contracts (Junta de Control de Juegos (Decreto Ley 2 of 1998, art. 16, as amended by Ley 49 of 2009))

Compliance

Minimum age: 18+
National self-exclusion: Registro de Autoexclusión, Junta de Control de Juegos (covers internet gaming) (mandatory)
KYC timing: At account opening
AML regime: Internet gaming operators are non-financial reporting entities under Ley 23 of 2015 as amended by Ley 124 of 2020. SSNF Agreement JD-01-2025 requires due diligence on transactions of B/.2,000 or more, enhanced due diligence from B/.10,000 and for politically exposed persons, weekly aggregation of cash transactions of B/.2,000 or more, cash reports to the UAF from B/.10,000, and a compliance officer.
AML supervisor: Superintendencia de Sujetos No Financieros, with reports to the Unidad de Análisis Financiero
Deposit limits: Players must be able to set their own limits on deposits, bets, losses and session length; a limit can only be relaxed on 24 hours notice, and the JCJ can impose system limits (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 37). Platforms must let users lower their daily limit (Ley 527, art. 10).
Loss limits: Player-set loss limits are required (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 37).
Session limits: Player-set session length limits (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 37) and time and spending limits with automatic alerts on risk patterns (Ley 527 of 2026, art. 3).
Source of funds thresholds: Basic due diligence from B/.2,000; enhanced due diligence from B/.10,000 (SSNF Agreement JD-01-2025, arts. 5 and 6).
KYC requirements: One account per player; the operator must check the JCJ Exclusion List before opening an account and verify the player under Ley 23 of 2015 (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 36). Online betting platforms must use biometric identity and age verification (Ley 527 of 2026, art. 8). Accounts hold a minimum of B/.20 and a maximum of B/.10,000 and last two years (arts. 36 and 59).
Stake limits: Not yet verified
Mandatory player messaging: The website must show the JCJ Responsible Gaming Programme logo and promote the programme at all times, and carry a complaints icon linked to a JCJ address (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 31).
Reporting obligations: Monthly gross revenue report to the JCJ within ten days, plus reports of major prizes and significant events (Resolution 11 of 2020, arts. 39 to 41); monthly cash transaction reports to the UAF (SSNF Agreement JD-01-2025, art. 14). The JCJ audits operator profits annually and sends the audits to the Dirección General de Ingresos (Ley 527, art. 6).
Game content restrictions: No bets on amateur sport in Panama or on elections for public office anywhere, no horse racing or lottery-type games through the internet licence, and no internet betting taken in physical premises (Resolution 11 of 2020, arts. 2 and 29). The system must detect the physical location of each player (art. 68).

Advertising

Advertising permitted: Yes
Affiliate rules: No separate affiliate regime. The ban on advertising internet gaming without a JCJ contract applies to any natural or legal person (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 2).
Mandatory warnings: JCJ Responsible Gaming Programme logo on the operator website (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 31).
Penalties for breach: Fines of up to B/.100,000, doubled on repeat (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 76), and blocking of unlicensed sites (Ley 527 of 2026, art. 12).

Restrictions

No natural or legal person may advertise games of chance or betting through the internet in Panama without a JCJ Contract of Administration and Operation (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 2)
Operators holding only a licence from another jurisdiction may not advertise or operate in Panama (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 2)
Licensed sites must display the JCJ Responsible Gaming Programme logo and promote the programme at all times (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 31)
The JCJ may order the blocking of sites and apps of unlicensed operators that advertise online casino or betting services (Ley 527 of 2026, art. 12)

Payments

Credit card ban: Not yet verified
Crypto stance: Not yet verified
Permitted methods: Bank account deposit (prize payments), Credit card (prize payments), Voucher redemption at contracted land-based venues (prize payments)
Currency restrictions: Bets may only be paid with payment methods legally accepted in Panama, and digital payment channels must include certified security tools, biometric validation and detection of unusual transactions (Ley 527 of 2026, art. 10). Player accounts hold B/.20 to B/.10,000 (Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 59). Prizes are paid by bank deposit, credit card, any method the banking system allows, or voucher redemption at a casino or slot hall under an approved service contract (arts. 29 and 30).

Enforcement

ISP blocking: Yes
DNS blocking: Not yet verified
Payment blocking: Not yet verified
App store takedowns: Not yet verified
Administrative penalties: Up to B/.100,000 per infraction, doubled on repeat, with suspension or cancellation of the Gaming Licence (Decreto Ley 2 of 1998, art. 98, as amended by Ley 49 of 2009; Resolution 11 of 2020, art. 76). Under Ley 527 of 2026, online operators that breach it face B/.25,000 to B/.100,000, doubled on repeat with possible suspension or cancellation and temporary blocking of the domain or app (art. 11); telecoms operators and internet providers that fail to execute a blocking order face B/.300,000 to B/.1,000,000 per infraction (art. 13).
Operator liability: Operating any game of chance without prior JCJ authorisation is an infraction (Decreto Ley 2 of 1998, art. 87). The JCJ may order telecoms operators, internet providers and other intermediaries to block or restrict sites, apps, domain names and IP addresses of national or foreign operators without a current JCJ licence; they must comply immediately and become jointly liable for the unauthorised operation if they do not (Ley 527 of 2026, arts. 12 and 13).

Notable actions

Licensed gaming operators (all verticals)31 Dec 2022
The JCJ collected B/.55,000 in fines during 2022, against B/.12,000 in 2021
Fine: PAB 55,000 as of 31 Dec 2022

Timeline

17 Feb 1998
Decree Law 2 of 10 February 1998 restructures the JCJ and is published in Gaceta Oficial 23,484
25 Oct 2002
JCJ Resolution 65 approves the regulation for games of chance and betting through electronic communication systems
4 May 2006
The Supreme Court strikes down art. 31 of Decree Law 2, the ban on new Type C machine authorisations
6 Mar 2020
JCJ Resolution 11 replaces Resolution 65 as the internet gaming regulation
3 Jun 2022
JCJ Resolution 5 sets the self-exclusion procedure; the register covers internet gaming as well as gaming halls
31 Dec 2022
JCJ figures for 2022 across all licensed operators: B/.1,960,446,716 staked, B/.1,618,237,968 paid in prizes and B/.342,117,416 gross revenue; internet gaming paid the JCJ B/.321,816.21 in revenue share
22 Jan 2026
Bill 403 on problem gambling passes first debate in the Assembly health committee
23 Feb 2026
SSNF Agreement JD-01-2025 on AML for the gaming sector is published and takes effect
19 Mar 2026
The National Assembly approves Bill 403 in third debate
28 May 2026
Law 527 on problem gambling is published in Gaceta Oficial 30534-B

Outlook

The main event is the Executive regulation of Law 527, due within six months of promulgation on 28 May 2026 (art. 14). It will set the technical standards for biometric checks, player limits and the blocking procedure, and will show how the JCJ uses its new power to order internet providers to block unlicensed operators. Full casinos and Type A halls must also have facial recognition in place within six months under art. 8. Operators should also be applying the SSNF AML rules in force since 23 February 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Who licenses online gambling in Panama?: The Junta de Control de Juegos in the Ministry of Economy and Finance, under Decree Law 2 of 1998 and JCJ Resolution 11 of 2020, through a Contract of Administration and Operation carrying up to five Gaming Licences.
What does a Panamanian online gaming licence cost?: B/.50,000 key money per Gaming Licence, a B/.500,000 performance bond, a B/.100,000 annual prize bond, and 10% of gross revenue (stakes less prizes) paid to the JCJ every month.
Can a Panama-licensed operator use a foreign domain or run without a local office?: No. Resolution 11 of 2020 requires a .pa domain for each Gaming Licence and offices and a call centre in Panama. Servers may be abroad if their location is disclosed and certified.
What changed with Law 527 of 2026?: It bans gambling by under-18s, requires biometric identity and age checks online and facial recognition in full casinos and Type A halls, requires time and spending limits, creates a treatment fund for the Instituto de Salud Mental, and lets the JCJ order internet providers to block unlicensed sites.
What are the penalties under Law 527?: Online operators face B/.25,000 to B/.100,000, doubled on repeat, with possible suspension or cancellation of the licence and temporary blocking of the domain or app. Telecoms operators and internet providers that fail to execute a blocking order face B/.300,000 to B/.1,000,000 per infraction.
Is there self-exclusion in Panama?: Yes. The JCJ keeps a self-exclusion register covering casinos, slot halls, sports betting agencies and internet gaming, for a minimum of two years. Online operators must also offer their own self-exclusion of at least two years and player-set limits.
Is online gambling legal in Panama?: Online casino and online sports betting are both legal for licensed operators in Panama. The status of every vertical is at the top of this page. Last verified 25 Oct 2026.

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