Panama’s Betting Market Grows 16.5% in the First Half of 2026

The gross wagers on gambling and betting made in Panama during the first half of 2026 grew to 1.60783 billion balboas. The total is up 16.5% from the 1.38020 billion balboas in the corresponding period of 2025, according to official figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).

Slot Machines and Table Games Also Post Growth

The overall expansion of the market can also be seen being fueled by other segments. In the first quarter of 2026, the type “A” slot machines collected 1.11346 billion balboas, which represents an increase of 7% compared to the amount collected in the first six months of 2025, when 1.04036 billion balboas were collected. Table games earned 87,42 million balboas, up 18.6% from 73,69 million in the year before.

Bingo halls collected 3.34 million balboas, which is 6% more than the 3.16 million they received the previous year. Meanwhile, sports event rooms saw a slight drop of 0.8% to 9.14 million balboas in the first half of 2025 compared to 9.22 million in the last half of 2024.

Not all segments saw growth. Lottery revenues and sales dropped 4.1%, with total revenue at 400.68 million balboas, and total sales equal to 417.68 million balboas a year ago. Betting at the Presidente Remón Racetrack fell 7.2% to 13.44 million balboas, and instant games dropped 23.5% to 1.28 million.

Suspicious Transaction Reports Rise in Gambling Sector

The expansion of the gambling market comes alongside increased financial monitoring. In the first half of 2026, the Financial Analysis Unit of Panama (UAF) received 839 Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) from both financial and non-financial institutions.

In the non-financial sector, the category that showed the highest growth was that of gambling, where the UAF increased by 58% compared to the same period in 2025. The real estate sector also grew markedly, whereas reports by lawyers dropped.

Alerts Do Not Represent Confirmed Criminal Activity

The UAF said that a SUSPECTIVE TRANSACTION REPORT does not constitute a crime. Rather, it’s an alert that is triggered if a transaction seems to be inconsistent with the economic profile of a customer or the person performing the transaction.

The agency takes up this information, processes it confidentially, and forwards the information to the competent authorities if needed. The rise in reports is therefore indicative of a rise in detection or reporting of what may be unusual transactions, not necessarily illegal activity.

Market Growth Brings Greater Compliance Focus

Panama’s first-half results indicate that the country would be expected to expand further in a number of gaming categories, particularly online gambling. Internet-based gambling grew by 59.8%, which was much higher than most of the other segments, and was a key driver of the overall growth in the internet gambling industry.

Meanwhile, the increase in STRs signals the growing significance of financial compliance as the market continues to grow. With higher levels of betting activity and heightened oversight, responsible gambling, transparency, and anti-money laundering measures will remain key themes as Panama’s gambling landscape continues to develop.

Panama’s Betting Market Grows 16.5% in the First Half of 2026

Slot Machines and Table Games Also Post Growth

Suspicious Transaction Reports Rise in Gambling Sector

Alerts Do Not Represent Confirmed Criminal Activity

Market Growth Brings Greater Compliance Focus

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