New rules, which were published via Panama’s Official Gazette, puts in place a number of new demands on operators. Once the system is up and running operators will have to pay for the new system, as well as a $US5,000 fee so that their slots are connected to the new server.
They will also have to supply the equipment on site so that the JCJ may monitor slots in real time. After the system is installed, the operator must also update the technological platform every two years, once the update has been authorised by the JCJ.
Unlike tables games and type A slot machines, which transfer a percentage of bets to the JCJ, type C machines only pay US$150 to the regulatory body every month. As they are not connected to any server, it is impossible to know the amount of bets they receive nor the prizes paid out. The new data will be gathered daily, monthly and annually.
Type C machines may only pay a maximum of US$200 per machine in prizes and accept bets of no more than US$3. Type A slots – slot machines which do not have a payout ceiling– operate in fully-fledged casinos, which are in turn present in hotels with more than 300 rooms.
According to the latest report released by Panama’s National Controller´s Office, Type A slot machines and the lottery now account for 90 per cent of the market with a combined total of US$2bn. Of this total, US$526m corresponded to lottery sales while Type A slot machines accounted for US$1.48bn in 2017.
Source: GMB / G3 Newswire
