Panama Online Gambling License 2026: JCJ and Law 527

Panama Online Gambling License in 2026: JCJ Licensing and Law 527

How Panama regulates online betting and casino in 2026: the Junta de Control de Juegos, the new online rules in Law 527 of May 2026 — biometric verification, limits, blocking and fines — and the licensed online operators.

By Gambling Consulting ExpertUpdated 18 October 2026

Short answer

Panama licenses gambling through the Junta de Control de Juegos (JCJ), part of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Law 527, published on 28 May 2026, added online-specific rules: biometric identity and age verification, mandatory time and spending limits, payments only through methods accepted in Panama, blocking of unlicensed sites and fines of up to 100,000 balboas for platforms. Six online operators were JCJ-authorized in 2026.

Panama has a long-established gaming regulator and, in 2026, a dedicated legal framework for online betting. This page replaces our earlier Panama guide.

Panama online gambling: key facts for 2026

Item	Position in 2026
Regulator	Junta de Control de Juegos (JCJ), Ministry of Economy and Finance
Online law	Law 527, published 28 May 2026
Verification	Biometric identity and age checks
Player protection	Time and spending limits; risk alerts; 18+ only
Payments	Only methods legally accepted in Panama
Enforcement	JCJ blocking orders; platform fines 25,000–100,000 balboas
Licensed online operators	Six named in 2026
Market size	US$379.7 million online betting, H1 2026

What to confirm before applying

Law 527 does not itself set license fees or tax rates. Confirm with the JCJ the license categories, fees, guarantees, local entity and technical requirements for online operators.

Panama or another jurisdiction?

Curaçao — Caribbean license under the LOK.
Costa Rica — no license; data-processing permits only.
Our overview of Latin American markets in 2026 compares the region.

How Gambling Consulting Expert can help

We confirm JCJ requirements and plan the structure, technology and compliance under Law 527. Contact us.

Panama gambling license — FAQ

Who licenses online gambling in Panama?

The Junta de Control de Juegos (JCJ), which depends on the Ministry of Economy and Finance and authorizes, supervises and controls gambling and betting in or from Panama.

What does Law 527 require?

Biometric identity and age verification, a ban on under-18s, time and spending limits with risk alerts, payments only through methods legally accepted in Panama, and JCJ powers to order blocking of unlicensed sites, apps, domains and IP addresses.

What are the penalties?

Platforms that breach the law face fines of 25,000 to 100,000 balboas, doubled for repeat offenses, and possible suspension or cancellation of the license. Internet and telecom providers that ignore blocking orders face fines of 300,000 to 1,000,000 balboas per infraction.

How big is the Panamanian online market?

Official INEC data put online betting at US$379.7 million in the first half of 2026, up about 60% year on year.