Representative Neftalí Zamora introduced a draft bill aiming for the National State to stop managing bingos, allowing municipalities to operate them profitably.
Panama.- Representative Neftalí Zamora presented a legislative initiative to end the operation of National Bingos. According to the bill, it seeks to annul the Decree Law No. 4 of 1982 on National Bingos, "which would represent a saving for the State".
Zamora supported his proposal by stating that the current system creates unnecessary expenditure. "In 2023, the State spent USD 966,753.00 on the National Bingos Program and only USD 24,753.00 was earned that same year. This Bingo loses more than USD 600,000.00 a year, representing an expense for the State," he explained.
"The draft bill proposes to repeal the 1982 Decree, so that it is no longer mandatory to operate National Bingos, and now it will be up to the State to decide whether or not to operate bingos, with the aim that they decide to conduct bingos only when they are sustainably financial and generate funds for the State."
The representative from Vamos proposes "to empower Municipalities and Community Boards to request authorization from the Gaming Control Board to operate community bingos profitably, with proper regulation."
"This means a new source of income for local governments with activities that already exist, but are poorly employed," he supported.
See also: Contributions to the Panamanian State: the LNB of Panama delivered more than USD8m
