Gambling in Panama

Introduction

In February, 2011, I spent six days in Panama City. While there, I visited most of the larger casinos and spent entirely too much time playing in the name of research. This article is about what I learned in regards to the gambling scene there.

According to lcb.org Panama City boasts 29 casinos, primarily featuring smaller slot machines, although several larger venues do offer table games. Many of these establishments are linked to hotels, making their casinos more of a supplement to the hotel experience rather than the main attraction, as seen in Las Vegas. Patrons often engage in lower-stakes bets and can comfortably spend hours at a single table. The gaming environment in Panama is notably more laid-back compared to U.S. casinos, where the focus is often on thrill and winning; here, it seems that social interaction and leisure dominate the gaming experience.

Before diving into the gaming options, let’s look into the general conditions and services offered by casinos in Panama City.

Culinary Options — The selection of restaurants within casinos is quite limited. Most establishments seem to outsource their dining options. Usually, any food available in the casino comes from a bar menu. Though, there are often standalone restaurants located within the hotel or nearby. Interestingly, many players were observed enjoying full meals while seated at slot machines and tables, indicating that they can indulge in long gaming sessions without letting hunger interfere, possibly relying on room service.

Beverages — In Panama, the combination of gambling and drinking isn’t as prevalent as in the U.S. Although beverage servers occasionally pause at tables with a tray of soft drinks and beer, it's rare for them to take specific drink orders. If you desire anything beyond the basic options, you might have to be assertive in your requests. Most players seem to accept this norm without complaint and adapt with patience.

Croupiers — The interaction between players and dealers is quite minimal. Dealers primarily focus on dealing cards without much conversation. Similar to Macau, players appear to prefer this silence and rarely engage with the dealers. I attempted to initiate conversation with some dealers, using my limited Spanish, but they acted as if they didn’t understand, and honestly, I can’t blame them given my skills.

Smoking Policy — A law exists in Panama that bans smoking in all public venues, including casinos. As someone who does not smoke, I appreciate this legislation, and I hope the U.S. will adopt similar measures in the future.

Table game betting limits usually start at $3 or $5, with maximum bets reaching around $500. Some casinos do have exclusive high-limit areas beginning with a $25 minimum. An added convenience is that Panama uses the U.S. dollar as its currency.

Player Rewards — The casinos in Panama also offer player reward programs, akin to those in the United States. However, it appeared that these cards were mainly for slot machine players. The only time I was asked about having a card at the tables was at the Veneto casino. When I tried to present a card I had obtained at the Crown casino to a supervisor, he seemed to overlook my attempt.

Gratuities — Neither dealers nor cocktail waitresses typically expect to be tipped, and it’s uncommon for them to receive any. I find this aspect of Panama refreshing. Gratuities should be voluntary and reserved for exceptional service. While tipping in the U.S. certainly has its place, it has become somewhat of an automatic expectation rather than a genuine gesture of appreciation.

Promotions — Numerous promotions were available at various casinos. For instance, one casino offered 2-for-1 payouts on blackjack during specific hours, while another featured an interesting six-card Charlie rule. Both of these provided a slight edge to players of blackjack.

There were indications of additional special events, drawings, and tournaments through signage, but since the details were in Spanish, I didn’t pay much attention to them.

Now, let's discuss the availability and game rules for specific games in Panama City.

Blackjack is the dominant table game, constituting about half of the tables. The rules are quite uniform across different casinos and include the following:

• Typically played with six decks, often using a continuous shuffling machine.
• Dealer hits soft 17
• The dealer does not hold a card concealed, and players only lose their original wager if the dealer has a blackjack.
• Early surrender is allowed except when the dealer shows an ace.
• Players can double down on any two cards and also on 9-11 with three cards.
• Double after split allowed.
• Any pair may be re-split up to four hands, including aces.

Under these rules, the house edge is impressively low, at 0.12% with a continuous shuffler or 0.14% otherwise. I am including the basic strategy for blackjack under Panamanian conditions.

Online Blackjack Casino Bonuses View All

Roulette ranks as the second most favored game in terms of the number of tables, featuring only double-zero wheels.

Craps enjoys limited popularity, with larger casinos operating just one table during peak hours. I did not notice any posted odds, and I would have struggled to inquire about this in Spanish. At the Veneto casino, where I found an English-speaking supervisor, I learned that the house allowed odds of 3-4-5 times.

Canal 21 I encountered a variant of blackjack in every significant casino, though only the Crown Casino referred to it by that name; others used their own branding, like the Majestic Casino, which called it 'Majestic 21.' This variant is known in the blackjack community as 'Canal 21,' so I will stick with that terminology.

The rules for this game are essentially the same as those for traditional blackjack, with variations including:

• Four decks are used.
• Blackjack pays even money.
• Suited three of a kind pays 20 to 1.
• Unsuited three of a kind pays 3 to 1.
• Suited 6-7-8 pays 5 to 1.
• Unsuited 6-7-8 pays 3 to 1.
• 7-card 21 pays 5 to 1.
• 6-card 21 pays 3 to 1.
• 5-card 21 pays 2 to 1.

According to gaming statistician Cindy Liu, the house edge for Canal 21 is 1.20%.

Casino Hold 'Em is a poker variation that is quite popular in Panama but remains largely unknown in the United States. Personally, I was brought in to evaluate this game a few years back by its inventor. I had heard about its success in various regions, yet I had never actually seen it played in a casino until this visit.

All significant casinos in Panama City feature this game, but similarly to Canal 21, it was referred to differently at each venue, typically as a variation of 'Texas Hold 'Em.' I will refer to it as Casino Hold 'Em in respect to the inventor's original designation. Here are the game rules:

• Player makes an Ante bet.
• The dealer distributes two hole cards to both the player and himself, followed by three community cards dealt face up.
• The player has the option to place a Play bet, which can be double their Ante, or fold.
• The dealer then lays out two additional community cards, referred to as the turn and river.
• The dealer requires at least a pair of fours to open.
• If the dealer fails to open, the Ante bet pays out according to the Ante paytable while the Call bet pushes.
• Should the dealer qualify and the player wins, the Ante pays out based on the Ante paytable, and the Call bet pays 1 to 1.
• In cases where the dealer qualifies but beats the player, both the Ante and Call bets will be lost.
• If the dealer qualifies and the result is a tie, both the Ante and Call bets will push.

Though I have yet to quantify a player strategy for this game, I recommend that players raise approximately 82% of the time. Assuming optimal strategies, the house edge stands at 2.16%.

Live poker is not highly sought after, but larger casinos do include small poker rooms, usually operating during select evening hours. The most common game offered is no-limit Texas Hold 'Em, if not the sole game available.

Video poker enthusiasts may end up disappointed in Panama City, as video poker machines represent only about 1-2% of the total machines, and the few that do exist feature poor payout percentages.

Slots are predominantly penny video machines, while traditional three-reel slots are quite rare. In terms of available floor space, the arrangement in Panama tends to be about 1/3 slots to 2/3 table games, which is quite the opposite of the ratio in the U.S.

Sports Betting venues are accessible in the larger casinos. These are typically small, no-frills establishments designed for quick betting, reminiscent of the Leroy's betting shops found in Las Vegas. A majority of the sports available for betting are U.S. professional events, with lines reflecting 20-cent odds, similar to Las Vegas.

There exist several additional table games in the casinos. The popularity of poker-based games has not reached the same level in Panama as in the U.S., but some do exist. The Majestic Casino appeared to offer the most variety in new gaming options.

Let's provide a condensed overview of the major casinos in Panama City. The information regarding the number of tables and slot machines is derived from CasinoCity.com. Unless otherwise noted, the casinos mentioned are closely situated in the central 'Cangrejo' area of the city, which aligns with the significant Via España boulevard.

Crown

Table games: 20
Slots: 150
Hotel: Riande Continental

Guide to Gambling in Panama - Overview of Casinos, Legal Framework & Regulations

Veneto

Table games: 56
Slots: 625
Hotel: Veneto

Explore Top Online Casinos Available in Your Region

Royal

Table games: 30
Slots: 400
Hotel: Marriott

Calculator for Estimating Lottery Jackpot Ticket Sales

Fiesta

Table games: 21
Slots: 320
Hotel: El Panama

In Panama City, you can find a total of 29 casinos. While many of these are intimate venues focused primarily on slot machines, there are a select few that offer table games and are typically connected to hotels. Unlike Las Vegas, where casinos are often the focal point of the entertainment, in Panama, they serve more as an added feature of the hotel experience. Patrons usually engage in lower bets, often remaining at the same table for extended periods. The gaming environment here is notably more laid-back compared to U.S. casinos, where the thrill of winning frequently drives players, while in Panama, gambling seems more about socializing and leisurely passing time.

Table games: 48
Slots: 440
Hotel: Multiplaza Shopping Center

Before diving into the gaming options, let’s take a closer look at what to expect in terms of overall casino conditions and amenities available in Panama City.

Dining Options — There aren't many eateries directly linked to the casinos; most hotels outsource their food services for gambling areas. The primary food options within the casinos are typically limited to a bar menu. However, various independent dining establishments can be found within the hotel or in the vicinity. Interestingly, I observed numerous players enjoying complete meals while engaged in their gaming activities. With players often spending hours in one spot, it seems that hunger shouldn't interrupt the fun, leading me to believe that these meals probably come from room service.

Beverages — The combination of gambling and alcohol is not as prevalent in Panama compared to the U.S. Beverage servers occasionally circulate with a selection of soft drinks and beer, but it's rare for them to take specific drink orders at the tables. If you desire something other than beer or soda, you might need to assertively request it. Most patrons appear quite relaxed about it, going with the flow and rarely voicing complaints. Patience seems to be a virtue in Panama.

Croupiers — Conversations between players and dealers are minimal. Dealers mainly focus on their task of dealing cards. Similar to what I witnessed in Macau, players seem to appreciate this quiet approach, refraining from engaging in small talk with the dealers. I attempted to break the ice with a few dealers in my less-than-perfect Spanish, but they often acted as if they didn’t understand me. Honestly, I can't blame them, as my Spanish isn't very good.

Smoking Policy — Panama has implemented a law that bans smoking in all public establishments, including casinos. Being a non-smoker myself, I commend Panama for this initiative and hope the U.S. can follow suit in the future.

Regarding table limits, the minimum bets typically range from $3 to $5, while the maximum limits can reach up to $500. A few casinos also feature exclusive high-limit rooms that begin at a $25 minimum. An added convenience for players is that Panama uses the U.S. dollar as its currency.

More Information

Player Rewards — The casinos offer player loyalty cards akin to those found in the U.S. Nonetheless, it appeared that these cards catered primarily to slot machine players. I was only asked about having a card during my visit at the Veneto casino while playing at the tables. When I tried to present my card at the Crown casino, the supervisor simply ignored my offer.

• Gambling Scene in Panama
• Confessions of a Cangrejo
• Panama Odds and Ends

Gratuities — Neither the dealers nor the beverage servers seem to anticipate tips, which they rarely receive as well. This is yet another aspect of Panama that I appreciate. Tips are intended to be a form of appreciation for exceptional service, and while I am not suggesting that tipping in the U.S. should be eliminated, it has unfortunately become more of an obligatory service charge than a genuine gratuity. Las apuestas en Panamá .

Written by: Michael Shackleford