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CENTRAL AMERICA by Ricardo Chavez-Munoz
PANAMA
It is generally agreed that the construction industry leads economic growth in a country,
and the current boom in Panama, where luxury towers sprout left, right and centre, has
brought a bonus to the gaming industry. According to the industry association ASAJA, the
year to June showed 14% Gross Income growth year on at US $700 million, holding GGR at
around 17%. Both Spanish giants Cirsa and Codere lead the slots market in Panama, with
the latter opening a brand new electronic casino and sports betting room at the local race
track, which they acquired in 2005.
However, Thunderbird’s Fiesta casino in Panama City is still the liveliest place in town.
New casino Veneto next door has changed hands, acquired by new US gaming outfit Silver
Entertainment, operating the property under the Wyndham Grand Hotel flag. Two new casi-
nos await licensing authorization, before the new towers that include a Trump venture con-
sider casino applications and further increase gambling options in the country.
PUERTO RICO
Investments of around US$530 million in the casino and hotel and casino sectors, which are
bringing much needed upgrading to some properties on the island, were announced in June. MEXICO
Casino Real has opened in Caguas, some 30 miles south of San Juan, with an investment of As Mexico marches along with poor regulations from outdated legislation, which shows
US$17 million by the Santana Group. One down note was the cancellation of the June gaming definite though irregular growth for companies such as CIE, Caliente and Televisa, the
conference in San Juan, but great news came with the appointment of gaming operator Hector criminal element was evident in some operations that got raided in early June with actual
Rivera Davila as Executive Director of Gaming by the Tourism Company of Puerto Rico. loss of life. In true spaghetti western style, over 12 slots operations were attacked during
one weekend, and some remain closed.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
In early February last year the National Assembly decided to accept the recommenda- SAN SALVADOR
tions of the country’s President and restrict gaming devices to casinos and sports betting At present there is pressure from several quarters to close casinos in the country.
shops called ‘books’, amending the Casinos and Gaming Law that regulates the installation However, operators defend their right to operate based on current law, which at best is con-
of slot machines in the country. Slots tax was set at between US$100-115 per month, fusing and in a Catch 22 situation. While legislators and the Executive claim that casinos
depending on whether the machines are operated in casinos in metropolitan Santo are illegal, diverse pieces of legislation from Police, Municipal and Penal laws have been
Domingo or the rest of the country. shown to be in conflict with one another.
While casinos with modern slots and progressive jackpots are sited in major hotels, some In this gaming legal quandary the Attorney General’s Office has appointed a Special
bingos and ‘books’ operate as many slots games as they can get away with. The gaming Public Prosecutor to give some light on the matter, claiming at the same time that local
authorities do make an effort to remove illegal machines from corner stores and other unli- governments should order casinos to close. Local Mayors, however, claim that the Police
censed operations but, like in the rest of the region, this is an inconsistent and uphill battle. law only says that they have to inspect the casinos and send the report to the AG’s Office”.
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