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Panama Scraps Tax on Casino and Betting Winnings to Attract Tourists

Panamanian authorities have announced the scrapping of a 5.5% tax on winnings from table games and betting. The measure aims to attract foreign players and boost tourist arrivals that have declined in recent years for this niche. The Gambling Control Committee, known as the Junta de Control de Juegos or JCJ, under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, made the announcement. Officials described the step as a way to make Panama more competitive with Caribbean and U.S. destinations that do not impose a similar direct tax on players. The 5.5% tax was introduced in 2015 by the previous administration. It applied to cash redemptions and winnings at casinos, bingo halls, slot machines and sportsbooks. The levy was created to help finance higher pension payments. JCJ Secretary Manuel Sánchez said the tax had become a barrier for international gamblers. “The elimination of the tax will support the hotel and tourism sector because players will get better value when traveling to Panam...
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PhD Position at Utrecht University Netherlands

Last Updated on May 24, 2026 by admin Explore exciting opportunities with the PhD Position at Utrecht University and take your academic career to new heights. For Updated list of positions, please click here PhD position on Microbial Genome Evolution How do archaeal genomes evolve? Contribute to answer this question by joining our team!PhDFaculty of ScienceDepartment: Department of BiologyApplication deadline: 7 June 2026 Job details: PhD position on Microbial Genome Evolution PhD: Fostering mutual learning between science and society in nanomedicine Are you passionate about understanding how new technologies, like nanomedicine, could be embedded in society?PhD|Education|Research, development, innovationFaculty of GeosciencesDepartment: Department of Sustainable DevelopmentApplication deadline: 18 June 2026 Job details: PhD: Fostering mutual learning between science and society in nanomedicine PhD: impacts of human-induced air-water pollution on planetary health Join...
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Costa Rica Debate Grows Over Moving Annexation Holiday

Nicoya authorities are pushing back against a proposal in Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly that would move the July 25 holiday commemorating the Annexation of the Partido de Nicoya to the following Monday, arguing that the date itself is part of Guanacaste’s identity. The Municipal Council of Nicoya approved a motion on May 19 asking lawmakers to remove July 25 from bill 25.593, a proposal that seeks to move several national holidays to Mondays to create long weekends. The council said the Annexation should continue to be observed on its original calendar date, not shifted for tourism or economic convenience. The bill, introduced by ruling-party lawmaker Wilson Jiménez of the Partido Pueblo Soberano, would move five holidays to the Monday following their official date. Those include Juan Santamaría Day on April 11, the Annexation of the Partido de Nicoya on July 25, Our Lady of the Angels Day on August 2, the Day of the Black Person and Afro-Costa Rican Culture on August 31...
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Costa Rica Bus and Taxi Fares Rise After Fuel Price Spike

Costa Rica approved higher bus and taxi fares this week after a rise in international fuel prices pushed up operating costs for public transport operators. The Public Services Regulatory Authority, known here as Aresep , approved a 5.43% increase for bus fares nationwide and increases ranging from 1.39% to 2.82% for taxi service. The adjustment covers regular red taxis and authorized taxis operating at Juan Santamaría International Airport. The regulator linked the fare hike to fuel price increases tied to the conflict in the Middle East, which it treated as an external event outside Costa Rica’s control. Aresep said fuel makes up about 28% of bus operating costs and about 12% of taxi operating costs, meaning sharp changes in fuel prices can quickly affect transport operators. For bus passengers, the increase will vary by route. Many fares will rise by small amounts, but longer or higher-priced routes will see larger increases. Aresep’s breakdown shows 211 fares rising by ...
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Costa Rica Court Keeps Papagayo Hotel Development Restrictions in Place

Costa Rica’s Constitutional Chamber has confirmed that the moratorium on tree-felling permits in the Gulf of Papagayo Tourism Pole remains fully in force, keeping a major legal freeze in place over parts of one of Guanacaste’s most valuable resort development zones. The latest clarification came from Sala IV magistrate Anamari Garro Vargas, who confirmed that the precautionary measure ordered in April still blocks the granting of tree-cutting permits in the Gulf of Papagayo tourism zone when tied to hotel development. Her resolution responded to a filing connected to a SINAC administrative act authorizing tree cutting linked to a Papagayo concession. The case centers on a constitutional challenge to Executive Decree 44448-MP-TUR, a regulation approved under the Rodrigo Chaves administration. The decree allows concession holders in Papagayo to use a mechanism known as compensation of density or coverage, letting them concentrate construction rights on one lot while leaving othe...
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Costa Rica Risks Losing Earthquake and Volcano Monitoring Network

Costa Rica could gradually lose part of its ability to monitor earthquakes, track volcanic activity, and issue early warnings if the country does not restore permanent funding for its scientific monitoring networks, the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica has warned. OVSICORI Director Esteban Chávez said the country’s seismic and volcanic monitoring system has been weakening since 2023, when the networks lost a stable source of financing. The concern is not that the system will collapse overnight, but that stations will begin failing one by one without enough money to replace equipment, upgrade technology, or expand coverage. “We are going to lose instrumental coverage in Costa Rica. We will no longer have eyes or ears in the field,” Chávez warned. The monitoring networks were previously supported with resources from the National Emergency Fund, which was financed by surpluses from public institutions. After changes tied to the Law on Strengthening Publi...
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Costa Rica Bill Seeks Jail Time for Drivers Who Flee Crash Scenes

Costa Rican lawmakers are considering a bill that would bring back prison sentences for drivers who flee the scene of a traffic accident without helping injured victims. The proposal, filed under legislative bill No. 25.598, was introduced Thursday by ruling-party Representative Mayuli Ortega Guzmán of the Partido Pueblo Soberano. The bill would add Article 144 bis to Costa Rica’s Penal Code and create a specific crime for failure to render aid in traffic accidents. The bill is currently listed as presented, with no committee assignment or votes registered yet. The measure targets drivers who are involved in a crash and leave without stopping, helping injured people, preventing injuries from getting worse, or immediately alerting authorities when they can do so without putting themselves or others at risk. Under the proposal, a driver who flees after a negligent crash could face six months to two years in prison, a fine equivalent to 20 to 60 days’ wages, and a license suspens...
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