for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
Panama’s Beneficence National Lottery (LNB) is ready to take a giant digital step forward with the aim of updating internal procedures, increasing transparency, and offering better conditions to sellers of lottery tickets, commonly known as “billeteros.” Director Saquina Jaramillo pointed out that the institution had been operating with very obsolete procedures, in which most administrative processes were carried out manually. For her, this lack of systematic controls not only slowed down processes but also permitted inefficiencies and irregular procedures that benefited only a few.
“We found the institution completely outdated. Everything in the Lottery was done manually, and without systematic controls, it allowed certain individuals to gain undue profits,” said Jaramillo in an interview with TVN. She added that this scenario created intermediaries and resellers who speculated on prices, prejudicing both vendors and consumers.
Installing New Systems
To fill these gaps, the LNB has already initiated its digitalization strategy. The first steps include the implementation of a new payroll system and new accounting software. These systems are expected to improve monitoring, reduce errors, and improve accountability.
Jaramillo also pointed out that the modernization process will not just render the institution more efficient but also foster greater equity in lottery product distribution. By eliminating the potential for reselling and price manipulation, the system is poised to provide a more transparent and sustainable market.
Safeguarding Vendors in the Face of Resistance
The digital push has brought about some reluctance on the part of the vendors, who worry that more automation may marginalize their role. Jaramillo addressed such concerns squarely, reaffirming that billeteros will still be at the center of the LNB’s operations. She pointed out that there is a presidential mandate to guarantee the participation of the vendors and to provide them with better working conditions.
“Billeteros will never disappear“, she asserted, clarifying that the transformation is not one of replacing human vendors but of augmenting their role within a more controlled and equalized framework.
Improving Vendors’ Income
As part of the modernization plan, the LNB is also addressing the task of increasing the earnings of vendors. Jaramillo said that steps are being taken to secure approval for higher commissions as well as improved benefits. At the same time, the institution is revising the general framework agreement to prepare for the necessary final studies that will support these reforms.
In conjunction with the Technological University of Panama (UTP), the LNB will conduct a market study to get real data on prize payout and determine the optimal percentage adjustments for vendor profit. This evidence-based approach aims to ensure that both the institution and its vendors reasonably benefit from the changes.
The modernization of the LNB is a watershed moment for Panama’s lottery sector. In embracing digital technologies and practices, the institution seeks not only to renovate its administrative nucleus but to protect vendors and enhance consumer trust. The Jaramillo presidency marks a clear commitment to matching technological progress with social responsibility, so that modernization is translated into tangible dividends for all stakeholders.
As the process unfolds, the convergence of greater transparency, improved institutional controls, and more favorable vendor terms can offer a template for how traditional lottery institutions transform to address the demands of the digital age.
Source: YogoNet
