Bill 74.

Summary.

The bill establishes a framework to promote and regulate esports as a sporting activity in the Republic of Panama. It defines the sector’s participants and operators, including gamers, professional players, promoters, sponsors, video game publishers, content distribution platforms and live streamers. Games used in competitions would have to allow participants to compete on equal terms, without competitive advantages purchased through payments. The bill provides for free and accessible participation and recognizes the strategic skills, coordination, training, and physical or mental effort that esports may require.

The Panamanian Sports Institute (Instituto Panameño de Deportes) would recognize sporting categories of electronic games, encourage related federations, associations and sports organizations, and grant them recognition as legal entities. Violent game categories, or those that incite violence, would be ineligible for sporting recognition. Recognized activities would have to observe fair play and comply with Law 16 of 1995, the General Law on Sports and Recreation (Ley General de Deporte y Recreación), and other sports rules in Panama. The Institute would also recognize federations and associations, coordinate training for high performance athletes, and oversee esports participation in the National Sports System. Competitions would have to follow its rules on transparency, fairness and safety.

For minors, the bill provides for protective regulations and bars persons under sixteen (16) from professional competitions. Participants who meet that minimum age but remain minors would need the express written consent of their parents or legal representatives. The Panamanian Sports Institute and the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud) would set limits on participation by persons under 18 and determine which types of games are suitable, working with mental health and child development specialists. Competitions involving minors would need supervision and safeguards for their mental well-being. Educational programs would inform parents and guardians about participation and balance with other activities. Organizers would have to provide physical and mental health support and take measures against harassment, exploitation and other abuse.

The bill promotes national leagues and tournaments and participation by Panamanian teams in international competitions, in cooperation with organizations recognized by the Institute and the Panama Olympic Committee (Comité Olímpico de Panamá), where applicable. It assigns the Panama Tourism Authority (Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá) international campaigns to attract events. The Institute would carry out promotional activities, enter into agreements and develop plans for responsible and inclusive participation. Together with the Government Innovation Authority (Autoridad de Innovación Gubernamental), it would promote initiatives involving software, hardware, video games and related technologies. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo), acting through the Institute, would issue regulations within no more than six (6) months after promulgation. The proposed law would take effect upon promulgation. Its provisions concern those public bodies, the Panama Olympic Committee, and the sports, technology, tourism and competition organization sectors.