Veneto will be hosting a boxing match, Golpe de Suerte . . . Where the champions are born, this Thursday the 5th of August on 7th floor salon. Doors open at 5 PM Preferencial seating for $15 and General seating for $12.50 is still available. After the fight at 11 PM there will be an after party on the casino floor with Ulpiano Vergara performing on the main stage. Be a part of the most exciting night of the year!

   

There will be a "Pool Party" at the 7th floor pool of the Veneto Hotel & Casino this Friday evening, from 6:00 pm until 12:00 pm. There will be a DJ and barbecue - ask for your drink ticket to get a free drink. Check out one of Panama City´s best pool scenes...    

Panama has the third most organized and developed casino and gaming industry in Latin America, according to a report of the Board of Gaming Regulatory Agencies Gaming. Recently casino operators in the region met in the country during the international SAGSE Gaming convention, which made Panama the capital of gambling for two days. Some 40 companies exhibited slot machines, table games, roulette and safety equipment technology. Also present were representatives of textile companies, dedicated to the production of carpets, and others responsible for designing uniforms for casino employees, parts suppliers, equipment maintenance companies, as well as architecture and design firms. Giorio Gennari Litta, the chairman of the event, was optimistic on the results of this international exhibition, with the quality of the companies involved and the variety of products on display, mostly consumables. (La Critica)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I've been talking to some of the women who were detained by immigration in raids they conducted in recent weeks. In the middle of May Panama's National Immigration Service conducted raids in several bars and clubs in Panama City and arrested a total of 68 foreigners. A week later Immigration conducted another raid, this time in a couple of the seedier clubs in Calidonia and Santa Ana, and arrested another 25 women. All of these women were taken to the holding cells run by Immigration on Ave. Cuba. So, in all between the two raids a total of 93 women were initially detained. I now have the inside story on what actually happened to this women, who have contacted me to tell their story. It turns out they are being manipulated and exploited by a "three way" consisting of Immigration Officials, night club owners, and unscrupulous lawyers. Here is their story. (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (1,914 words)

The National Police fired pepper spray in a bar in Santa Ana, after customers refused to show their personal identification to officials from the Directorate of Immigration. Several people left the bar located on 17th Street in Santa Ana, visibly affected by the pepper spray. Last night a team of Immigration officials conducted an operation to detect undocumented people in different bars and "entertainment centers" in Santa Ana and Calidonia. (TVN Noticias)

Editor's Comment: In Panama, most of the hookers come from other countries to sell their bodies in the adult sex trade. By far the majority of the women come from Colombia, with additional representation from places like the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, etc. Most of these women come here as "free lancers" - meaning they are not working as legal employees of one of the nightclubs, strip joints, or massage parlors. They just come to Panama on a tourist visa, buy a cell phone, hang out their "shingle" in a classified ad, and start making money. At night these women patrol the bars, looking for men who will pay them for sex. And, they play a constant game of cat and mouse with Panamanian immigration authorities, who try to make sure they are not breaking the law. It's one of the never ending stories in Panama that's always valid.

The Thursday Night Standard Immigration Hooker Raid: Lately it seems like Thursday night is when Immigration officials have been venturing out to make these raids. Last week on Thursday night they rounded up about 68 women and took them all to the immigration holding cell on Ave. Cuba. They sorted through their documentation and if they are here in Panama legally they are set free. I mean, these women are just tourists, right? And there's nothing illegal about a tourist going out for a cold drink in a bar, right? Both the woman and immigration know they are frequenting known whore houses and places where sex is sold, but unless they are caught in the act it's hard to make it stick. For the most part immigration uses these raids to round everyone up, sort through the stack, in order to identify those women who are here illegally, who don't have any kind of visa, those who overstayed their tourist visa, or are here illegally in some manner. These women are generally deported to their home countries.

Element of Surprise Lost: Last night the immigration raid started at about 10:00 pm. They were concentrating on some of the "seedier" establishments in Santa Ana and Calidonia, such as the "Fox's Cave." After they hit the first two places the word had gotten out on the "hooker's cell phone integrated alert network," and all of the girls who were working in other places that had not been hit yet scrambled like bugs in a hot fire. The last three places the immigration officials hit were "dry holes" (so to speak). Last week they got about 68 women, last night about 25. The first raid was more effective because it was a surprise. If they start going out every Thursday night like clockwork pretty soon the girls will have them figured out and they won't be able to arrest anyone at all. When that happens, they can then declare they have eradicated prostitution in the Republic of Panama, and a good time was had by all.   

The Ministry of Economy and Finance, through the Gaming Control Board (JCJ), received payments of $3.6 million dollars as revenue from casino managers and operators during the month of April 2010. Revenues generated by the Gaming Control Board have continued to grow steadily due to the contributions to the State for the transactions recorded in the Hippodrome (Race Track), rooms for sports betting, bingo halls, gaming tables, slot machines type A and C. As well as other income from licenses, fines and transition games. In April this year, type A slot machines generated the most revenue, more than $1.7 million dollars. This was followed by full casinos who paid the state more than $1.4 million dollars. Finally, type C slot machines generated more than $400,000 dollars in revenue for the state. For their part, betting on sporting events generated $34,500 dollars, bingo halls generated $11,400 dollars, with an additional $3,000 received as fines. (La Critica)

Editor's Comment: $3.6 million dollars in one month isn't bad for the casino and gambling industry in Panama. I wonder what the difference is between a "type A" and a "type C" slot machine. It's probably either mechanical or electronic, something like that. The gaming industry in Panama is going to continue to grow with the construction of new major tourist hotels that will be coming on line soon.   

There's a lot going on this Saturday night, and if you stay at home you can either watch just one event or spend all of your time "channel flipping" and wearing out your finger on the remote control. Why not come to spend the evening at the Superbook - VIP Sports Club in Panama City? We have 50+ huge screen TV's with live satellite feeds of all of the action from around the world. When you've got all the access to all the channels like we have, then you can almost always find some great sporting events live. However we're calling this Saturday "Super Saturday" for a reason, due to all of the action scheduled.

Featured events this Saturday night include:

• Boxing Championship Title Tight: Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley - An upcoming boxing welterweight fight for the WBA World Welterweight Championship. The bout will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, United States. Shane Mosley was scheduled to fight Andre Berto for a WBC and WBA Welterweight title on January 30, 2010, but the bout was called off due to the earthquake in Haiti and Berto losing several family members in the disaster. Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley agreed to Olympic style drug testing for this fight. Floyd Mayweather Jr. has faced in compiling 40-0-0 with 25 knockouts, while Shane Mosley has 46-5-0 with 39 knockouts. Shane Mosley agrees with those who say Mayweather has never faced this type of challenge before. The match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. VS Shane Mosley will be held on May 1, 2010.
  
  
• Basketball - NBA Playoffs: There are three games scheduled for Saturday night as the best remaining teams in the NBA make a run for the title. San Antonio will play Dallas, Portland will play Phoenix, and Boston will play Cleveland.
  
  
• Baseball: Full schedule, regular season games.
  
  
• Horse Racing - Kentucky Derby 2010: The Kentucky Derby 2010 will once again bring you another exciting and live event as it celebrate its 136th year on May 1, 2010. We will be showing the race live with a kick off time on 5:00 pm EDT. The Kentucky Derby 2010 Contenders is a field composed of 3 year-old Thoroughbred horses that will race from Churchill Downs to get one of the most prestigious horse races title in the world.
  
  
• Soccer: Are there any Barcelona fans in the house? Barcelona will face Villarreal on Saturday in the Estadio El Madrigal as part of Spanish Primera División action.
  
  
• NASCAR: Crown Royal presents the Heath Calhoun 400 at the Richmond International Raceway. NASCAR was founded in 1948, and five years later the sanctioning body staged a race in its Grand National Division at Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds on April 19, 1953. Since that first race in Richmond in 1953, the track has undergone three name changes, four configuration changes and one surface change, from dirt to asphalt.

What's Not To Like? Fast cars, thundering hooves, big balls, little balls, bouncing balls, and two guys beating the crap out of one another. Watching all of that action will probably make you hungry, so we're featuring 25 cent buffalo wings all day. Come on by and you'll be able to find something you like, no doubt. See you at the Superbook.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

The NBA and HOCKEY playoffs can be found at Superbook, Panama's premier Sportsbook! Both the NBA and NHL have just started the playoffs to see who will be crowned champions this year. Will Lebron have what it takes to lead the Cavarliers to the promised land, or will Kobe and the Lakers rise to the occasion? Also come by and see if any team has what it takes to bring the Stanley Cup south of the border! If the playoffs aren't enough, then come by and catch your favorite baseball team Spring into action as last week marked the beginning of what promises to be another exciting season in the MLB as several teams via for supremacy.If sports wagering is what your looking for remember our policy, "Play Today,Get Paid Today!"

Also if the above isn't enough to get you to stop by then check out the following specials: Superbook announces the $3.95 daily lunch special for that executive thats always on the go.. Monday = Beef stew, Tuesday = spaghetti, Wednesday = meatloaf, Thursday = baked chicken, and last but not least Friday = fish fillet. Each meal includes a fountain soda all for the incredible price of just $3.95! If thats is not enough to tempt you then check out this special Tuesday,Wednesday, and Thrusday from Five pm till closing you get chicken wings for .25 this is not a misprint come by during this time and enjoy the best wings in Panama for the low price of twenty five cents per wing! (mim order of eight) Meet all your friends at the Superbook catch all the playoff action enjoy your favorite beverage and get a large order of wings, as they say it just doesn't get any better than that!

Superbook wants to remind you its not to early to make plans for the World Cup being held in South Africa this year starting June 11th. Be sure to call early and make reservations for large groups, or important games, as Superbook will be open for All GAMES! (even the ones at 6:30 in the morning!) Make all your plans now as this promises to be one of the most exciting World Cups ever!

   

"Two world titles will be on the line for the first time in 2010 when the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for UFC 111: St-Pierre vs Hardy. UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been unstoppable since regaining the title in 2008, and he aims on extending his reign and his six fight winning streak against British bomber Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy, who is unbeaten in the UFC and fresh off wins over Marcus Davis and Mike Swick. Also, former two-time heavyweight champion Frank Mir will attempt to make history when he squares off against number one contender Shane Carwin in a clash of the titans that will leave the winner with the interim UFC heavyweight championship belt. UFC 111 – Saturday, March 27th, live on Pay-Per-View from Newark, New Jersey." Catch all of the action Saturday night at the Superbook VIP Sports Club in Panama City. As usual, drinks specials - domestic beer 6/$8, imported 6/$11 bucks. (Note - Big Mike says "the Canadian is going to get his ass kicked...")

Glendale/Phoenix, Arizona - adorned with big sky, bright stars and breathtaking vistas - has long been known as the gateway to the Grand Canyon. And this year it will also serve as home to The Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania XXVI. Unrivaled in spectacle, triumph and exhilaration, the most striking event in entertainment will draw in excess of 70,000 fans from all over the world to the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on March 28, 2010. As the world turns its eyes to the Valley of the Sun, WWE.com will provide you with an unblinking view of all the highs, heartbreaks and happenings of WrestleMania XXVI.

   

Are you ready for some B-Ball at the Superbook VIP Sports Club? 2010 NCAA March Madness began with the highly anticipated Selection Sunday official picks on March 14 when college basketball team match-ups were announced at 6 pm ET on CBS and ESPN — followed by the opening round games on March 16. The national championship will now be determined during a month-long battle of skill, determination, and dazzling performances by top competing college teams leading up to the final four games played April 3 - 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Superbook VIP Sports Club will cover all of the action, and as always drink specials - Domestic beer 6 for $8, imported 6 for $11.

• First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 18 and 20
• New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
• Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI
• HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA
• Spokane Memorial Arena, Spokane, WA
  
  
• First and Second Rounds: Friday and Sunday, March 19 and 21
• HSBC Arena, Buffalo
• Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, FL
• Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
• Ford Center, Oklahoma City, OK

The phrase “March Madness” was coined by Henry V. Porter in 1939 to describe an Illinois high school basketball tourney. Brent Musburger first used it during NCAA coverage in 1982 causing a legal battle almost as insane as the playoffs. But everyone finally worked things out and the madness was official. There isn't a good record of who first called the playoffs "The Big Dance", but it does describe the action.