In Panama, very few studies approach the problem of pathological gambling. In this study, analyzed the economic impact of this disease in Azuero, in a representative sample of 600 residents. The study showed a high penetration of gambling in this region. The 3.1% of interviewees classified as problem gamblers and 1.5%as pathological gamblers, or 4.6%. This feature was primarily observed in those male, single, aged between 25 and 39 years, median family income, workers and primary and secondary education. The main conclusion is that about six thousand people in the region show signals of pathological gambling and a thousand 800 are indirectly affected in 2% of households in the region.