Local casino regulator seeks request for the renewal and grant of a limited number of 12 casino permits in different areas in Chile

The new bidding process to select new operators for the 12 casinos in Chile has divided opinions in the region and has been strongly criticised by current operators.

The Chilean?Superintendency?of Casinos,?Superintendencia?de Casinos de?Juego?(SCJ), has announced the framework for the new bidding process?to select new operators?or renew current licenses?for?Casino?operations?in Chile.

The tender includes the authorisation to operate the following casino premises: Bíobío?(Casino Gan Los?ángeles?and Marina del Sol), Atacama (Antay?Casino & Hotel), O’Higgins (Colchagua Casino and Sun Monticello), Antofagasta (Enjoy Antofagasta and Marina del Sol?Calama), Maule (Gran Casino de Talca), Los Lagos (Marina del Sol Osorno), Araucanía (Dreams Temuco), Los Ríos (Dreams Valdivia), Magallanes (Dreams Punta Arenas).?

Operators interested in participating in the bidding process or in extending its current licenses?have to provide the necessary documentation requested by the Chilean Authorities until the 17th?of January, 2018? and attend to the audience scheduled for the 18th?of January, 2021, at?10?am,?in the?Hotel Gran Palace de Santiago, as reported by the website Focus?LatinoAmerica.?

However, new rules announced by authorities have been strongly criticised by current operators, who disagree with the new bidding process?claiming that?the Government should grant them with preferential right to renew the permit, as established in their concession’s contract.?

The controversial bidding process caused a great rejection by the sector. Combined to this fact, the Chilean Senator Felipe?Harboe?argued that?this is not the right moment to proceed with?the tender since Chile is?amid?the crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic.?The Senator has sent a law project to the Congress aiming to?postpone the tender for Chilean casinos.?

Boldt Group, the operator of?Ovalle?Casino, also expressed his thoughts against the new process.?“We hoped that the?Superintendence?and the?Undersecretary?of Finance would take our approach into account, but unfortunately that was not the case. We believe that it is a serious mistake to start a process that is clearly illegal and that strongly damages the industry, employment and the reliability of Chile as a?serious country where you can invest”, said?Antonio Eduardo?Tabanelli,?vice president of Boldt,?to an interview conceded to La?Tercera.?

SiGMA LatAm:

Following the successful launch of SiGMA Europe (Malta) and SiGMA Asia (Manila), we’re now launching the inaugural SiGMA LATAM, covering all three major timezones. The inaugural edition is set for September 22-24, 2020 with a virtual summit focusing on two themes: SiGMA LATAM for the Gaming industry and AIBC LATAM for the Emerging Tech industry.