LatAm land-based news: Necochea tender fails, Puerto Montt closes illegal venue

Recent developments in Argentina and Chile highlight ongoing challenges faced by land-based casino operations in Latin America, ranging from difficulties in public tender processes to the enforcement of measures against unlicensed venues.

In Necochea, Argentina, the future of the municipal casino remains uncertain following the collapse of the most recent public tender for slot machine operations.

The gaming union, AMS Casinos, met with Mayor Arturo Rojas and proposed a zoning reform that could allow the gaming hall to be relocated. 

Union leader Fernando Hansen said: “Today is the only chance we have to defend our jobs, to relocate the facility and preserve employment for more than 70 families.”

Good to know: The public tender for the Necochea casino in July received no bids, leaving the venue’s future in question

Hansen also said that in the failed tender, officials attempted linking the concession of gaming machines to investment in the deteriorated casino complex, a strategy that did not succeed. 

He insisted that a new tender should decouple the machine operations from the existing infrastructure and be preceded or accompanied by a municipal ordinance enabling relocation of the gaming hall.

Meanwhile, in southern Chile, municipal authorities in Puerto Montt carried out a permanent closure of an illegal casino located in the city center. The operation involved the removal of 86 gaming machines and over CLP7m ($7,300) in cash.

The site had previously been shut down by the city in 2007 and since 2019 had accumulated 58 infractions for violating closure orders. The Mayor, Rodrigo Wainraihgt, affirmed that illegal gaming would no longer be tolerated.

Carlos Mendez

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