Uruguay: Casino revenue drop in Montevideo sparks political pressure

Revenues from slot machines continue to fall, with officials warning of an annual deficit exceeding $85m.

Montevideo’s Municipal Casino is under renewed scrutiny as Mayor Juan Ignacio Abdala, from Uruguay’s National Party, formally requested its closure following sustained financial losses. 

Abdala argued that the facility has become unsustainable and recommended converting the casino building into a rehabilitation centre for addicts. 

He also proposed reallocating casino staff to other areas of the city administration.

According to Abdala, the casino generated just UYU11.3m in revenue in June 2025, not enough to cover its monthly expenses, which he estimates at UYU22.3m. 

Based on current trends, he projects a deficit of more than UYU85m by the end of 2025.

“The Municipal Casino suffers a sustained drop in revenue from slots,” said Abdala. “There are no actions to increase collection and the deficit will grow.”

The 2024 Accountability report from the Montevideo mayor’s office already reflected a UYU88m deficit tied to casino operations. 

Abdala also mentioned media reports from 2024 that highlighted questionable overtime payments made to casino employees during the Covid-19 shutdown, calling it an “irregular use of the overtime mechanism.”

He accused the current administration of evading responsibility and failing to address the casino’s deteriorating financial situation. 

Good to know: SCCG Management partnered with Crowe in Uruguay to offer audit training in the gaming sector

The motion is now under review by city officials but no formal response has been issued yet. 

Abdala added that Montevideo’s Municipal Casino is the only one in Uruguay operating at a loss, in contrast to other gaming venues across the country.

Carlos Mendez

Writer

Odds tell a story long before the result does. When bettors learn to read that story properly, betting becomes a matter of discipline and value rather than emotion or guesswork.

Visit Profile

Players trust our reporting due to our commitment to unbiased and professional evaluations of the iGaming sector. We track hundreds of platforms and industry updates daily to ensure our news feed and leaderboards reflect the most recent market shifts. With nearly two decades of experience within iGaming, our team provides a wealth of expert knowledge. This long-standing expertise enables us to deliver thorough, reliable news and guidance to our readers.