Two bids in to date
The results of a tender process for seven municipal casinos in Chile are expected to be in by June 19. Local media report that licenses are up for bid in Arica, Iquique, Coquimbo, Viña del Mar, pictured, Pucón, Puerto Varas and Puerto Natales.
To date, two operators, Enjoy and Sun Dreams, have bid on the largest casinos.
In March 2016, the Chilean Gaming Board published the bidding requirements including guaranteed minimum financial offers depending on the size and location of the casinos. The figures range from US$526,000 for the casino located in Puerto Natales to a maximum of US$22.3 million for the casino located in Vina del Mar.
In 2017, the municipal casinos generated revenues of US$224 million. According to estimates released by the SJC, the new tender process could help raise tax income generated for the state by the new casinos by as much as 46 percent on average while gross gaming income (which will be divided equally between the municipality and the state where the casino is located) will increase by 20 percent.
