Four licenses in question
The Santiago Court of Appeals has upheld an action by casino operator Marina Del Sol against the Chilean Gaming Control Board and its tendering process for four expiring casino licenses.
The federal court agreed with the operator that there were inconsistencies in the licensing procedures in the cities of Iquique, Coquimbo, Vina Del Mar and Puerto Varas, though the tendering process for casinos in Arica, Pucon and Puerto Natales was reportedly ready to proceed as planned.
Marina Del Sol noted a lack of information when it came to the tendering process initiated by the regulator and also said the demands made of operators applying for one of the four licenses were excessive and could make any business unprofitable, reported the website Pechanga.net.
The court ruling could hold up decisions about operators for the casinos, which were to have been issued by the end of the year. The existing licenses for the venues are set to expire at the end of 2017.
Mario Rojas of Marina Del Sol said the court’s decision effectively suspends the tendering process for the Puerto Varas, Iquique, Vina Del Mar and Coquimbo. But the Gaming Control Board reportedly asserted its right to award the licenses anyway.
According to an October report from the board, the casinos in all seven cities recorded gross gaming revenues of $16.52 million in August, representing 29.2 percent of the Chilean industry’s total.
