Colombia Toughens Stance on Violations SOUTH AMERICA
Te Colombian Justice Department has handed down its first prison sentences for those found to be breaking its gaming laws
Colombia’s Gaming Board, Coljuegos, has sentenced illegal slots operators to four years in prison with US$66,500 fines
COLOMBIA LEGISLATION
CHILE – After more than two years of controversy and legal wrangling in the courts the licensing process for the casino in the city of Chillán is finally over. The Resolution Council of the Chilean Gaming Board (SJC) ruled against Spanish Argentine consortium Boldt Perlada and awarded the licence to Chilean-Canadian operator Marina del Sol . In a statement the Council said that it had moved forward with the “controversial process of the granting of the licence in Chillán having considered that the conditions were in place to continue with this process which was suspended on 25 August 2015.” Having looked at all of the issues in question the council said that it had “unanimously decided” to grant the casino to Marina del Sol Chillán SA.
The panel had been convened to settle the bidding for the vacant license for once and for all. The tender process for the casino in Chillán has been delayed for over two years as both Boldt Peralada and Marina del Sol have battled it out over the licence in both the courts and in the Regional Council. Investment for the the Marina del Sol project will amount to US$56.3m. The casino will house 450 slot machines, 20 gaming tables and a bingo hall with 68 seats. The complex will also include a wide range of other amenities including a five star hotel. Marina del Sol will have two years in which to build the casino and have it up and running while they will have additional three years to complete additional works.
CHILE – In July casinos in Chile generated gross gaming revenue of U$S40,970,435 a positive monthly variation of 2.7 per cent compared to the same month in 2015.
As a result, the regulated industry in Chile has recorded an accumulated real growth of 5 per cent in the last 12 months. The number of visitors in July stood at 494,015 – 0.29 per cent more compared to July 2015 and plus 1.8 per cent over the last twelve months. On average visitors spent $55,791 each a monthly variation of 2.4 per cent compared to July last year and 3.1 per cent over 12 months.
In July the 16 municipalities and 11 regions where the casinos are located received a total of $4.5bn in gaming tax revenue while casinos generated an additional $1.581bn in tax on entrance fees for the state. On top of this amount the casinos also generated $4.401bn in gaming VAT.
In terms of gross gaming income generated by the casinos the Sun Monticello came in first place with 25.9 per cent ($7.140bn pesos). The Casino Rinconada came in second place with 12.8 per cent ($3.526bn). Coming in third place was Marina del Sol Talcahuano with 12.6 per cent ($3.484bn).
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Colombia’s Gaming Board Coljuegos has reported that the First Criminal Circuit court in the municipality of Chinchiná (in the department of Caldas) issued a ruling condemning the owners of 15 slot illegal slot machines to four years in prison as well as a fine of $196.5m pesos (around US$66,500) each.
Te court also condemned the person who was in charge of serving the public and monitoring the use of the slot machines to two years in prison and a fine of $96.2m (around US$32,000).
After the sentence was handed down Coljuegos issued a statement and warned the general public to refrain from “taking part in the operation, development and commercial use of electronic slot machines, casino tables, bingo, illegal sports betting and other games of chance without permission and / or authorisation by the entity.”
Illegal gaming is one of the most pressing issues faced by the gaming board and it is hoped that the tough new sentences will help deter others
Paraguay
Javier Balbuena the President of Paraguay’s National Commission on Gaming has defended the new gaming bill put forward in June to the Executive branch, saying it would more equally distribute gaming revenues.
In a meeting convened by the President of Audit and Control over State Financial Administration in the Senate, Emilia Alfaro, Balbuena emphasised the socio-economic importance of an autonomous body which would provide security and safeguard players’ rights in addition to protecting the interests of the State.
During the meeting, which was also attended by representatives of the Committee on Legislation, Justice and Labour and members of the Committee of Finance and Budget, Balbuena stressed the need for an independent regulatory body saying that its status “must of necessity be changed through a new law.”
from taking part in the operation of illegal gambling operations. In Colombia illegal gaming accounts for an estimated 20 per cent of the industry and there are at least 7,000 illegal slot machines located throughout the country.
A study carried out jointly by Colombia’s gaming control board and the National Federation of Merchants (Fenalco) revealed last year that at least 2,000 local businesses in Bogota alone are operating illegal slot machines on their premises.
Tis is despite the fact that heavy penalties are now in place for non compliance with those found guilty of offences liable to pay up to $50m pesos (around US$20,000) per illegal slot machine as well as face six to eight years in prison.
Te gaming board is also waging an increasingly visible war on illegal gaming in the media. Since 2014 the board along with police have confiscated over 11,000 slot machines while the board has confiscated 6,000 slot machines this year alone so far.
Ovalle Casino Resort opens door to the public in Chile
Chile
Te Ovalle Casino Resort S.A received more than 3,000 visitors during its opening weekend. Te new casino opened its doors to the public on Saturday (August 13).
Te casino is authorised to operate for 15 years and features 230 slots, 13 gaming tables and 60 bingo seats. Total investment in the project stands at US$50m, making it one of the highest private investments ever in the history of Ovalle. Both the municipality of Ovalle and the regional government of Coquimbo will share 20 per cent of gross gaming revenue.
Work on the project began in late 2014, creating more than 300 local jobs and will ultimately create more than 1,500 jobs. Te company was
granted an extension for September 2016 for the opening of the casino while the rest of the facilities are scheduled to be up and running in March 2017. Te complex will eventually consist of a 78 room four star luxury hotel, four restaurants, an open air amphitheatre as well as a museum, a wine spa and an observatory.
Te casino’s general manager, Juan Almagro said the group’s interest in investing in Ovalle matched the goals as set out by both the local and regional governments and that the new casino complex would help develop the region as tourist destination in a sustainable manner while reflecting the values of the local people.
Representatives of the Spanish Argentine group Ovalle Casino Resort SA (Boldt from Argentina and Grupo Peralada from Spain) won the rights to operate the final (non municipal) casino licence in Chile in September 2013.
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