The Chilean Minister of Regional Development, Adriana Delpiano, has explained that the great majority in the Chilean Parliament is prepared to approve the gaming law because the Lower House had already voted in favor by 73 against 3 votes. They had never expected such negative reaction in the Senate last week, when they were going through the motions of seeing through “ a project that had a majority consensus, and that had been approved by every special committee and both Houses.” Adding “That’s life, I expect, but we will use the Executive’s constitutional veto to get the law approved.”

The three points that the Senate did not approve last week, forcing the constitutional veto that directs the project to be voted within two or three weeks, include the division of gaming taxes generated by the law at 20% of Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) between the local council where the casino is situated and the Regional Government.

The government’s main interest lies with the point that deals with the distribution of tax between the regional governments, as this would allow new investment for development in the country’s regions. Another of the articles outstanding refers to the creation of an Independent Consulting Council, to be formed by three members of the Executive plus two presidential appointees, who would have to be ratified by the Senate.

The final article to be approved deals with the number of casinos permitted per region, and the situation of the “Arica Law”, a special piece of legislation that has enabled that region on the northern frontier with Peru to authorize the casinos which are in operation now. The idea is to reach a compromise with the new laws that neither benefit nor harm the current operations.

Once these three points have been discussed and voted individually Delpiano considers that, since the law project was passed by such high majority in the Lower House, this time round the executive will also muster enough votes to get it through in the Senate. Afterwards, the law will go to the Constitutional Tribunal where within 120 days the Gaming Commission will be appointed, and once this is done casino projects and applications may be presented to the authorities.

As may be imagined, gaming investors and executives from the world over are already in Chile to look at opportunities for investment in the new industry. Cirsa, the Spanish gaming manufacturers and operators are already in the country, as is Interblock from Slovenia and other interested parties.

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