Organized at relatively short notice, Chile’s first gaming exhibition has been pronounced a success. For two days last week the Espacio Riesco opened its doors to around 3,000 visitors who had come to see the latest innovations in gaming equipment and services. However, the event was much more than the usual industry show, it was an opportunity for investors and officials from the municipalities to meet and discuss projects.

When Chile’s Gaming Law was passed earlier this year, each region was granted the possibility of having at least one casino licence but no more than three. Local municipalities have been preparing to pitch to investors and at the ChileCasinos Entertainment & Business expo each region was contacted by an average of six prospective operators, who also had the opportunity to discuss matters with the relevant authorities. The Superintendent of Casinos, Francisco Javier Leiva, the Director of National Tourism, Oscar Santelices, the Under Secretary for Regional Development, Adriana Delpiano and the Minister of Economy & Energy, Jorge Rodriguez Grossi, were all present.

For two years in a row Santiago, capital of Chile, has been named the best city in Latin America for doing business. It was emphasized at one of the seminars that Chile has political and economic stability, making the country an ideal place for investment. The new gaming industry will decentralize the existing economy by providing the regions with their own revenues from casinos and additional tourist traffic. The Mayor of Temuco, Francisco Huenchumilla, made an impassioned plea for the Gaming Commission to pass a resolution for the 50% of gaming tax revenues destined for the regional governments to be divided amongst the communities, particularly the poorest.

Gaming manufacturers and service providers professed themselves happy with the potential business acquired during the exhibition. Such was the success of the two day show that preparations for ChileCasinos Business & Entertainment 2006 are already underway. (E-05.25.05)

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