The Supreme Court of Justice in El Salvador served notice on the National Assembly yesterday its ruling that finds Decree 930 invalid. The Decree ordered local councils to close casinos in the country. In its finding of October last, El Salvador SCJ countered the intentions of President Antonio Saca and the Attorney General to end casino gambling in the El Salvador.

Over the last few years casino operators have been filing Habeas Corpus charges against the executive, the local police, local councils and any government office that threatened their investment in gaming operations. The executive and the national assembly had based their case on an old piece of legislation that sanctioned the Police to close the casinos. However, some legislators and constitutional lawyers questioned the executive's intentions and the Police refused to act against valid licences granted by the local authorities.

After the publication of the SCJ ruling, attorney Carlos Mendez Flores commented: "Whoever owns a local council (casino) permit is legal. There is no problem". Congressman Ernesto Castellanos said that local councils cannot issue new casino permits, adding that the SCJ ruling is a clear signal for the need to pass legislation on gambling houses: "For us, the only alternative is that we need a casino law or a gaming commission to control this type of business." (E-01.11.08)

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