Last week in the official gazette the regional government of Buenos Aires published details of a 15-year licensing extension to all forty-six bingos in the province. Issued by the regulating body, the Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casinos, Resolution No. 456 stated that the order: "confirms licensing for all concessions until 30 June 2021".

During the past few weeks, the governor of Buenos Aires province has come under severe criticism by the opposition for agreeing to the licensing extension after signing a contract with the bingos’ operators. The gaming companies are now due to pay a levy of an additional 1,500 million Argentine Pesos (US$500 million). Critics of Governor Obeid have said that in view of the booming gaming industry in the country, the levy was set too low.

Local legislators opposing the agreement between the government and the bingo representatives had asked for public tenders when the bingo licences came up for renewal, due within the next 12 months, indicating that the levy was "a terrible business decision" by the government. Indeed, according to independent analysts, government need to balance its current expenditure budget may have left Buenos Aires province with a short term solution, and the bingo operators with a long term benefit. (E-07.10.06)

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