Yesterday afternoon the Casino Commission granted the last three casino licences available in Chile. The selected projects won unanimous approval and the casino complexes will be developed in the communities of Ovalle (Casinos Austria), Castro (Enjoy) and Coyhaique (Fischer Group). The three licences will bring a total investment of US$76.4 million, the creation of 1,146 permanent employment positions, 1,519 indirect jobs and, by 2011, an investment of nearly US$1,506 million in infrastructure.

The new Chilean casino industry, which includes the 15 licences awarded in 2006, is bringing employment and finances to Chile’s regions outside the metropolitan area of Santiago, where no casino are permitted. Overall this new industry has created around 9,500 direct jobs, 17,000 indirect jobs and should provide some US$58.4 million exclusively for development projects in the regions and local communities in the first year of operation.

Casino Commission President Maria Olivia Recart said, “Today we are concluding the regulated process of opening the new casino industry which means for the country a total investment that reaches US$711 million, of which 53.4% is from foreign investment and 46.5% is Chilean capital.”

The three new projects granted licences have two years in which to begin operating the casinos and an additional year to complete the remaining complex facilities. Of the 15 licences granted last year the majority continue under construction but three of the casinos are now open. These are in the spa region of Termas de Chillán, the newly opened Casinos Austria location in Los Angeles, and in the mining district of Copiapó. Another four casino projects are due to open this year, with the remaining eight becoming operational during 2009. (E-08.12.08)

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