With May visitor numbers reaching 92,300 at Monticello Gran Casino to the south of Santiago in San Francisco de Mostazal, up from 62,000 in March and 66,000 in February, the casinos in Chile have begun to recuperate. George Garcelon, Monticello GM, commented, “Month by month we have been growing. The only exception was March, which traditionally is a poor month for the gaming industry here and the fall was expected.”

It was not only visitor numbers that declined in March. The amount wagered was low although as yet there are no official figures for the casino properties in Chile. Enjoy reported a 7% decrease in customers in March at its new Casino de Antofagasta. Pier-Paolo Zaccarelli, Enjoy Business Manager, said, “The number of visits fell but amounts being wagered also were lower in March. People were spending less on entertainment.”

However, by last month Enjoy saw a 15% increase and at Monticello, with over 45% of the newly opened casino market in 2008, numbers rose sharply to the 92,300 recorded. Monticello expects these figures to rise even further with the inauguration of its 5-star hotel and retail shopping outlets.

The Chilean Casino Control Board (SCJ) reported that the eight new casinos that were open for all or some of 2008 had nearly 547,500 visitors who spent an average US$31 per visit. There are now 13 casinos operating out of the 15 new 15-year licences authorised under the 2005 Chilean gaming law. In 2008 three additional licences were made available. (E-06.12.09)

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