Montevideo's Parque Hotel casino posts sixth consecutive annual loss

The Casino Parque Hotel in Montevideo posted its sixth consecutive annual loss in 2025, recording a deficit of UYU127.9m (US$3.1m), according to the city government's accountability report presented this week.

Revenue totaled UYU162.9m against expenses of UYU290.8m, increasing the annual deficit by 54% compared with 2024.

The casino has reported annual losses since 2020. The deficit reached UYU147m that year before narrowing to UYU69m in 2022, then widening again to UYU88m in 2023, UYU83m in 2024 and UYU127.9m in 2025.

Economic Development Director Camilo Benítez said the Montevideo Intendancy plans to transfer management of the casino to Uruguay's Ministry of Economy and Finance between August and September. He said the move would allow the municipality to end recurring operating losses while maintaining the casino's operations, adding that employees would remain municipal workers while being assigned to the ministry.

Following the release of the 2025 results, Partido Nacional councilor Juan Ignacio Abdala renewed calls for the casino's immediate closure. He argued that transferring the venue to the national government would merely shift the financial burden rather than solve its structural problems, saying the continued losses demonstrated that the casino was no longer financially sustainable.

The report also details the casino's cost structure. Salaries for approximately 50 employees totaled UYU37m, with an additional UYU11m allocated to a "sixth day" scheme allowing staff to work Saturdays. Security expenses reached UYU38m, while cleaning costs totaled UYU13m. 

Slot machine and software rentals, renewed every three months, accounted for approximately UYU9m and were recorded under other leasing expenses. Other operating costs, including utilities, maintenance, professional services and equipment leases, contributed to total annual expenses of UYU290.8m, well above the casino's UYU162.9m in revenue.