Chile's gaming regulator, the Superintendence of Casinos (SCJ), held its technical and economic offer hearing for casino operating permits.
The hearing covered available slots in Iquique, Coquimbo, Viña del Mar and Pucón, with processes formally opened in January under Exempt Resolutions No. 112, 113, 114 and 115, which declared the tenders open.
Two bidders came forward: Casino de Juegos de Coquimbo S.A. for the Coquimbo permit, and Casino Volcán Pucón S.A. for the Pucón permit. With bid submissions now closed for those two locations, the SCJ moves into a technical offer evaluation stage, which can run for up to 120 days before a decision is reached.
No proposals were submitted for either Iquique or Viña del Mar
As a result, the regulator will need to restart the tender process for both locations as soon as possible, which involves redefining the special conditions to be included in each location's technical bidding rules before the processes can reopen to new bidders.
The lack of interest in Iquique and Viña del Mar comes as Chile's gambling sector continues to work through regulatory uncertainty.
Recently, Chile's tax authority, the Servicio de Impuestos Internos, issued a ruling allowing online betting and casino operators to calculate value-added tax on their net gambling revenue rather than total wagers.
Besides, a conflict-of-interest question has also emerged around the country's push to regulate online betting, after it came to light that a former lobbyist for the industry's main trade association now holds a strategic advisory role within the government body overseeing the legislation's progress through Congress.
Chile's Tribunal de Defensa de la Libre Competencia has lifted the interim suspension on the tender process for a new casino operating permit in Viña del Mar
