An investment fund managed by Chilean asset manager Alza is behind the sole bid for the Coquimbo casino's new operating permit, bringing a new investor into the city's gaming market after Enjoy resigned its license.
The bid was submitted earlier this week during a hearing before Chile's Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego (SCJ), which has begun its technical evaluation and has up to 120 days to complete the process.
The bidder was incorporated in May with capital of CLP 800m ($875,000) and has a corporate purpose specifically focused on operating a casino authorized by the SCJ in Coquimbo. Its shareholders are Coquimbo Holdings and Coquimbo Holdings, both controlled by Fondo de Inversión Privado Octium, which is administered by Alza Administradora General de Fondos. The company's duration was initially set at 50 years, extendable for another 50.
The bid follows Enjoy's decision to leave its Coquimbo operating permit, which was authorized by the SCJ in 2025. Octium's interest in the venue predates the tender: the fund created Casino de Juegos de Coquimbo in May specifically to participate in the process.
Coquimbo Mayor Ali Manouchehri said the municipality had learned about the receipt of bids through the media and said it remained unaware of the proposal's technical details. He also pointed to legal challenges against the tender process that could potentially suspend or annul it, warning that an interruption could affect municipal revenue and employment.
Councilman Felipe Carrazana said casino-related income represents a significant source of funding for the municipality and warned that Coquimbo is expected to face a decline in some casino-linked revenues in the coming years.
The Coquimbo result was part of a broader national tender involving four venues. Pucón also received a bid, making the two cities the only locations to attract proposals. Iquique and Viña del Mar received no offers, leaving those two licensing processes without bidders.
Alza specializes in investment funds and alternative assets, including private equity, private debt, real estate, fintech, mining and renewable energy
