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Argentina – Government under fire for growth of gaming

By - 10 September 2013

The current administration in Argentina has come under fierce criticism for the rapid expansion of the gaming industry. Raúl Alfonsín, a high-ranking politician from the Radical Civic Union, has publicly criticised Christina Kirchner in a statement for the rapid spread of bingo halls and casinos during her term of office. He has also criticised her husband Nestor Kirchner who preceded her in office.

Referring to Kircherner’s controversial programme of “Futbal para todos” (football for everyone), which granted everyone access to football when the government bought the rights to broadcast football matches live on free TV, Raúl Alfonsín said that the government could now run on the slogan of “Raffles for Everyone” due to the proliferation of gaming under her leadership. Alfonsín also blamed the rise of gaming on her predecessor Néstor Kirchner who died of a heart attack in 2007.

Gaming has expanded rapidly under both presidents despite reports that Christina Kirchner was considering nationalising gaming two years ago. There have also been reports of alleged favouritism. In 2003, while Néstor Kirchner was president, the National Lottery Commission granted the Palermo racetrack in down town Buenos Aires the right to house 150 slot machines. Then in 2007, the operator’s right to run the casino and racetrack was extended from 2017 until 2032. Néstor Kirchner, in one his last acts as president also ordered an additional 1,500 slot machines to be installed on top of the 3,000 then in operation at the track. The slot machines at the racetrack in Buenos Aires are run and operated by Casino Club.

The granting of the license to run slot machines at the track has been particularly controversial due to the relationship between Nestor Kirchner and his friend Cristóbal López.
In 2001, while he was governor of the province of Santa Cruz, Kirchner granted Casino Club SA, in which López now has an estimated 30 per cent share, the concession to run the first three casinos in the province.

Alfonsín condemned the “proliferation of bingos and slot machines” during the Kirchner years and said that the issue was becoming an increasingly cause for concern. As a result his party is now considering legislation that would curb the growth of gaming and would impose much tighter controls over the industry in the future.

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