Supplier News
Argentina – Calls to nationalise casinos gaining ground in Neuquén
By Lewis - 13 September 2013
More than 15,000 signatures have been signed in favour of nationalising casinos in the province of Neuquén. Plans to nationalise casinos were first announced in May by head of the local casino union and member of the local state legislature Raúl Godoy. According to the proposed new law 50 per cent of all profits would go to the local governments where they are located, 20 per cent to a gaming control board and 30 per cent to the province which would then be used for education and healthcare. As the majority of the 23 casino licenses in the state end at the end of 2014 their licences will simply not be renewed if the new law goes ahead. In order for the move to gain momentum it was announced in May that locals would be asked to sign a petition on the issue.
Now with fifteen thousand signatures local politician Raúl Godoy told local press that the plan to take casinos out of private hands would mean gaming revenue would be invested in “health, education, housing and other needs.” He also said that the move would have a profound effect on influential businessmen such as Cristóbal López.
Mr López is one of the leading operators when it comes to gaming in the province of Neuquén and in Argentina and has a 30 per cent share in Casino Club which runs a number of casinos in the province. Casino Club also operates around 4,000 slot machines at the Palermo racetrack in downtown Buenos Aires. According to Raúl Godoy under the new proposals casinos in the province of Neuquén would be completely placed under the control of the state.
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