Operator News
Argentina – Governor proposes new gaming tax in Buenos Aires
By Phil - 5 November 2018
Governor of the province of Buenos Aires María Eugenia Vidal has announced a new tax on gaming and come out strongly against any expansion in gaming in the province. Talking to news channel TN Vidal confirmed the new tax on prizes and double downed on her opposition to gambling.
“We have already increased taxes and we will do it again in the budget that will be presented on Monday,” said the Governor. “At this time, Economy Minister Hernan Lacunza, is finalising the details for a raise on the tax on prizes that stand at between 2 and 5 per cent to create a social fund.’
During the interview, which was broadcast live on Thursday, Vidal who has long been openly opposed to gambling said: “We do not want bingo in poor places, I understand that there may be a casino in a tourist place as a seasonal offer, but not in poor places,” and said that she was against her predecessor’s decision to “populate” the region with slot parlours.
It is believed that the government plans put the debate over the new taxes along with the discussion for the 2019 budget, which will start this week in the Buenos Aires Legislature.
While Vidal said that, she would respect current contracts already in place she stated that she would stand firmly against any further expansion. Her predecessor Daniel Scioli in 2012 had renewed licences for bingo halls in the province for a period of up to 15 years, which affected 14 bingo halls: three of whose licences had been set to expire in 2013, ten in 2014 and one in 2015. The decree allowed his administration to find emergency funding to pay bonuses for state workers, which ultimately enabled the provincial Treasury to raise around US$328m extra.
However shortly after she was elected in 2015 Vidal told local press that she did not want to see any more gaming operations opening during her time as governor. “My objective is that gaming does not grow in the province,” she said adding that tax income generated by casinos would be not be used to solve the province’s problems.
In January, the government launched the tender for seven state casinos in the province. The casino licences up for renewal are the Casino Central in Mar del Plata, as well as the casinos in the cities of Monte Hermoso, Pinamar, the Trilenium casino in Tigre (one of the largest casinos in the region), as well as the state owned casinos in the cities of Miramar, Tandil and the Hermitage casino, also located in Mar del Plata. However Vidal announced that she would cancel the casino licences of Mar de Ajó, Valeria del Mar and Necochea, as well as the bingo hall in the city of Temperley in order to reduce gaming.
