Chile – Chile GGR slides by 7.4 per cent
According to the latest statistics released by the Chilean Gaming Control Board (SJC) the 17 new casinos in Chile recorded gross gaming revenues (win) of US$37.5m in June, 7.4 per cent less than the previous month.
From this amount the 17 municipalities and 11 regions where they are located received $6.2m in gaming tax revenue while casinos generated an additional US$2.5m in tax on entrance fees for the state. On top of this amount the casinos also generated US$6.0m in gaming VAT.
From January until the end of June the casinos recorded gross gaming revenues of US$256.5m compared to US$278.2m in the same period in 2012 — a drop of 7.8 per cent. Visitor numbers were also down by 8 per cent compared to May. When compared to the same month last year revenues are down significantly. According to the SJC gross gaming revenue in June 2012 stood at US$47.3m while in June 2013 revenues stood at US$37.5m — a drop of over 20 per cent.
The drop in monthly revenue clearly reflects the concerns already put forward by casino operators regarding the growth of illegal gaming in Chile. In July The Association of Chilean Casinos (ACCJ), announced that illegal gaming was taking a heavy toll on the industry and has meant that gaming tax revenue is down by as almost as much as 20 per cent.
The rise of illegal gaming is becoming an increasingly urgent matter in Chile and recently the ACCJ announced that it had brought legal action against the Head of the Chilean Gaming Control Board, Renato Hamel. The charges state that Mr.Hamel has failed to provide adequate oversight of the industry and that he has failed to limit illegal gaming in the country. Local municipal governments are, however, taking an increasingly hard line on the rise of illegal slot machines with a number of raids last month while the SJC is currently considering ways to address the issue.
In terms of gross gaming revenue (win) generated by the casinos, in June the Monticello Grand Casino came in first place with 28.0 per cent (US$10.5m), Casino Rinconada second 13.5 per cent (US$5.1m ) and Marina del Sol third 10.9 per cent (US$4.1m). Revenue for the remaining fourteen casinos in July 2013 were 9.0 per cent for Enjoy Antofagasta (US$ 3.4m). Dreams Temuco 7.3 pe rcent (US$ 2.7m). Dreams Punta Arenas 5.3 per cent (US$ 2.0 m). Casino Sol Calama 4.8 per cent (US$1.8 m). Gran Casino de Talca 4.3 per cent (US$1.6 m). Antay Casino & Hotel 3.6 per cent (US$1.4m). Dreams Valdivia 3.0 per cent (US$1.1 m). Casino Sol Osorno 2.6 per cent (US$1.0 m). Casino de Colchagua 2.0 per cent (US$ 0.7m). Casino de Juegos del Pacífico 1.6 per cent (US$ 0.6m). Casino Gran Los Ángeles 1.6 per cent (US$ 0.6 m). Dreams Coyhaique 1.3 per cent (US$0.5 m). Enjoy Chiloé 1.1 per cent (US$0.4 m) and Termas de Chillán 0.05 per cent (US$ 0.02m).
