Chubut province in Argentina green lights Casino Club license extension
The Chubut Legislature approved three central initiatives promoted by Governor Ignacio Torres: the budget expansion, the debt relief agreement with the national government, and the extension of the Casino Club concessions in the province.
According to local press, the extension of concessions to Casino Club was the most controversial project. With 19 votes in favour and 8 against, the agreement signed between the Chubut Lottery and the gaming company was ratified to extend the exploitation licenses of its venues in the province until 2031. The ruling party defended the measure by pointing out that the $8 billion contributed by the company would be used for strategic works in Trelew and Comodoro Rivadavia, in addition to ensuring job continuity. “A private entity will leave important and strategic works in the communities,” argued Luis Juncos from political bloc Despierta Chubut.
In contrast, the opposition denounced it as a “covert concession” until 2046 and warned about the possibility of legal action. Juan Pais, president of the Arriba Chubut bloc, called the agreement “harmful, detrimental, and outrageous,” while Andrea Toro (PICh bloc) stated that the Legislature “is exposing itself to a legal risk that could cost the province dearly.”
The approval comes after lawmakers received a bill from the Executive Branch seeking to approve an agreement with Casino Club SA to execute strategic infrastructure projects. The company will contribute $8 billion in 24 instalments to finance key projects in the province. The extension of the concessions covers all the gaming venues currently operated by the firm in Chubut: Comodoro Rivadavia, Trelew, Rawson, Rada Tilly, and Playa Unión, in addition to the associated online gaming licenses.
