Operator News
Uruguay – Uruguay Government rejects Enjoy’s appeal over new casino
By Phil - 17 February 2020
The appeal lodged by the Baluma S.A. owner of the Enjoy hotel, against the bidding process of a casino in Punta del Este to ‘safeguard their rights,’ has been rejected by the government of Uruguay. Sources linked to the company said they will not take any other action in this regard.
The Cipriani group (Fosara SA) was the only company that submitted an offer to build and manage the casino which will form part of the San Rafael hotel according to Minister of Tourism, Benjamin Liberoff. Now a commission will analyse the offer and review if it meets the requirements in order to finalise the investment for the casino.
The tender for the new casino licence in Punta del Este was put on hold after representatives of Baluma S.A. the owners of the hotel and Casino Enjoy, (formerly known as the Conrad) lodged a last minute appeal to suspend the tender. According to local law the only other private casino in the popular tourist destination is allowed, if an investment equal to or greater than that of the former Conrad hotel casino is made.
As a result the clause that exists in favour of Baluma S.A is being taken into account in the tender. In the terms and conditions rules state that the amount to be invested in the construction of the new luxury hotel must be equal to or greater than US$160m, without taking into account the value of the land of the infrastructure for the new facility.
