Chile: New Punta Arenas casino opened its doors last Friday

The 12th project inaugurated of the new casino industry involves a us$ 39.6 million investment, generates 372 direct and permanent employments and complies with the norm set by the Casino Superintendence (SCJ) to apply technical and transparency standards in the new industry, as in developed countries.

The Superintendent assured that “all the gaming material was revised and authorized by the Superintendence, and all the games of chance machines are new, its instructions are in Spanish and guarantee a jackpot percentage for the player of no less than 85% of the total of the possible playing combinations.”

The 20% of the gross gaming income that the new casinos must pay -a specific gaming tax-, may just be invested in development work. According to this, the Superintendent pointed that “the estimations point that, for February 2010, Punta Arenas council and the regional government of Magallanes will receive -each- us$ 725,337 in concept of specific gaming tax”.

He also added that “in the new industry, the resources received cannot be allocated to expenses from the local and regional government, because they can just be invested to works of development that benefit the society.”

The casino operates Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 a.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. It also has 318 games of chance machines, 20 table games and 200 bingo seats, on top of a bar and a restaurant.

Besides, the five-star hotel with 85 rooms, features a convention and a business center with meeting rooms, a spa with gym and heated swimming pool, an entertainment center for children, etc.

Of the 18 casinos that comprise the new legal industry in Chile, there are 12 already operating: Antofagasta, Copiapó, Santa Cruz, Mostazal, Talca, Pinto (Termas de Chillán), Talcahuano, Los Ángeles, Temuco, Valdivia, Osorno and Punta Arenas. Besides, there are six in the development stage: Calama, Ovalle, San Antonio, Rinconada, Castro and Coyhaique.