Key Moments:
- The Chilean Superintendence of Gaming Casinos (SCJ) has postponed the deadline for submitting bids to operate Casino Dreams Puerto Varas to January 19, 2026.
- Union leaders say prolonged delays have deprived long-standing employees of severance payments mandated by law.
- The casino’s licensing uncertainty is reportedly impacting both worker livelihoods and the broader Puerto Varas economy.
Labor Union Raises Alarm Over Mounting Postponements
Employees at Casino Dreams Puerto Varas have expressed deep concern after another decision by the Chilean Superintendence of Gaming Casinos (SCJ). The regulator has once again postponed the submission deadline for technical and financial tenders to operate the gaming establishment. The new deadline is January 19, 2026. It marks yet another instance in a series of postponements that have stretched for more than a decade.
Union representatives Victor Guinao Muñoz, Jasna Bassaletti, and Adrián González said the ongoing extensions have directly harmed the workforce. Specifically, union officials argued that repeated postponements have prevented long-serving employees from receiving legally-mandated severance payments.
Guinao highlighted during an interview with Patagonia Radio: “Most of the employees have been at the casino for more than 20 years and were eligible for their first payment of compensation in 2015. But the repeated delays have made us lose that right, which is enshrined in law.”
According to Guinao, staff had already reached the maximum years-of-service threshold for legal entitlements by 2015. The operating license renewal was then delayed several times — first to 2018, later to 2021, and now again to 2026.
Union representatives attributed these setbacks not to the casino management, but to regulatory ambiguities that authorities have, in their view, exploited to perpetuate the process.
Broader Effects: Workers and the Local Economy
Beyond issues of employee compensation, labor leaders stressed that persistent licensing delays are having a wider economic impact on Puerto Varas, situated in Chile’s Los Lagos region. The casino, they pointed out, is a primary economic contributor to the city, fueling tourism and supporting jobs for more than 200 families.
Guinao stated: “These decisions are not only an economic loss for Puerto Varas but also emotional and financial harm to the families who have spent decades working in the sector.”
The union is urging both local and national authorities to consider the far-reaching social implications of ongoing administrative stalling. Frontline representatives are calling for a stop to the “chain of extensions” that has left casino employees and the city in a state of prolonged uncertainty.
Regulatory Rulings and Uncertain Outlook
The latest delay was enacted under Exempt Resolution No. 913, which pauses the licensing process for 90 days. The SCJ justified the move as a procedural adjustment, shifting the bid submission deadline to January 19, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at its Santiago headquarters.
Despite this explanation, the decision has only fueled workers’ dissatisfaction. The union has accused the SCJ of repetitive, shortsighted extensions that undermine stability for one of the region’s leading employers.
Casino Dreams remains operational under its current arrangement, but its future remains clouded by these continual delays. Employees argue that not only are they seeing cash payments postponed, but their confidence in regulatory bodies overseeing Chile’s gaming industry is also being eroded.
Timeline of Licensing Delays
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Employees became eligible for severance pay | 2015 |
| First major licensing delay | 2018 |
| Subsequent postponement | 2021 |
| Current bid submission deadline | January 19, 2026 |
As the next deadline approaches, stakeholders express hope that collaboration among regulatory authorities, the operator, and employees will resolve the recurring setbacks, restoring stability and transparency to the casino operations in Puerto Varas.
- Author
Daniel Williams
