Key Moments:
- A proposed ordinance change seeks to attract new investors to Necochea’s casino and secure over 60 local jobs
- No investors showed interest in the first tender for the casino’s concession, leaving the venue’s future unclear
- Union and council representatives emphasize relocating the casino gaming hall as an alternative if the next tender fails
Proposal Targets Casino Ordinance and Local Employment
In Necochea, Argentina, a proposal has emerged to amend city regulations currently confining gambling activities to the existing Casino Complex. Initiated by Evangelina Almada of the Unión por la Patria–PJ party, this initiative is intended to pave the way for recruiting a new casino operator and protecting the livelihoods of more than 60 individuals at risk due to the casino’s uncertain future.
Financial Barriers and Market Reaction
Necochea’s casino operates under the oversight of the Buenos Aires Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casinos (IPLyC), but it has faced mounting operational and financial troubles. The initial process to find a new operator ended without any investor interest, raising fundamental concerns for the business and its employees.
Almada, expressing concern in a radio interview, stressed the urgency of the situation: “It is quite worrisome for these workers. There are more than 60 families who depend on this casino. It is key that this be resolved in a hurry.”
She further questioned the approach to the upcoming tender, noting it mirrored the failed first attempt and cited prohibitive renovation costs: “The amount of investment for gaming machines alone is around USD 5 million, while recovering the casino complex could double or triple the price“, she said.
Debate Over Regulation Versus Flexibility
Almada characterized the existing legal framework, which mandates gaming remain within the current complex, as too restrictive for investor appeal. She proposed allowing for the potential relocation of the gaming area as a strategy to draw investors and protect jobs for local families.
The suggested approach includes a two-step process: first, proceeding with a second tender as planned; second, if unsuccessful, considering an amendment to permit moving the gaming operations elsewhere along Necochea’s coastal area, which could also stimulate the broader economy.
Almada argued, “The province must ensure investment or relocation of the gaming hall,” underlining that the immediate priority is to find a solution that preserves employment for Necochea residents.
Stakeholders Push for Change
Discussions among the City Council’s Labor, Economic Promotion, and Local Development Commission and the Provincial Casino Workers’ Union (AMS Casinos) focused on the regulatory constraint’s impact. Union leader Fernando Hansen emphasized the importance of regulatory adjustments for relocation possibilities:
“If the second tender also fails, we’ll have to seriously consider relocating the casino’s gaming room to another part of the seaside area”, Hansen said. “But for that to happen, the municipal ordinance must be amended. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to move forward.”
Union members asserted that revised regulations could enhance job stability and render the project more attractive for investment and modernization, previously restricted under the current system.
Future Considerations for Necochea’s Gaming Sector
The debate highlights a wider challenge between regulatory certainty and the need for economic adaptation within Argentina’s gambling sector. Originally meant to protect the exclusivity of the Necochea Casino Complex, the standing ordinance now faces questions due to market shifts and declining infrastructure viability.
As Necochea’s council reviews potential ordinance modifications, the goal remains to strike a balance between regulatory oversight and flexible, investment-friendly solutions that sustain employment and economic dynamism. The trajectory of the upcoming second tender and possible legal reforms will be closely monitored by those with a stake in Necochea’s future.
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Regulation | Limits gambling operations to existing Casino Complex |
| Job Impact | Over 60 positions at risk |
| Investment Requirement | USD 5 million for gaming machines alone; full renovation cost could double or triple this amount |
| Next Steps Proposed | Second tender; potential ordinance amendment for relocation if no bids received |
- Author
Daniel Williams
