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Casino Parque Hotel’s fate may also be determined soon. Casino Parque Hotel is at present under the management of the Municipality of Montevideo. However, the administration led by Mayor Mario Bergara is planning to transfer the management rights of the casino to the National Directorate of Casinos, which falls under the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) of the Republic of Uruguay, by mid-2026.
Camilo Benitez, Director of Economic Development at the Municipality of Montevideo, informed local source La Diaria that “everything is planned so that by mid-2026 it will already be under the MEF’s management regime.” The notion that the casino would be outsourced from the city’s management has been decided, but Benitez revealed that not all discussions with the MEF are completed.
Budgetary Impact and Financial Projections
The transfer of potentiality has important monetary repercussions for this city. The five-year budget plan presented by this municipality to the Departmental Board indicates that Montevideo will no longer collect funds from this casino from 2028 onwards, once this transition is finalized.
For 2025, the budget for the municipality expected revenues from the casinos of UY$348,646,255 (around US$8.8 million). Nonetheless, this amount is set to be significantly reduced to UY$101,070,336 (around US$2.5 million) in both 2026 and 2027. Should the transfer occur in 2026, these amounts shall go to the general revenues of the municipality rather than being administered within the context of the casinos.
Bergara’s Rationale: Gaming as a National Policy
Mayor Bergara, who assumed office in July 2025, has been quite clear in his stand on the issue. In an interview with Canal 5, he said, “It doesn’t make any sense to run a casino as a municipality.” He explained that the “sole reason today has to be purely historical.”
Bergara also emphasized that the city government does not maintain a gaming policy of its own. “The municipality does not have a gaming policy, nor a policy to promote gaming, or anything like that”, he said, concluding that “there is very little sense in it managing a casino.” By contrast, he highlighted that the National Directorate of Casinos oversees a comprehensive gaming policy that includes casinos, lottery operations, decisions on which games are offered and where, as well as responsible gaming initiatives and campaigns against gambling addiction.
What Happens to Casino Employees?
One of the loose ends that exists in the transition is the future that awaits the casino’s employees. The municipality is negotiating with the MEF regarding the future employment of the staff in either being retained in the casino when it comes under the national administration or being assigned to work in other municipal offices.
Political Opposition and Calls for Closure
However, the transfer proposal has not quieted the opposition at all. The opposition parties insist that the casino should be completely shut down. In November, the Departmental Board of the City of Camilo Benítez was called to discuss the state of the casinos in the city and the proposed solutions. The meeting, led by councilor Juan Ignacio Abdala, went for nearly five hours.
Abdala stated that his party has consistently called for “the closure of the municipal casino.” He argued that even if the casino were transferred to national control, “it would continue to be the same money pit, except that instead of being paid by all Montevideo residents, it would be paid by all Uruguayans.”
A Broader Debate on Public Gambling Operations
The possible transfer of Casino Parque Hotel underscores a broader debate in Uruguay about the appropriate level of government for managing gambling operations. As discussions continue between the Municipality of Montevideo and the MEF, the decision will likely shape not only the future of this iconic casino but also the country’s approach to public gaming governance, financial sustainability, and social responsibility.
Source: Focus LATAM
