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The city of Viña del Mar, one of Chile’s most traditional tourist destinations, stands at a crossroads regarding the future of its casino industry. Following Enjoy’s resignation of its operating license, Mayor Macarena Ripamonti has publicly urged the national government and the Superintendence of Gam bling Casinos (SCJ) to issue a new license in 2025. The request is fueled by mounting concerns about municipal revenues, job security, and the general economic impact on the city.
The Enjoy Resignation and Its Impacts
The SCJ Council has just approved a request to surrender its operating license for the Viña del Mar casino. Although the company will maintain control of the facility until 2028, the move has raised alarm bells about the uncertainty of future revenues to the municipality.
This move is not an isolated one. The same approvals were granted for Enjoy’s casinos in Coquimbo, in the Coquimbo Region, and Pucón, in the Araucanía Region. In all three locations, the company remains committed to operating under existing economic, legal, and regulatory conditions until the end of its transition management periods. Enjoy employs a total of 1,110 workers across these properties: 589 in Viña del Mar, 310 in Coquimbo, and 211 in Pucón.
For Viña del Mar, however, the stakes are especially high. The casino has historically been a significant source of income for the city, funding municipal projects, cultural initiatives, and public services. The uncertainty regarding revenues after 2028 has triggered strong reactions from local authorities.
Mayor Ripamonti’s Position
Mayor Ripamonti was not shy in her criticism of Enjoy’s withdrawal and its effects on her city. She pointed out that residents are the ones who will bear the cost of foregone city revenue:
“Quienes pagamos el costo somos las personas viñamarinas. No hay certezas sobre los ingresos de nuestra ciudad a partir de 2028, y eso es profundamente injusto“, she said.
Two things can be done immediately by the government, says Ripamonti. One, it can establish a guaranteed minimum bid that would secure Viña del Mar the financial contributions it is entitled to by law. Two, it can reduce the timeframe and grant a new operating license within 2025, which would provide clarity and stability to the city’s future.
She explained that this requires leadership and political will: “Our expectation is straightforward: that the Government, and the Ministry of Finance in particular, make a public commitment to Viña del Mar. We require more than words—we require concrete assurances.”
Political Urgency and Institutional Transition
The mayor also pointed out the broader political context. She reminded that both the government administration and the regulating body are nearing the end of their terms. For her, letting time pass or evading responsibility is not an option. “Letting time pass and avoiding responsibilities is not a viable option“, she warned.
Ripamonti has been an outspoken fighter for the protection of her city’s future and resources. Her comments point to a growing tension between national and local agendas in the regulation of Chile’s gambling sector.
While Enjoy’s exit has caused uncertainty, it also provides an opportunity for a new operator to assume one of the country’s most lucrative casino markets. For Viña del Mar, the decision has ramifications far beyond gaming; it translates into employment, tourism, and the sustainability of public finances.
The coming months will tell whether the government will listen to the mayor’s call and expedite the bidding. What is clear is that the administration of Viña del Mar wishes to have a response immediately, one that guarantees the city’s and its citizens’ economic well-being.
Source: YogoNet
