Mario Bergara, the mayor of Montevideo, stated that he will meet with the Ministry of Economy and the Casino Regulatory Authority to discuss the possibility of transferring the regulatory and operational authority of the municipal casino to the state. He mentioned that the city government's management of the casino is merely a historical continuation and lacks a comprehensive gambling policy, which should be incorporated into the national regulatory framework.
In an interview on Canal 5, Bergara pointed out that gambling policies should cover types of games, venue layout, and measures against gambling addiction, rather than just maintaining slot machine operations. He criticized the decline in services at the municipal casino, noting that the Rodó Park casino has eliminated card games and roulette, reducing its attractiveness.
He also mentioned that the municipal casino has a small staff size and that many employees are expected to retire in the coming years. Additionally, the facilities are difficult to sustain, and there have even been suggestions to repurpose it as a rehabilitation center for drug addicts.
The mayor advocates for the Casino Regulatory Authority under the Ministry of Economy to take unified management, leveraging its extensive regulatory capabilities to implement a nationwide integrated gambling policy. The meeting will clarify the transfer framework, integrating the municipal casino into the same legal and supervisory system as other national gambling institutions.
