Chile's casino industry has grown dramatically in the last five years. By November 2009, Chile's new casinos had generated gross revenues of US$195m.

The Chilean Casino Control Board will accept applications for the remaining three licences to be granted under a 2005 law that allowed for up to 17 new casinos to be introduced in the country. The original process was suspended in late 2005 following allegations of corruption from outraged applicants.

The mayors of seven Chilean cities are leading a campaign to amend the country’s 2005 casino law as newly-introduced resorts, including the Sun International/Novomatic Monticello Grand, radically alter the country’s gaming market.

Chilean moratorium set to end in September but uncertainty remains over new casino laws as tribunal reviews 2005 act.

The Supreme Court has rejected international operators’ claims for injunctions to be placed on new casino projects in Chile following alleged irregularities during the licence tendering processes for several new casinos authorised by a 2005 law.

Chile awarded the final three remaining casino licences to Casinos Austria and two local companies earlier this week to conclude a major, but at times problematic, expansion of the country’s casino sector that has seen 18 new projects approved since the passing of new legislation in 2005. More comprehensive machine standards are set to follow.

The Chilean Casino Board recently opened a public consultation on proposed technical standards to be applied to gaming machines in the country’s existing seven casinos, as well as in the fifteen new establishments expected to open in the near future.

The Chilean Government has unveiled a long-awaited plan to introduce more rigorous restrictions on the distribution of slot machines in the country. The legislative project will also impose tougher penalties on unauthorised gambling operations.

The Chilean Supreme Court is set to rule on Thunderbird’s challenge to its exclusion from the licensing process for 17 new casinos in Chile. A ruling in Thunderbird’s favour would undermine the entire process, says one observer.

Chilean senators have passed legislation that would grant the country’s casino operators a two-month window to secure approval for their formal responsible gambling programmes from gaming regulators.