The Municipality of Guayaquil once again shut down the Club del Sol casino on May 16, 2026, deepening one of Ecuador’s biggest gaming regulatory disputes since the constitutional ban on casinos in 2011. The central issue is that municipal authorities claim the establishment once again violated operational requirements and allegedly operated with irregular documentation and unauthorized economic activities under its municipal license.
The closure was carried out by the Municipio de Guayaquil under the administration of Mayor Aquiles Álvarez, who publicly defended the legality of the measure and criticized previous court rulings that had allowed the venue to reopen. The municipality stated that the casino violated sections 3 and 4 of the Annual Establishment Operating License (LAFE), related to allegedly inaccurate information, documentary inconsistencies and economic activities operating outside authorized permits.
The case became especially controversial because the venue had already been shut down on February 13, 2026, but a ruling by the District Administrative Litigation Court ordered the removal of the closure seals on March 5, 2026, allowing the casino to temporarily reopen. Authorities have now intervened again amid Ecuador’s broader crackdown on gambling activities.
Isabel Franco Romero
The casino is linked to the Fundación Ecuatoriana de Fibrosis Quística (FEFQ), chaired by Isabel Franco Romero, although judicial records and public statements indicate the commercial operation may be managed by Sunsetbet S.A.S., a company reportedly connected to the U.S.-based firm Renewal Engineering Services LLC.
The conflict also highlights Ecuador’s legal gray area surrounding gambling. Since the 2011 referendum, casinos and slot machines have remained prohibited nationwide, while the Procuraduría General del Estado, led in 2026 by Juan Carlos Larrea Valencia, has repeatedly reaffirmed that the prohibition remains fully in force. However, foundations and private structures have attempted to operate gaming spaces under charitable or cultural models, triggering legal and administrative disputes. The case could now escalate into new lawsuits, constitutional reviews and additional investigations involving permits, licenses and corporate structures connected to the casino.
