The gaming industry in South America is entering a new phase of professionalization. While Argentina has graduated a new generation of university-trained gaming specialists, Uruguay has begun training the future dealers who will operate one of the region’s most ambitious casino and hospitality projects. Together, these developments highlight a common trend: the expansion of regulated gaming markets increasingly requires skilled professionals in operations, compliance, control, customer service and specialized management.
In Argentina, the Association of State Lotteries, Casinos and Quinielas of Argentina (ALEA) celebrated the graduation of 50 new University Technicians in Gaming Management and Administration, a program developed in partnership with the Provincial University of Administration, Technology and Trades (UPATecO) in Salta. Established in 2017, the program is widely regarded as the first university degree in Latin America specifically focused on gaming management. It was designed to train professionals for regulatory agencies, state lotteries, casinos, authorized operators, compliance departments, auditing functions and responsible gambling programs. The initiative has been strongly promoted by Dra Ida López, President of ALEA, who has made technical education one of the organization’s strategic priorities.
At the same time, Uruguay is advancing the operational preparation of the future Cipriani Resort, Residences & Casino in Punta del Este. The project, developed by the Cipriani Group and led by Giuseppe Cipriani, has launched the training of its first group of dealers who are expected to work at the casino scheduled to open in December 2026.
Giuseppe Cipriani
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The development is being built on the historic site of the former Hotel San Rafael and will include a casino, luxury hotel, convention center, restaurants, spa, beach club and residential towers. The investment is estimated at more than US$500 million, with some project updates placing the total above US$600 million, making it one of the largest private tourism and gaming investments in South America.
Cipriani Resort, Residences & Casino Punta del Este
Both developments converge around the same regional challenge: the shortage of specialized talent for an increasingly regulated and technology-driven industry. While ALEA is training professionals in administration, auditing, compliance, regulatory oversight and gaming management, Cipriani is developing operational staff to support a project expected to generate approximately 1,000 direct jobs initially and up to 2,000 positions as the development reaches full scale.
This professionalization trend also reflects growing regulatory demands in areas such as AML/KYC compliance, prevention of fraud, responsible gambling, operational monitoring and technological oversight, all of which have become increasingly important across Latin America. For Argentina, the next step will be expanding university cohorts and strengthening specialized training for regulators and operators. For Uruguay, the focus will be on completing dealer training, expanding casino recruitment and finalizing the opening of the first operational phase of the Cipriani project before the end of 2026.
