Casino Parque Hotel has once again become the focus of Uruguay's political and fiscal debate after closing 2025 with a deficit of UY$127,889,082 (US$3.178 million), marking its sixth consecutive year of losses, while the Montevideo City Government (Intendencia de Montevideo – IM) moves forward with plans to transfer the property's management to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) between August and September 2026. According to the municipality's 2025 Accountability Report, the casino generated UY$162,946,193 (US$4.049 million) in revenue against UY$290,835,275 (US$7.228 million) in operating expenses.
- Uruguay; Casino Parque Hotel moves to State control
The property's financial performance reflects a prolonged downward trend. Annual deficits reached UY$147 million in 2020, UY$173 million in 2021, UY$69 million in 2022, UY$88 million in 2023, UY$83 million in 2024, and UY$127.9 million in 2025, representing a 54% increase compared with the previous year. The municipality has already adjusted its budget projections, reducing expected casino revenue from UY$348,646,255 in 2025 to UY$101,070,336 for both 2026 and 2027, anticipating the transfer of operations.
Operating costs continue to weigh heavily on the venue. Nearly 50 employees account for UY$37 million in salaries, plus UY$11 million for the statutory "sixth-day" Saturday compensation benefit. Additional expenses include UY$38 million for security services, UY$13 million for cleaning contracts and approximately UY$9 million every three months to lease slot machines and their operating software. After two public tenders failed to attract bidders, the municipality awarded both contracts to ICM S.A.
Camilo Benítez, Director of Economic Development at the Montevideo City Government, confirmed that the municipality will sell part of the casino's furniture and lease the building to the MEF, while the National Directorate of Casinos will assume operations using its own gaming licence and slot machines. Montevideo Mayor Mario Bergara has also reassigned Casino Manager Lorena Infante to ensure an orderly transition.
Martín Lema
Located in Parque Rodó, the venue traces its origins to the Hotel-Theatre-Casino del Parque Urbano, inaugurated in 1909 and acquired by the municipality in 1915. Today it operates slot machines, roulette and traditional table games, serving primarily local customers. Meanwhile, Martín Lema, senator and chairman of the National Party's Montevideo Departmental Commission, has renewed calls for the casino's permanent closure, arguing that the municipality continues "improvising while generating multimillion-peso losses."
