Montevideo’s upcoming municipal elections have reignited debate over the future of the Casino Municipal Parque Hotel, the capital city’s only gambling venue operated under local government control. The issue has gained political momentum, with candidates proposing fundamentally different paths for its future.
Mario Bergara, candidate of the progressive Frente Amplio, stated on May 1st during a business event hosted by the Asociación de Dirigentes de Marketing (ADM) that the casino should no longer be under the city’s management. Instead, he supports transferring it to Uruguay’s national casino regulator, the Dirección Nacional de Casinos. This proposal would not only ensure job stability for over 50 employees but also align the casino with national oversight standards.
“The casino today is outdated and inefficient. It operates solely with slot machines, and generates far less than its potential,” Bergara emphasized. In 2023, the venue posted an operational deficit of over $87 million Uruguayan pesos (approximately $2.2 million USD). This shortfall adds to the mounting pressure for structural reform.
Montevideo, home to approximately 1.3 million people, represents nearly one-third of Uruguay’s population. Analysts estimate that a well-managed casino in the city could generate upwards of $10 million USD annually in gross gaming revenue, potentially contributing over $3 million in annual tax income for public projects, based on current national rates.
Uruguay’s DGC Greenlights New Slot-Only Casino in Maldonado’s Atlántico Shopping”
Martín Lema, the leading center-right candidate from the Coalición Republicana, proposes a more radical option: permanent closure. Citing financial inefficiency and lack of social return, Lema argues that Montevideo should not subsidize gambling losses at the municipal level. The debate is not only fiscal but ideological: whether local governments should directly operate entertainment and gaming services, or whether privatization and centralization offer a more sustainable model. As Montevideo heads to the polls, the future of the casino may serve as a barometer for broader national reforms in Uruguay’s gambling policy—and could open the door to international operators if a new administration seeks external proposals.
