The government of Chile has outlined its belief that resolutions brought forward to settle the management of Municipal Casinos will drive significant improvements in the tax and economic contribution of gambling.
The announcement follows the SCJ, Chile Casino Superintendency, reporting that a reduced portfolio of 25 municipal casinos generated gross income of CLP 282bn (€282m) in the first half of 2025 down 3.6% in real terms year-on-year.
The figures cap a subdued start to the year for Chile’s municipal casinos, with visitor numbers falling 3.7% to just over 3.3 million. Despite the downturn, average spend per customer rose slightly to CLP 83,322, up 1.7% though spend is related to inflation dynamics.
Tax Revenues Take a Hit
Total tax receipts from the 22 casinos governed under Law No. 19,995 slipped to CLP 100.2bn — a 3.5 % real-term decline. The breakdown includes CLP 43.3bn in specific gaming taxes, CLP 41.8bn in VAT, and nearly CLP 15bn in entrance fees. Municipalities also received CLP 20.6bn in economic contributions during the period.
Enjoy settles on Exit terms
At the centre of the government’s reform efforts is a long-awaited deal with Enjoy SA, one of Chile’s largest gaming operators. The SCJ has greenlit Enjoy’s early withdrawal from its concession contracts in Viña del Mar, Coquimbo, and Pucón — ending its obligations by 2028, eight years ahead of the original 2036 expiry.
The decision brings an end to a four-year saga triggered by Enjoy’s bankruptcy filing in 2020, shortly after it had renewed licences for the three properties. After multiple restructuring rounds and negotiations with bondholders, Enjoy will walk away without termination penalties — as long as it meets conditions including a three-year notice period and settlement of outstanding supplier debts.
The legal mechanism was made possible by an amendment to Supreme Decree 1,722, which allows prejudiceless termination of casino contracts in cases of financial distress.
The SCJ backed the resolutions: “The early termination contracts introduced through Supreme Decree 1,722 offers a legal pathway to resolve distressed concessions while preserving regulatory integrity. Our role is to ensure that municipal casino operations remain transparent, legally compliant, and in service of the public interest.”
Backlash from Municipal Leaders
Not everyone is satisfied. Local authorities, particularly in Viña del Mar, have condemned the agreement and are calling for compensation. Officials estimate more than $200m in losses tied to stalled development plans and evaporated casino revenues.
Critics say the deal sets a poor precedent, allowing Enjoy to sidestep financial liabilities with limited consequence. “Enjoy signed contracts and took on obligations. Now it’s walking away without real penalties,” said one city councillor.
Sector Reform: Online Gridlock
As Enjoy’s legacy contracts unwind, the SCJ is re-tendering the Puerto Varas licence and tightening regulatory requirements for future casino concessions — a move aimed at restoring balance between public oversight and private sector execution.
But efforts to modernise the digital gambling market remain stuck in neutral. A Federal Gambling Bill introduced in 2023 — which would license online betting, impose a 20 per cent tax on GGR, and earmark funds for sports and responsible gambling — has yet to pass, bogged down by opposition from state monopolies and legal threats from Chile’s football authority.
“We can’t modernise the sector while half the market operates in legal limbo,” said Senator Juan Ignacio Latorre.
Bottom Line
While the Enjoy dispute has finally been resolved, Chile’s gambling sector faces bigger questions from declining revenues to digital regulation. The government may have scored a win on legacy contracts, but the hard work of modernisation is only just beginning.
