Uruguay could regulate a new gambling regime generating 20,000 new jobs and an estimated $600m in economic investments.
The figures are presented as the first estimates of the newly created Chamber for Casino Services Operators and Investors. Formed this December, the Chamber has been established as an “industry group” providing advice to the Frente Amplio (FA) government, in gambling policies that will generate job creation, economic investment and consumer safety.
The reorganisation of Uruguay’s gambling regime has been pledged by President Yamandú Orsi as a mandate of the FA party. President Oris seeks to create a “unified law” for all gambling activities that have been fractiously governed by the laws of the Casinos Act, Uruguay Tourism and the Digital Transformation Act of 2017.
As detailed by SBC Noticias The Chamber brings together Uruguay’s key concession-holders, including “Grupo Codere; Baluma S.A. (Enjoy Punta del Este); Compañía Rioplatense de Hoteles (Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza); Manteo S.A. (Hotel Casino Rivera); Naranpark S.A. (Salto Hotel Casino); and Mirador Campero S.A. (Hotel Santa Cristina).”
Speaking to local media, Luis Gama Hernández, former Director of the National Directorate of Lotteries and Quinielas (DNLQ) and now Executive Secretary of CUOASEC, said the Chamber’s creation reflected “the need for a collective and technically consistent dialogue with the State” as Uruguay prepares for a fundamental rewrite of its gambling laws.
“This is a chance for Uruguay to create a clear, balanced and sustainable model that reflects the market realities of today,” Gama said.
“Our industry generates thousands of formal jobs and remains one of the strongest drivers of regional tourism. What we need now is a regulatory framework that encourages investment and ensures regulation keeps pace with innovation.”
A chamber has been formed to examine all adult gambling disciplines including online gambling, casino operations, bingo, arcades, and slot machines (no lotteries of quinelas), but cannot submit any legislative policies.
The group’s first economic appraisal highlighted Uruguay (population of 3.4 million) and its appeal as a tourist destination for negibouring countries, especially in the Punta del Este province. Furthermore despite its fragmented laws Uruguay has built a well-established network of licensed casinos resorts offering safe and high-quality gaming environments.
While the working group opted not to address taxation policy, it did emphasise the need to urgently update criminal and enforcement laws, warning that outdated penalties were “favouring the expansion of illegal gambling and creating competitive imbalances that penalise compliant operators.”
The General Assembly has now begun reviewing the first round of reform proposals, though initial submissions have been described as vague and limited in scope.
One formal Bill has been submitted by Senator Felipe Carballo, proposing a state-run online gaming platform to be operated directly by the National Directorate of Lotteries and Quinielas (DNLQ), allowing only restricted private-sector involvement through mixed-licence arrangements.
President Orsi and FA officials told media that they were underwhelmed by the proposal, which does not fulfill the goals to maximise
Industry leaders, however, have called for a more transparent and investment-friendly model, arguing that Uruguay’s success will depend on clarity, modernisation, and a level playing field for regulated operators.
As Gama concluded:“Uruguay’s legal architecture belongs to another era. Reform cannot be partial — it must be comprehensive and future-ready if we are to protect players, grow responsibly, and compete on a global scale.”
