The Chilean gambling authority, the Superintendency of Gambling Casinos (SCJ), has published a financial report that details the first month of operations after an eight-month mandatory closure due to COVID-19. The 11 casinos that reopened in Chile contributed around $1.8m to the State in taxes.

The facilities that resumed their activities between November 19-28 comprised Luckia Arica, Marina del Sol Calama, Enjoy Antofagasta, Antay Casino & Hotel, Ovalle Casino & Resort, Casino del Pacífico, Enjoy Santiago, Sun Monticello, Casino de Colchagua, Enjoy Coquimbo and Enjoy Viña Del Mar.

A month later, the total tax contribution totaled $715k, corresponding to the “specific gambling tax destined to the Regional Governments and Municipalities where they operate to finance development works”.

Additionally, they contributed $950k through VAT payments and $133k “corresponding to an entrance tax, which are sent to the general funds of Chile”.

The report also revealed that the nine private casinos and the two municipal concession casinos recorded gross gaming income of $5.9m, although the results represented a 43.6% decline when compared to November 2019. The SCJ believes that there was a drop because daily visits were 57.2% lower than the ones registered in the same period the previous year.