JUE 28 DE MARZO DE 2024 - 22:32hs.
US$809 million in bets

Gaming in Uruguay on the rise in 2017

Local authorities informed that Uruguayans gambled at least US$809 million last year. All games, except instant Quiniela, had a small increase in sales according to Director of Lotteries and Quinielas (DNLQ), Luis Gama. The figure makes up approximately 1.3% of Uruguay’s Gross Domestic Product, according to local daily El Pais.

Gaming in Uruguay on the rise in 2017

Enjoy Conrad hotel in Punta del Este, one of the best known in the country, recorded revenue of almost US $ 83.9 million

Enjoy Conrad hotel in Punta del Este, one of the best known in the country, recorded revenue of almost US $ 83.9 million

Gama said part of the rise in gaming revenue has been due to a streamlining of the products the Lottery has on offer. “The increase is reasonable,” said Gama, “a long time ago we decided not to increase the gaming offer and to concentrate on the ones we are already running, because we are left with the most traditional games and the ones that people are most interested in.”

Sales for games run by the DNLQ stood at US$456 million in 2017, a 6.3% increase compared to 2016. The Uruguayan Lottery reported sales of US$ 22.2 million last year, while the Supermatch sports betting game achieved the most growth in 2017: a total of US $ 59.3 million was bet on the game tripling the record for previous years.

According to Gama, part of the rise in gaming revenue has been due to a government policy which now blocks online gambling sites. As a result, many players have switched to Supermatch. In addition, advertising has led to an improvement in sales as has larger prize pools. Gama said that the same level of growth for lottery products was expected this year.

Meanwhile, the 30 betting rooms managed by the Uruguayan Casino Control Board obtained gross revenues of US$225.8 million, which left a profit of US$67 million according to the head of the board, Javier Chá,  meaning an increase of 5.2% compared to 2016.

The board also reported that it had made a number of significant improvements to its casinos including the reopening of the Casino del Sacramento in Colonia and the Casino La Paloma in Rocha.

Meanwhile, the Enjoy Conrad Hotel in Punta del Este reported revenues of about US$83.9 million up until September 2017. Gambling revenue in the third quarter of 2017 were 49.4% higher compared to the same period in 2016.

On the other hand, company Hípica Rioplatense, which is licensed to run both Las Piedras and Maroñas racecourses and operates a number of slots parlours and horse betting shops, recorded a net income of US$ 43.8 million in the third quarter of 2017, according to its financial statements.

Source: GMB / G3 Newswire