Roberto Jacob, mayor of the Chilean city of La Serena
Roberto Jacob, mayor of the Chilean city of La Serena
Jacob informed local councillors that he will soon begin conversations with parliamentarians in the area, in order to seek changes to current legislation, which would allow for the building of a casino. Local councillors have given the mayor backing for his proposal meaning that Jacob will shortly begin talks with legislators from all parties, in order to push for the relevant legal changes. Gaming laws in Chile currently prohibit the construction of a casino unless it is 60 kilometres away from another casino.
“I think it is a tremendous injustice that other communes receive over five billion pesos a year, tilting the balance of the budget much more favourably for them. I’m glad they have it, but why can not La Serena have a casino, which is a tourist city, just because of the famous restriction of 60 kilometres?” Jacob told local newspaper El Día.
Jacob said that the city of La Serena is a tourist destination like other coastal resorts such as Viña del Mar, which has a casino. In addition, casinos could also be permitted elsewhere in the country if changes to the law were made. He also commented that casinos would generate enough in a year to pay off the municipal debt of the commune of La Sirena. To this end, “I will make all the necessary arrangements, because La Serena deserves to have a casino,” he concluded.
When asked if he considered that it would be profitable to install a casino when they are already present in the cities of Coquimbo and in Ovalle, which are in the same region, the Mayor explained that it would. “This is the same as supermarkets, people say why so many, but there are clients for them all, therefore, it will be profitable in any case, adding up the number of tourists that arrive in the city.”
Souce: GMB / G3 Newswire
