The proposal "is very precise and ambitious," acknowledges Mauricio Villacís, president of the Association of Former Casinos Workers of Ecuador (ETCE), which leads the plan. "Among all the issues included in the plan, one of the most important is the creation of more than 20 thousand directly and indirectly jobs linked to this activity, with an approximate investment of about 400 million dollars," he explains.
The project would already be in the hands of the Ministries of Labor, Tourism and Economy, as well as the Internal Revenue Service (SRI). It is hoped that, through them, the plan will be promoted for the knowledge of the Presidency of the Republic.
The proponents assure that, by allowing the reopening of casinos, "it would be avoiding the flight of capital, because between Peru and Colombia we have information that of a profit of about 300 million dollars in this economic sector, 15% is spent by Ecuadorians."
In a broader explanation, Villacís points out that this means that "some 45 million dollars go to Colombia and Peru for gambling, and that's not counting online gambling, in which Ecuador has no regulations and there is not even the idea that, through this sector, the money is also going to other countries."
The bill includes the repeal of Article 236 of the Comprehensive Criminal Code (COIP), which prohibits gambling for profit.
Source: GMB / Expreso (Ecuador)
