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Ουρουγουάη – Ο διαγωνισμός της Ουρουγουάης για καζίνο στην Πούντα ντελ Έστε σε αναμονή

The tender for the new casino licence in Punta del Este has been postponed. The representatives of Fosara S.A. (Cipriani group) were ready in the Ministry of Tourism of Uruguay to open offers for the management of the new casino that will form part of the new Cipriani Ocean Resort & Club Residences complex in Punta del Este.

However representatives of Baluma S.A. the owners of the hotel and Casino Enjoy, (formerly known as the Conrad) lodged a last minute appeal to suspend the tender, according to the Undersecretary of Tourism, Benjamin Liberoff.

Under local laws it is possible to present an appeal suspending a process without the need to develop arguments justifying the appeal, the official explained to the Observer newspaper. As a result the exact reasoning behind the move is yet to be clarified.

However once the appeal is resolved, if a “lack of foundation or reckless malice” is proven, sanctions may apply according to local laws.

The initial date for the opening of offers was January 20 but was postponed at the suggestion of the Administration Division of Material Resources and General Services of the Ministry of Tourism due to the “number of inquiries received”, according to the resolution.

The opening of the new casino is subject to the construction, completion and operation of a luxury hotel. The emblematic San Rafael hotel in Punta del Este, has been closed since 2011, but was acquired by the Cipriani Group for more than US$40m in February 2018 after an agreement was signed by Giuseppe Cipriani
Representatives of Enjoy issued a brief statement saying that the legal move had been made with the purpose of “safeguarding their rights” when it comes to the contract between Baluma SA and the state.

Οι ισχύοντες κανονισμοί ορίζουν ότι οι άδειες για τις εγκαταστάσεις καζίνο πρέπει να χορηγούνται με δημόσιο διαγωνισμό. Σύμφωνα με την τοπική νομοθεσία το μόνο άλλο ιδιωτικό καζίνο στον δημοφιλή τουριστικό προορισμό επιτρέπεται, εάν πραγματοποιηθεί επένδυση ίση ή μεγαλύτερη από αυτή του πρώην καζίνο του ξενοδοχείου Conrad.
Ως εκ τούτου, η ρήτρα που υπάρχει υπέρ της Baluma SA λαμβάνεται υπόψη στον διαγωνισμό. Στους όρους και προϋποθέσεις, οι κανόνες αναφέρουν ότι το ποσό που θα επενδυθεί στην κατασκευή του νέου πολυτελούς ξενοδοχείου πρέπει να είναι ίσο ή μεγαλύτερο από 160 εκατομμύρια δολάρια ΗΠΑ, χωρίς να λαμβάνεται υπόψη η αξία της γης της υποδομής για τη νέα εγκατάσταση.

In addition, as compensation, the bidder must commit to pay the state an annual fee made up of a percentage of the casino’s gross income and a minimum annual amount. The minimum annual amount payable will be US$7.8m in the first year, with annual increases of US$100,000 until 2026. After that date the annual amount will be fixed after the bidder has proposed its economic package but it must be equivalent to or greater than US$8.4m. The casino license will be valid for 20 years.