A group of deputies intended to address the project this week, however, it was not discussed.
Uruguay.- More than two years after the half approval of the project that would legalize online gambling in Uruguay, the debate remains stalled in the Chamber of Deputies and it is still unknown when it will be addressed. Legislators from the National Party and Cabildo Abierto aimed to discuss this on Wednesday, during the ordinary session of the Chamber of Representatives, but were unsuccessful.
This was reported by the local media Semanario Búsqueda and later confirmed by FM GENTE with the nationalist deputy Diego Echeverría. The legislator specified that there were informal conversations about the possibility of discussing the project and ultimately it was not done.
The initiative has half approval, unanimously voted by Senators in August 2022, but continues without entering the Chamber of Deputies and is under consideration by the Finance Committee.
The deputies from the Colorado Party did not agree to discuss the project this Wednesday and, according to sources from Búsqueda, President Lacalle Pou communicated by phone with the party's caucus coordinator, María Eugenia Roselló, to understand the reason for this stance.
It is speculated that the discussion of the project will be postponed due to the recess of the sessions for the electoral campaign.
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The text, which was introduced by the Executive at the end of 2021 and approved by the Senate in 2022, states in its article 1 that the Government, through the General Directorate of Casinos of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, may "provide the activity of casino games such as poker, roulette, slots, among others, created or to be created, in the online mode, through the internet, technological platforms, computer applications or similar".
Furthermore, it is indicated that "the Executive Power, in the exercise of its exclusive competence, may authorize in advance, on a provisional and revocable basis, the provision of the referred activity (...) to the concessionaires of casino games in person or to those who hold such enabling title in the future".
In the second article, the text notes that the authorization for operators, both public and private, to exploit online gambling and betting "will be conditioned" on them having "an operational and authorized physical establishment for in-person gambling" and that "the requirements established by the regulations and those stipulated in the concession contract are met".
The project also establishes: "Those who in the future acquire the status of concessionaires of casino games in the in-person mode may access an authorization to exploit such games online, prior to the investment, although they may not start the online mode until the approved investment is verified and the exploitation of in-person gambling begins".
In this regard, the norm adds: "The exploitation of online casino games without the corresponding authorization will entail the revocation of all authorizations to exploit casino games in person and online. Furthermore, it is emphasized that "the authorization of the Executive Power will automatically cease if the concessionaire stops exploiting the in-person game".
Among the modifications incorporated into the initial version, it appears in the article 8, that the National Directorate of Casinos must finance a fund to treat gambling addiction with 5 percent of its gross profits and with what is collected by fines.
