The complex would begin construction during the first half of 2025.
Chile.- Dreams received good news regarding the construction of its new casino located in the city of Talca, in the Maule region. The casino operator received the green light for the project from the Regional Ministerial Secretary of the Environment, who in a report sent to the SEA stated that it would not affect the Claro River Wetland and Piduco Estuary. The initiative is currently in the process of obtaining its sectoral permits, after making optimizations to its design.
The president of the Central Agricultural Trade Association, Luis Urrutia, said in a statement: "The response from the Regional Ministerial Secretary of the Environment allows us to continue advancing with this fairground project, which values a tradition of more than 70 years, rooted in the heart of the people of Maule. Who could be against a project that benefits the community of Maule and has great social responsibility?"
It is worth remembering that since the idea of building a new complex on an eight-hectare site that previously hosted the International Fair of Talca (Fital), adjacent to the Claro River resort, was made known, alarms were raised as it is a flood-prone area.
In its official letter, the Regional Ministerial Secretary indicated among other things that "for the development of the parts and works of the project, a sufficient distance is considered to prevent negative effects on the Claro River and Piduco Estuary wetland, so its entry into the SEIA under clause s) would not apply in a regulatory manner."
In his statement, Urrutia added: "Without a doubt, this emblematic sector of the city, which has unbeatable connectivity with 4 Norte Avenue and Padre Guido Lebret Avenue, will take on new momentum. Additionally, the National Assets office has officially handed over more than 13,000 square meters adjacent to the future Maule Fair Park, to build the Regional Headquarters of the PDI there."
See also: Failed tender: the SCJ of Chile concludes the evaluation of the offers to operate the casinos of Castro and Coyhaique
The new gaming establishment will have an investment of USD21m. This ambitious plan will include a gaming casino, a boulevard of restaurants and shops, an amphitheater for 1,500 people, a museum, and children's play areas, within the historic fairgrounds of the former Fital.
Construction is expected to begin during the first semester of 2025 and the execution period is expected to be one and a half years, approximately, so that the casino can begin to receive its visitors by the end of 2026.
The project will occupy 7,000 m², a small part of the total 90,000 m² of the fairgrounds, and aims to offer local entrepreneurs a modern space to showcase their products and attract thousands of visitors. The project is part of a broader plan for the development of the region, generating jobs and contributing to local economic growth.
Dreams Maule will include a gaming casino, an amphitheater with a capacity for 1,500 people, a boulevard with restaurants and shops, and green areas. Additionally, the project will have event halls and a museum, all designed to offer a complete entertainment experience.
The entertainment center will integrate into the traditional fairgrounds, allowing agricultural, industrial, and livestock activities to coexist with the new facilities.
It is worth remembering that last year, when the issue of the "floodability" of the land came to light, the mayor of Talca, Juan Carlos Díaz, said: "When they asked for our opinion, we stated that it was a flood-prone area according to the categorization it had, and mitigation measures must be proposed first and carried out before building, to avoid problems like those we experienced with recent rains."
At that time, the mayor indicated that construction could proceed on the lands of the former Fital, but "complying with the requirements that must be established by the corresponding technical bodies," specifying that in this case it would be the municipality and services such as the Directorate of Hydraulic Works, with measures of river defenses.
On the other hand, Mayor Díaz anticipated that work would be done on the update of the Regulatory Plan of the commune and would advance with the preliminary studies that this entails, as well as with a series of other studies relevant to the development of Talca.
It is the 15th consecutive quarter of growth.
United States.- Commercial gaming revenues in the United States reached a quarterly record of USD17.410m in the third quarter of 2024, according to the «Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker» of American Gaming Association (AGA). It is the 15th consecutive quarter of growth.
During the first nine months of the year, national commercial gaming revenues amounted to USD53.240m, a pace of 8.0 percent ahead of 2023 and on track for a fourth consecutive year of record revenues.
In the third quarter of 2024, 29 of the 35 commercial gaming jurisdictions operational last year experienced an increase in revenues year over year. This growth resulted in an 8.9 percent year-over-year increase in state and local taxes directly linked to gaming revenues, and commercial gaming operators contributed USD3.790m in taxes during the quarter.
Quarterly revenues from physical games (which include casino slot machines, table games, and retail sports betting) totaled USD12.560m, a 0.62 percent decrease from the third quarter of 2023.
Meanwhile, combined revenues from online sports betting and online gaming totaled USD5.140m in the third quarter of 2024 as online gaming rose to 29 percent of commercial gaming revenues, a significantly higher proportion than in the third quarter of 2023.
Looking more closely at each sector:
The vice president of research at AGA, David Forman, said: "The third quarter of 2024 continued the momentum of gaming from the first half of the year, with online casinos and sports betting driving strong growth. At the same time, the openings of new physical casinos reinforced traditional gaming, which still represents the majority of the industry's revenues."
