The mayor participated in the event launching the first ball of the season, while updates on the bidding process to operate slot machines are awaited.
Argentina.- The casinos in the seaside cities of the Province of Buenos Aires are experiencing their peak season during the summer months with a high influx of tourists from various parts of the country coming to enjoy the beaches and entertainment offerings.
To attract the public and celebrate the new year, the casinos held the launch of the first ball of the season, and yesterday, Thursday, January 16, it was the turn of the Casino de Necochea, following presentations in Mar del Plata, Pinamar, Monte Hermoso, and Tandil.
The event in Necochea was attended by Mayor Arturo Rojas, who launched the first ball of the season in the gaming room of the Casino de Necochea. The roulette stopped at zero, just as it had the previous day in Tandil.
Also present were the director of Casinos Zone I, Fernando Mogni; authorities of Casinos Zone I; the president of the Casino Employees Association (AECN), Marcos Labrador; members of the Executive Committee; authorities from the Lottery and Casinos Institute; municipal officials, councilors; tourists and local residents.
Regarding the local casino employees who led the launch last night, Marcelo Fortete served as room supervisor; Matías Moreno, roulette inspector; Lucía Fortete, cashier; and Agustín Wagner, assistant, the latter in charge of collecting chips after each play.
However, despite the day's festivities, there is a situation that still keeps the complex's workers awake at night, and it is the uncertainty about when the bidding call that would enable the operation of slot machines in the room, in addition to the sale of the complex, will be launched.
It is worth remembering that the call was scheduled for October, with the expectation of having the slots operational in the summer season, however, the authorities of the Province of Buenos Aires did not meet that deadline.
See also: Labor improvements for casino workers in Buenos Aires: what is the government's commitment
Last weekend, during the celebrations for the 85th anniversary of the Casino Central de Mar del Plata, the president of the Lottery and Casinos Institute (IPLyC Buenos Aires), Gonzalo Atanasof, announced that "work is being done together with the Legislature on the approval of the bill for the regularization of contributions and the advancement of the bidding specifications that will guarantee the investment needed by the Casinos."
In this regard, Roberto "Chucho" Páez, current General Secretary of the Union of Administration, Housekeeping, and Services of the Provincial Casinos, confirmed to the Diario de Tandil that the bids "are ready and will begin to circulate through the provincial control agencies", understanding that once they are finalized, "it will strengthen the employment relationship of the employees of the annexed casinos" and added: "The bids are projected, approximately, for 20 years, allowing long-term planning for the employees."
While awaiting the bidding for new slot machines, the local casino continues to operate with a team mostly composed of employees from Necochea, with a total of 60 people on staff.
The complex will continue to offer classic games such as roulette, punto banco, and blackjack. It is worth noting that the minimum bet for punto banco and blackjack is AR$3,000 (USD2.8) and the maximum bet for punto banco is AR$100,000 (USD96) and for blackjack, AR$60,000 (USD57). In roulette, straight bets can range from AR$500 to AR$5,000 (USD4.8) while simple and double chances range from AR$5,000 to AR$50,000.
