The opening of envelopes to assign the new concessions will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, January 22, and opposition benches have expressed opposition to the official resolution. They denounce favoritism and hidden deals.
Argentina.- Tomorrow, January 22, the envelope opening is scheduled in the tender process for the concession of slots and casinos in the province of Córdoba. However, the provincial government's decision to advance the casino, hotel, and slot machine concessions tender by three years has generated widespread rejection in the provincial opposition.
The business, which has been in the hands of the company CET, led by businessmen Aldo Roggio and Miguel Ángel Caruso, is considered to be worth billions, and its early tender has unleashed a series of criticisms from both legislators and social organizations. Additionally, officials denounce irregularities and favoritism by the government that cast doubt on the adjudication process.
One of the first to speak out was Matías Gvozdenovich, legislator and head of the Radical Civic Union (UCR) block. Last Friday, Gvozdenovich submitted a "request to suspend the ongoing tender call" to the Córdoba Lottery, citing that there is currently a bill under consideration in the Unicameral that seeks to prohibit the exploitation of gaming machines in the province from 2028. The parliamentarian also expressed his doubts about the "frequent" trips made by officials from the Lottery, including its president, David Urreta, to Mendoza, from where some of the groups interested in participating in the gaming business in Córdoba are said to come. According to the legislator, the trips also involved other members of the Lottery and their close relatives.
The Civic Front also expressed disagreement with the measure. Walter Nostrala, head of the block, harshly criticized the push for the slot machine tender, which he described as "another scandalous business" of the provincial government. In this regard, Nostrala pointed out that, following the rise of online gaming, the promotion of slot machines "is an irreparable harm to the people". He asserted that the acceleration of the tenders denotes "desperation" on the part of the government, and emphasized that such businesses "do not generate benefits for the society as a whole".
From Encuentro Vecinal Córdoba, opposition was also expressed through a bill to prohibit the creation of new casinos and the outsourcing or concession of the same. Rodrigo Agrelo, one of the leaders of the space, linked the Government's decision to a "larger power strategy", and criticized the lack of control over 60 percent of the provincial public works.
See also: Online gaming in Córdoba: the capital prohibits advertising in municipal settings
For his part, libertarian legislator Agustín Spaccesi stated that he is "surprised" by the call for tender three years before the current contract expires. In statements to the press, Spaccesi suggested that the government might be seeking an early termination of the contract, which would imply a high cost for the people of Córdoba. Additionally, he expressed his concern about the lack of information available on the impact of the measure, particularly in relation to the possible effects on job creation and investment locations, since a casino in a tourist city like Villa Carlos Paz would not have the same impact as in towns like Deán Funes or Cruz del Eje.
