Religious entities, grouped in the Evangelical Pastoral Council, sent a letter to Governor Martín Llaryora expressing their discontent.
Argentina.- The competition for the renewal of the gaming system in Córdoba is progressing. The tender driven by Lotería de Córdoba for the exploitation of casinos, slot machines, and the construction of new hotels has reached its decisive stage, and the companies CET and Casino Victoria have consolidated as the main contenders. However, while the provincial government seeks a way to definitively advance with the concession, various voices have risen against the official proposal.
After various opposition legislators showed their rejection of the proposal and even submitted a request for reports on suspicious trips and meetings between officials and members of companies participating in the tender, a new voice has now joined the opposition. The evangelical churches, grouped in the Evangelical Pastoral Council, sent a letter to the governor showing their discontent with the official decision.
“Having become aware of the sudden decision of the Government of Córdoba to hastily call for a tender for the private concession of most of the province's casinos, the creation of a new one in Cruz del Eje, and the authorization for the installation of 5000 new slot machines, we cannot remain silent in the face of the negative human consequences that this will bring to our people,” the letter begins.
For the Social Pastoral, the new tender will cause an expansion "in time, in casinos, and in machines of a betting business that this year invoiced more than AR$ 37.296m (USD 35m)".
The evangelical sector not only rejects this measure to renew the casino concessions but has also once again shown its opposition to online gambling: “Online betting has already been legalized through four platforms of the Lotería de Córdoba. The habit of betting is also encouraged with abundant propaganda from the business owners and with state advertising”.
See also: Which are the two companies leading the tender for casinos and slots in Córdoba
“We realize that the magnitude of the business has conquered many wills, and under the guise of an apparent and nonexistent progress, the provincial government will now give the gaming concession to 'businessmen' who manage casinos and slot machines throughout the province,” the text says.
