The Lottery of Córdoba conducted the envelope opening and must analyze the three proposals that remain in the race.
Argentina.- The competition for the renewal of the gaming system in Córdoba is advancing. The tender driven by the Lottery of Córdoba for the exploitation of casinos, slot machines, and the construction of new hotels reaches its decisive stage with the company CET at the forefront, competing against Casino Victoria and Boldt, after the Mendoza companies Andesmar and Fuente Mayor were discarded.
As reported by the Lottery of Córdoba, the tender process for casinos and slots in Córdoba continued last Friday, February 7, with the opening of envelope number 2, which contains the investment and business plan, as well as the fixed and variable fees offered by the participating companies in their original proposals and also the alternatives they could present.
"Once this stage is completed, the Evaluation Commission already has all the tools to analyze which will be the best proposals for the offered ventures," explained the entity.
In this regard, the Cordoban CET (Concessionaire of Entertainment and Tourism) presented an economic offer much superior to that of its competitors, Casino Victoria and Boldt. The difference in amounts is notable, although unofficially from the Lottery it was emphasized that it is not the only item that will be taken into account when making the final decision.
The proposal from CET was for AR$2,000m (USD1.9m), which would be allocated to the infrastructure of the tourist promotion to be built by the Province. The fee offered by the firm for the gross yield of the slots reaches 21 percent. The alternative offers presented by CET reach AR$6,000m (USD5.7m) and AR$12,000m (USD11.4m). In the case of the latter figure, the fee to be paid for the gross yield of the slots is 22.5 percent.
In the case of Boldt, the offer was USD400m, with a fee of 21.2 percent for both Region 1 (San Francisco room) and Region 2 (Corral de Bustos room), regarding the gross win of the slots and 1 percent regarding the gross win of the tables.
In the case of Casino Victoria, in which businessman Daniel Angelici has a stake, the amount of a single fixed charge was 1 dollar and the fee for the slots was 21 percent, while the firm clarified that it does not propose to pay a fee in the category of cloth tables. The alternative offer was for USD100,000 with a fee of 21 percent.
See also: Rejection by evangelical churches to the tender for slots and casinos in the province of Córdoba
The tender process, which continues after the exclusion of the Mendoza companies Andesmar and Fuente Mayor due to administrative problems in the accreditation of guarantees, could have its resolution at the end of February. In this regard, sources from the Lottery of Córdoba indicated that the final result could include one or two winning companies, or even that the tender remains deserted, which would imply that the Province takes over the operation of the casinos and slot machines.
The tender offers a contract for 20 years, with an extension for five. The new tender scheme promises a structural change in the gaming industry, with the possibility that only one of the companies takes full control of the operation, although the goal of the Lottery is to promote competition and avoid a monopoly in the sector. From March 2025, those who are awarded will begin to operate the cloth games, bars, and other ancillary services, while the transfer of personnel will be one of the most immediate tasks: about 170 casino employees will be absorbed by the private sector.
On the other hand, the renewal of the more than 4,000 slot machines currently operating in the province will be one of the challenges to face, as it must be completed before 2027, with significant investment by the winning companies. The gaming industry currently generates a multimillion-dollar figure, which in 2024 reached AR$3,000m (USD 2.8m) per month, mainly aimed at social investment.
