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Ecuador – Ecuador looking to reintroduce casinos to stimulate economy
By Phil - 9. Juni 2021
The Government in Ecuador is looking at various economic projects to accelerate itself from the financial woes of the pandemic with one suggestion being the legalisation of casinos and slot halls, ten years after outlawing them.
There has been growing support for casinos being reintroduced as part of an economic reactivation plan with Minister of Tourism Niels Olsen Peet coming out in support of the plan and even Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso saying: “I think it has been irresponsible to close the casinos, bankrupt businessmen, and bring unemployment to many Ecuadorian families.”
Norman Bock, President of Hotels in the city of Quito, said: “If companies have the security of legal stability, and that their rights and investments will be respected in the event of any subsequent decision by the Executive Power, they would surely come to Ecuador. The investments to install a casino are very large, and the arrival of new players would help the hotel sector, which today is going through the worst crisis in its history.
Fausto Flores, who represents the hotel business in Ecuador, added: “The casinos would offer economic stability to the hotel sector, since the room uses the hotels Food and Beverages department, as well as occupying part of the hotel capacity with the arrival of customers. I have already received authorisations to sign Letters of Intent with hotels in the country, to operate casinos and offer a comprehensive entertainment alternative in Ecuador.”
Ecuador had more than 25 casinos, many high-end in four star hotels, and 15 bingo halls that were forced to close on March 16, 2012.
Im September 2010 gab der damalige Präsident Ecuadors, Rafael Correa, bekannt, dass seine Regierung ein Verbot von Casinos anstrebe. Correa behauptete, die Kasinos in Ecuador seien zu Brutstätten für Korruption und Geldwäsche geworden und teilte der lokalen Presse mit, dass seine Regierung die Frage im Rahmen eines Referendums dem ecuadorianischen Volk vorlegen werde. Wenn das ecuadorianische Volk den Ansichten des Präsidenten zu diesem Thema zustimmen würde, würden alle XNUMX Casinos und Bingohallen in Ecuador sofort geschlossen.
Fast vier Millionen Ecuadorianer (47.7 Prozent der Wähler) stimmten dafür, dass sie einen solchen Schritt befürworteten, was zur Folge hatte, dass viele qualifizierte und erfahrene Kasinoarbeiter, von denen viele fast 15 Jahre in der Branche gearbeitet hatten, arbeitslos blieben.
