The owners of the slot machines support the bill presented by the senator of the National Party, Sergio Botana, which aims to regulate the activity of the “slots” that are outside the State casinos.

Nucleated through the Uruguayan Entertainment Chamber (CUDE), private operators understand that the approval of the project “is fundamental and necessary” to “finally” provide a formal framework for these games of chance.

The activity is not regulated and that is why it has been, for more than a decade, the cause of dispute and lawsuits between the General Directorate of Casinos (DGC) of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), the private banking of lotteries and pools. and the CUDE.

In dialogue with El País, the CUDE lawyer - and official spokesperson representing the private operators -, Gerardo Dibbern, pointed out that they view the bill presented by Botana “with very good eyes” given that “it includes the majority of points that the association has been demanding for years.

“We have been saying for 20 years that we want to regulate (the activity). We are not responsible for the legislative omission in this, we want it to be regularized, supervised and controlled. Therefore: I totally welcome this bill,” said Dibbern.

According to the legal advisor of the private companies, the lack of regulation of this activity has led to the sector “not being able to really progress”, given that “the idea continues to exist that we are blackmailers, that we are illegal, clandestine and “That harms us socially and economically.”

Among the main obstacles pointed out by private parties, Dibbern mentioned that when entrepreneurs seek financing and say what activity they do, they encounter the “difficulty” of accessing bank loans.

“We will never be able to have a thriving gaming activity in the country if it is not regularized. We are in an area where, except for Justice and the trials we have won, they do not want to openly tell us that we are legal. If the State recognized this activity, we could invest quietly, hire more people, compete in large casino tenders as well,” the lawyer exemplified.

In this sense, Dibbern stated that “the only ones” in the state sphere who affirm that this activity is illegal and clandestine, “are those of the DGC and the private banks because they are the only ones who understand that we are competition. So all this (the lack of regulation) obviously has to do with economic interests.” How are they going to tell us that we are clandestine when we pay taxes for this activity?” criticized Dibbern.

In fact, according to a query made to the General Tax Directorate (DGI), the activity carried out by the owners of the slot machines is covered by the regulations, so the money generated constitutes business income and is included in the payment of the Tax. to Income from Economic Activities (IRAE).

El País tried to contact, without success, the DGC authorities to obtain their position regarding the bill presented by Botana.

In relation to the details of the bill, Dibbern stated that the CUDE agrees that the project specifies in which types of commercial places the machines can be installed, as well as seeing the maximum limit of up to 25 machines per establishment appropriate. .

Likewise, the bill - already presented to Parliament - proposes that the maximum number of "slots" that can operate in the country be 25,000. The legislative initiative is based on the fact that there are currently between 40,000 and 50,000 machines in Uruguay, but the figure is uncertain given that there is no formal registry.

“It is a totally unfounded number that arises from perceptions and estimates made by eye. There may well be twice as many machines, or less. The reality is that it is impossible to know until there is a record. That is something we have been asking for years, to know how many machines there are and who the owners are,” said Dibbern, highlighting that the bill contemplates this aspect.

Although the CUDE understands that “there are many machines” in the Uruguayan market and that this figure “would have to go down to a reasonable figure,” they affirm that “it will be the market itself” that will set the ideal limit.

“If after the law comes out, it is understood that 25,000 machines is not enough, (the regulations) can be changed if there is political will. But it is important that a limit be set, everything has to have a beginning and then be adjusted,” said the lawyer.

Another aspect in which the CUDE agrees with the project presented is the requirements defined by the project for an operator to obtain the permit, among which priority will be given to those who can prove seniority in the activity in the last six years, as well as economic solvency and Uruguayan citizenship. Likewise, they support the proposal that the permit obtained by the operator be personal and non-transferable. “That is important to avoid speculative businesses. We want the activity to be regulated for those Uruguayan businessmen who have been dedicated to this professionally for years, paying taxes and meeting requirements,” said Dibbern, who also said that in recent times “the market has grown a lot.”