(short): Casinos and tourism in Chile: the potential for integration

Potential for casino integration into tourism (Chile)

1) Baseline: strong base and growing flow

Developed offline network: in Chile there are about 25 licensed casinos that form a steady flow of visits and tax revenues (according to supervision data for the 1st half of 2025 - 3.32 million visits; revenue ~ CLP 282.3 billion). This confirms the steady demand and role of casinos in local economies.

Tourism returns to records: in 2024, Chile received 5.24 million foreign tourists (the best result for the year), and January 2025 showed 846.8 thousand arrivals (+ 67% y/y). Profile of key markets - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, USA.

Investment horizon: renovation/construction projects of entertainment complexes continue (for example, the new Dreams center in Talca, the opening is planned for 2026), which expands the map of "anchors" for tourist products.

2) Where and how to "stitch" casinos with tourism

A. Santiago and the Central Valley: MICE + wine tourism + resort IR

Sun Monticello (57 km south of the capital) is an example of a "resort" format: casino, hotel-SPA, gastronomy and concert agenda. This profile fits well with the MICE segment (corporate trips, conferences) and the Maipo/Rancagua wine routes. Conference + winery + casino evening packages can be a bestseller for the corporate and premium FIT segment.

B. Maritime clusters: Viña del Mar and Valparaiso

Viña del Mar is historically a "showcase" of Chilean gambling tourism (municipal casino brand, beach infrastructure, proximity to Valparaiso, festivals). Any changes to the operator or license conditions here directly hit employment and tourist flow, which local authorities openly emphasize. Ready-made integration scenarios - "sea weekend + gastronomy + evening shows in the casino," as well as combining with the cruise stream of the port of Valparaiso.

C. "Southern Ring": Lake District and Patagonia

The southern regions give a unique mix: world-class nature (Torres del Paine, Navarino), outdoor activities (tracking, fishing), gastronomy. Here casinos can work as a "night" anchor and indoor entertainment outside the season/in bad weather, complementing the excursion and SPA. Sernatur information products are already actively promoting national parks and routes - tour packages "nature during the day, entertainment in the evening" logically fit into this vector.

3) Product integration formats

1. Wine & Play Weekend

Day 1: arrival in Santiago, transfer to Maipo wineries, tastings, dinner.

Day 2: SPA, pool, sommelier master class, evening casino show.

Day 3: Cultural program in Santiago/Valparaiso and shopping.

Promise of value: high average check + multi-demand (wine, gastro, show, game).

2. MICE-Retreat "60/40" (60% business agenda, 40% entertainment)

Conference package in the hotel at the casino (halls, catering) + cooking classes/stand-up + evening casino scene. Driver: fast logistics from Santiago and post-event monetization of the playing floor.

3. Pacific & Casino Getaway (Viña del Mar)

Beach holiday combo, food tours and evening entertainment/shows. If cruises are available, one-day "pre/post-cruise" packages. The economy keeps on loading in the offseason and at events.

4. Patagonia Indoors

For bad weather/low season: daytime activities (SPA, local cuisine, museum routes), in the evening - a show program in the casino, poker weekends and thematic evenings (folklore/jazz). It relies on the trend promoted by Sernatur: ready-made routes and information support for natural clusters.

5. Event & Entertainment Series

Regular concerts, stand-up festivals, gastronomic weeks in resort casinos (the format has already been tested - Monticello is known for a concert agenda with "stars"). Integration with the Viña del Mar/Valparaíso urban festivals.

4) Economic impact and KPIs for the regions

The increase in the average tourist check due to evening monetization (game floor + gastronomy + show).

Seasonality smoothing (casino as a "weather independent" anchor).

Employment and tax growth: even with a moderate correction in visits in 2025 (-3.7% YoY in 1p/y), industry payments and visits remain significant; in conjunction with tour packages, traffic reactivation and revenue stabilization are possible.

Diversification of tourist products (wine routes, MICE, cruises, gastronomy, wellness).

5) Risk management and sustainability

Responsible play and compliance. Integrated products must be built on strict KYC/AML and advertising standards; reputational risks are lower when the casino is "packaged" in a cultural, gastronomic and MICE context.

Balance "game vs. leisure." It is important for family and premium customers that the casino is part of the spectrum (SPA, restaurants, concerts), and not the only goal.

Institutional factors. Licensing stability and clarity of operator roles at key points (e.g. Viña del Mar) are critical for the city's tour plan and employment.

6) Roadmap for October 12, 2025

1. Wine + casino pilots based on Monticello and wine valleys: partnerships with wineries, dedicated transfers/guides, evening shows.

2. Cluster Viña del Mar Valparaiso: "beach + gastro + festivals + casinos," preparation of pre/post-cruise packages.

3. Southern regions: bundles with national parks and urban events (according to the Sernatur/Chile es Tuyo calendar).

4. Synchronization with investment cycles: use new/renovated objects (for example, the Dreams complex in Talca) as reasons for event launches and press tours.

7) Conclusion

Chile already has everything necessary to make the integration of casinos with tourism a large-scale driver: a network of ~ 25 casinos, IR-type resort infrastructure, the urban culture of Viña del Mar and a powerful natural "showcase" of the south. Against the background of a record 2024 for entry and the ongoing recovery of 2025, wine/natural/event tourism + evening entertainment formats of casinos "combo products look the most promising - with the potential to raise the average bill, reduce seasonality and strengthen regional budgets.

• Superintendencia/industry summaries 2025:25 casinos; visits and GGR 1 PO 2025.
• Tourism: record 2024 (5.24 million) and strong January-2025 (846.8 thousand).
• Viña del Mar: The significance of casinos for tourism and employment.
• Resort format based on Monticello (hotel, SPA, show).
• Southern directions and information support Sernatur/Chile es Tuyo.
• New investments (Talca, Dreams).