First casinos in Chile (Chile)

The history of gambling houses in Chile began as part of the tourist development of coastal and resort towns. The first "real" casino was the municipal casino in Viña del Mar, and then a municipal model was formed (casino as an asset of the city with a concession to a private operator). In 2005, the industry received a modern regulatory framework and unified supervision.

1) Starting point: Casino Viña del Mar (1930)

Idea and impulse: discussions about the creation of a casino have been going on since 1914, the project received a new impetus in 1928, and the final decision was made under President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo.

Opening: On December 31, 1930, the casino was inaugurated and became the core of Vigny's resort brand.

💡 A scientific study on the history of the municipal casino of Viña del Mar details the period 1927-1930 and the political support of the project by the central authority.

2) "Municipal Wave" and early adopters

Arrika (Casino Arica, 1960)

Status: municipal casino, second in "seniority" in the country.

Launch: March 17, 1960 - the first site was located in Hostería Arica; in 1963, the object moved to a new building of modernist architecture, becoming the cult leisure center of the northern macroregion.

Puerto Varas (1970)

Opening: January 30, 1970 the casino opened in the premises of the Gran Hotel de Puerto Varas, later received its own buildings and became the anchor of lake tourism Los Lagos.

💡 These sites have consolidated the "city - concession - tourism" model: the municipality is the owner, and the operation is carried out by a private operator, investing in shows, restaurants and hotels. A generalized history of the industry with an emphasis on Viña as the "first stone" is given by the ACCJ profile association.

3) Network expansion at the end of the 20th century: 1990 legal "bridge"

In 1990, the state separately authorized the creation of casinos in new communes (including Iquique, Pukon, Puerto Natales), which opened the way for the following projects in municipal logic.

Pukon (1990)

Permit and launch: A casino in Pucón was authorized and opened in 1990 (first on the premises of Gran Hotel Pucón). In the 2000s, the facility underwent reconstruction and restart after the 2007 fire; in 2022, a new complex was opened.

4) Big reform: Law No. 19. 995 (2005) and the creation of SCJ

In 2005, a systemic reform was adopted: Law No. 19. 995 established the basic rules for the authorization, operation and supervision of casinos, and also created the Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego (SCJ), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Finance. The reform modernized the industry and set a new competitive licensing regime.

Later, municipal casinos (extension/transitional provisions) were also regulated by special law - an element of "stitching" the old model with a new supervision system.

💡 Today, SCJ maintains a casino registry, publishes statistics and promotes responsible gaming standards - this is a "single showcase" of regulatory information.

5) Architecture and urban culture

Viña del Mar: The neoclassicism and resort chic of the 1930s is part of urban "DNA" and an object of interest in urban studies.

Arrika: the 1963-1964 building is a prime example of modernism and plans to develop a "garden city" in the desert North.

Puerto Varas: synergy with Grand Hotel and subsequent development of independent spaces; forming weekend routes around the casino.

6) Why exactly these cities became the first

1. Tourist corridors: the coastal resort of the Central Zone (Vinha) and the border-northern hub (Arrika) sought to consolidate the status of destinations with nightlife and events.

2. City finance: the municipal model gave direct revenues to cities (concessions, fees), which became an argument in favor of opening. (Contemporary notes on Pukon's budget illustrate the importance of casinos to communal coffers.)

3. Political will: support for central authority at key moments (late 1920s for Vigny; 1990 target law for new locations).

7) Timeline of key events (short)

1914-1928: Formation of the casino idea in Viña del Mar.

31. 12. 1930: инauguración Casino Municipal de Viña del Mar.

1960-1963: Opening and relocation of Casino Arica to a new building.

30. 01. 1970: Casino de Puerto Varas starts at Gran Hotel.

1990: the law allows new municipal casinos (including Pukon); opening a casino in Pukon.

2005: Law No. 19. 995 and the creation of SCJ is a modern mode.

8) The legacy of the "first" casinos today

The first venues set the tourist standard: not only tables and slots, but also concerts, gastronomy, hotel complexes. Viña, Arrika and Puerto Varas became a "school" for personnel and management practices, and municipal logic became the basis for the subsequent expansion and transition to centralized supervision of SCJ.

The history of Chilean casinos is a journey from one resort symbol in 1930 to a network of urban venues, and then to a national licensing and control system. Viña del Mar opened the door in 1930; Arrika and Puerto Varas cemented the "casino as a tourism engine" model; The 1990s expanded geography; and the 2005 reform formalized uniform rules of the game. That legacy still shapes the industry today - with respect for history and a focus on transparency and responsible development.