Contribution to tourism and jobs (Chile)

Short: Why it matters

Chile's gambling ecosystem is not just about GGR and taxes. Casinos form anchor points of attraction for weekend tourism, create direct jobs (croupier, IT, security, F&B, events), and through concerts/restaurants and hotel stock give a multiplier for the regional economy. The regulator directly connects the industry with the development of regional tourist products and responsible gambling behavior.

Tourism: guest flow and casino events

2024: Chile received 5,239,233 foreign tourists - the best result in the history of accounting. This intensified the weekend and holiday downloads of the seaside and metropolitan areas, where the largest casinos are located.

I half of 2025: 3.17 million foreign arrivals were recorded (+ 32.6% y/y), which supported the demand for entertainment, gastronomy and events at the casino.

Large complexes (Viña del Mar, Monticello, Talcahuano, Santiago) combine a gaming hall + gastro + concerts, turning the visit into a "short tour" for 1-2 nights - a format that local authorities consider as an element of urban brand and seasonal traffic.

Taxes and contribution to regions

According to the regulator, in the first half of the year 2025 22 casinos under the 19 Law. 995 listed CLP 100.163 billion in taxes and payments. In parallel, 25 operating casinos showed win (GGR) CLP 281.892 billion over the same period. These funds, including a special tax on the game and an "offer económica," are distributed in favor of the municipalities where the halls are located, supporting local projects and infrastructure.

Jobs: Direct, indirect and industrial chains

Direct vacancies: operating staff of the halls (game table, slot floor), marketing and events, catering/restaurants, security, IT/video surveillance, accounting. Open positions in the largest networks (Enjoy, etc.) are regularly published by region.

Indirect employment: hoteliers, transport, concert promoters, food and cleaning suppliers - especially around flagships like Monticello and Viña del Mar. Vacancies "at the casino" (retail, service, cleaning, promo) show steady demand in related territories.

Industry position: The Profile Association (ACCJ) emphasizes the contribution of members to the economy, employment and tourism along the corridor from Iquique to Punta Arenas - this is a formalized business point of view.

A separate social aspect is labor guarantees when changing licenses and operators: Viña del Mar unions emphasized the issue of continuity of employment during the regulatory changes of 2025.

Case logic: how casinos pull tourists

1. Event days = superquery. Concert + dinner + hall → an increase in the average check and hotel occupancy for 1-2 nights. The Dreams network complexes in the south of the country are directly built into tourist routes (Puerto Varas, Punta Arenas, Koyake).

2. Seaside brands. Viña del Mar converts summer flow into night activities (show, gastro, hall), supporting the employment of "seasonists" and retail.

3. Capital weekends. Monticello (Santiago-O'Higgins corridor) is an example of the "concert evening + casino" format, where demand is distributed to F&B and events around the site (a slice of roles and schedules is visible from vacancies and reviews).

What will change online regulation (2025-2026)

• Whitening of digital demand and new target allocations (including for sports), while maintaining the focus on RG/AML;
• Employment shift: growth of roles in customer support, marketing, analytics, IT, payments;
• Cross-cell "oflayn↔onlayn": ground operators will have space for unified loyalty programs and events "online - offline finals." The regulator already in public reports fixes the course towards digital transformation and supervision.

Practical recommendations

For Regions and DMOs (Area Marketing Organizations)

Calendar synchronization: major casino concerts + local festivals and wine routes.

Packages "night + show + dinner": stimulate an additional night and check.

For operators

HR mix: personnel training for "hybrid" (live events + digital marketing/analytics).

Partnerships with tourist business: weekend tours, shuttle services, collaborations with wineries.

Responsible play and brand safety: visible RG tools and sports advertising/sponsorship policies.

Chile's gambling industry already supports tourism through events and gastronomy, providing employment in the regions and stable tax revenues to local budgets. The transition to a licensed online market, while maintaining a strong offline foundation, will expand the basket of competencies and create new jobs in the digital segment, as well as strengthen the synergy of event tourism and the country's entertainment ecosystem.