(H1): The development of gambling in the 20th century (Paraguay)

Introduction: the context of the century

During the 20th century, gambling activity in Paraguay gradually moved from club-hotel formats to a more organized model with the participation of the state. The key "accelerators" were the modernization of Asuncion, the development of the eastern border and the launch of hotel and entertainment complexes, around which casinos and services for tourists and business travelers were built. In the centenary finale, the industry received a single legal basis - Ley 1016/1997.

1900-1950s: hotels, clubs, "relationship with the game"

The first decades of the 20th century cannot be called the era of large casinos: gambling practices existed in the form of club entertainment and hotel halls, but without a stable national "framework." Genuine "institutionalization" will begin later - along with the modernization of urban infrastructure and tourism.

1950s-1960s: modernist Asuncion and the "dash east"

Asunción. In 1961, Hotel Guaraní opened - a modernist symbol of the capital, created by an international competition by Brazilian architects. The hotel became a platform around which premium hospitality and entertainment services were enlarged. For future casinos, this set the bar for architecture and service in the center of the country.

Eastern border. As part of the state strategy for the development of the east (the future "triple border"), the city of Puerto Presidente Stroessner was founded in 1957 (since 1989 - Ciudad del Este). It was conceived as a supporting trade and transport hub, which predetermined the emergence of entertainment infrastructure.

Friendship Bridge (1965). The opening of the international Puente de la Amistad between Foz do Iguaçu and Ciudad del Este was an infrastructural turn for tourism and trade - and for the hotel and treasury scene in the east.

1965: Acaray - early hotel + casino case

In 1965, Hotel Casino Acaray, one of the first full-length hotel-resort + casino projects, opened in then-Puerto President Stroessner. It was commissioned by the Instituto de Previsión Social (IPS) as part of a policy to stimulate tourism and expand economic activity in the east of the country. The location near the Parana River and the proximity to the Friendship Bridge made the object an "anchor" for overnight stays and leisure.

1970s-1980s: hydropower, cross-border flows and diversification

The launch of the Itaipu megaproject (negotiations - in the 1960s, construction - 1970s, commissioning - 1984) radically strengthened the eastern macroregion. Infrastructure construction, increased trade and tourist interest in the "triple border" (Iguazu, shopping, cross-border travel) fueled demand for hotels and entertainment venues, including casinos and bingo.

In parallel, Ciudad del Este (renamed in 1989) established itself as the second city of the country with a pronounced commercial and tourist function, which continued to create a base for a regional-level gambling offer.

1990s: moving to a single legal framework

The final of the XX century is a turn to systemic regulation. In 1997, Ley N ° 1016/1997 was adopted, which established the legal regime for the operation of gambling: a list of formats, the powers of the regulator, the procedure for concessions and basic rules for supervision. The document became the basis for subsequent decrees and regulations that detailed the application of the law (including the procedure for tenders and lists of permitted games).

What determined the trajectory of the 20th century - four factors

1. Urban modernization. Projects of the Hotel Guaraní level set a high bar for the hospitality infrastructure, around which entertainment formats, including casino halls, naturally developed.

2. Frontier geography. The founding of the future Ciudad del Este (1957) and the opening of the Friendship Bridge (1965) created a constant flow of guests and shopping tourists, economically justifying the hotel + casino projects.

3. Infrastructure megaprojects. Itaipu and its associated road network have strengthened the eastern macro hub and its service industries, including hotels, F&B and gaming halls.

4. Legal codification. The adoption of Ley 1016/1997 drew a legal line under the "motley" practice of previous decades, introducing uniform concepts, procedures and control tools.

The legacy of the 20th century for the 21st

"destination + casino" model. The Acaray case showed the viability of the resort and entertainment approach in the borderlands; this logic formed the basis of modern hotel-casino and MICE clusters.

Architectural and urban "icon." Hotel Guaraní has remained a symbol of the quality of service in the capital - many modern objects are guided by this level of "visibility" in urban space.

Formed regulatory framework. The 1997 law became the foundation for further updates (in the 21st century) and subsequent reforms that increase transparency and competition.

Conclusion

The development of gambling in Paraguay in the 20th century is a gradual movement from "scattered" halls and clubs to infrastructural support facilities and, finally, to a unified legal system. The modernization of Asuncion (Hotel Guaraní), the "development of the east" and the opening of the Friendship Bridge, the launch of Itaipu and the adoption of Ley 1016/1997 formed the trajectory through which casinos and related formats became part of the country's tourism and urban economy, creating the basis for the digital era of the XXI century.

Sources: academic and reference materials on Hotel Guaraní (1961); historical information and official page of Hotel Casino Acaray (1965); articles on Ciudad del Este (founded 1957, renamed 1989); facts about the Bridge of Friendship (1965) and Itaipu (input 1984); text Ley 1016/1997 and associated regulations.