Ecuador’s president appears to be walking back casino expansion plans
At the start of 2024, the Government of Ecuador had initially included a proposal to reopen casinos and continue gambling operations in a referendum sent to the Constitutional Court but has decided to abandon the idea.
Ecuador has had a ban on gambling since 2011 after a popular consultation conducted by former president Rafael Correa. The current President, Daniel Noboa, intended to use the same method to reinstate gambling in the country.
Eleven questions were sent to the Court, with the only one canceled being the question about the possible reinstatement of gambling halls and casinos. Noboa felt it was inappropriate to conduct a new debate on gambling with the rising wave of violence in the country.
The remaining questions in the referendum are regarding matters of public importance, such as safety, fighting drug trafficking and organized crime, criminal justice and the economy. The President’s reversal came after pressure from various political groups, which have concerns that drug traffickers could manipulate the reopened casinos to launder money.
In a statement released by the Communication Secretariat of the Presidency, Noboa commented, “The citizen debate should focus on the recovery of peace, the fight against terrorist groups, the consolidation of the institutionalism of the State, and the creation of employment.”
The initial reason for reopening casinos was to regain at least a majority of the 25,000 jobs that were lost since the 160 gambling facilities operating in Ecuador closed in 2011. Current law in Ecuador prohibits retail casinos and bookmakers. However, a loophole allows online gambling, as no regulations currently ban or permit the activity.
