Uruguay’s Dirección General de Casinos (DGC) has inaugurated the Parque Rodó gaming hall in Montevideo, bringing its national network to 35 venues across 18 departments. The venue, formerly operated by the Montevideo city government as Casino Parque Hotel, is expected to generate approximately UYU 10m (US$250,000) in monthly revenue during its first year.
The reopening follows an agreement between the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the Intendencia de Montevideo to transfer management of the loss-making casino to the national government. The former casino, located in the historic Casa de Andalucía building in Parque Rodó, closed on 28 August following significant financial losses in 2024. The MEF assumed control on 1 September, with the DGC taking responsibility for gaming operations.
Under the agreement, the ministry leases the premises from the city government, while the DGC manages the venue.
Investment and reopening
The transfer involved an initial payment of US$650,000 to the Intendencia de Montevideo for gaming machines, furniture, equipment and other assets. An additional UYU 1.5m has been allocated for refurbishment and operational improvements.
The gaming hall reopened to the public on 10 September, operating daily from 10am to 2am with an initial workforce of 14 employees. Staffing levels are significantly lower than under municipal management, following the introduction of a voluntary retirement programme during the transition.
DGC targets profitability
DGC Commercial Manager Carlos Amorín outlined a two-stage development strategy, with the first year focused on establishing operations and improving performance before full consolidation in the second year. The agency forecasts monthly revenue of approximately UYU 10m during the first year and expects the venue to achieve a positive operating balance, reversing the losses recorded under municipal management. The reopening also includes a renewed slot machine portfolio as part of efforts to improve the venue’s commercial performance.
Parque Rodó joins the DGC’s existing network of state-operated and mixed-regime gaming venues, including casinos in Nogaró, Victoria Plaza, Piriápolis and Rivera. The transfer provides Montevideo’s municipal government with an opportunity to reduce its financial exposure to the casino while maintaining gaming operations at the historic location. For the DGC, the reopening represents a further expansion of its land-based gaming network as Uruguay continues to debate potential changes to its wider gambling regulatory framework.