This initiative had been defined as "priority" by the senators of the National Party, given that, among other things, the demand for online betting has grown as a result of the changes in habits that the coronavirus pandemic imposed at the time.
Likewise, it was a proposal that sought to help unlock the millionaire investment made by the Italian Giuseppe Cipriani in Punta del Este, where he seeks to build a new hotel where the traditional San Rafael used to be, while also intending to have a casino and a license to be able, precisely, to offer the virtual betting service.
The discussion ended with the vote of all the parties, because the negotiation also involved contributions that the Frente Amplio (FA) party ended up making, as explained to local newspaper El País by the senator of the Popular Participation Movement, Alejandro Sánchez.
Among other contributions, the legislator said that the opposition managed to include an article that obliges the National Directorate of Casinos to finance a fund to treat gambling addiction with 5% of its gross profits.
“Because gambling addiction has grown in the world when online betting is enabled,” said Sánchez, who recalled that the opposition “at first had a critical view” of this initiative, a position that changed due to the openness of the ruling party to include modifications.
In this sense, the FA also managed to get the articles to contemplate another obligation for the National Directorate of Casinos, and that is to establish "responsible gambling" policies, in order to standardize the criteria by which all casinos in the country must separate and control those players who start to get sick.
"The State will have to be responsible for setting these policies," said the opposition legislator, who also regretted that the prohibition of "advertising for bonuses" was not included, those that encourage people with promotions to start betting.
When the initiative reaches Deputies Chamber, however, the government coalition will have to face an internal discussion, because there are several "objections" with this project.
Ddeputy Sebastián Cal, who had already been critical of this proposal, now stressed to El País that "it is not enough" the provision that requires contributions to a fund to treat gambling addiction, and that he does not share that more controls are not required in the advertisements of the bets.
Source: GMB
