Chilean authorities close illegal Talca casino and detain 10 people

Chilean authorities closed an establishment operating as an illegal casino in Talca, in the Maule Region, in an operation on Friday 23 October. Ten people were detained and placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor, and more than 30 gaming machines found at the venue were disabled.

The operation was led by Ervin Castillo, the Maule regional secretary of labour and social security, with participation from the Labour Directorate, the National Migration Service, the Investigative Police (PDI) and Carabineros. The premises were located on 10 Oriente street. According to local media reports, the police intervention took place on the basis of flagrante delicto.

Castillo said: "Estamos presentes en terreno, coordinando esfuerzos para que la normativa se respete y para proteger a los trabajadores. Este operativo demuestra la importancia del trabajo conjunto entre las instituciones para detectar irregularidades y actuar oportunamente frente a actividades clandestinas". He also cited the deployment of the participating agencies and restated the Chilean government's commitment to labour-law enforcement in the region.

The operation comes amid judicial and administrative proceedings concerning the use of gaming machines in Chile. In late September, the Supreme Court upheld a ruling backing the powers of the Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego (SCJ) to determine whether particular equipment should be classified as gaming machines. The case arose from a dispute over the renewal of the commercial licence of a company operating gaming machines in Castro. The court confirmed the rejection of the company's appeal and maintained the SCJ's classification and the recommendation not to renew the municipal licence. The ruling concerns a case separate from the Talca operation.