Argentina Hotel Requests Slot Machine Access
The Howard Johnson Piedras Moras de Córdoba, a hotel near Almafuerte, Argentina, has requested authorization to install slot machines. The reason behind the request is essentially the hotel’s current financial problems. Representatives of the hotel maintain that unless access to another income source like slot machine gaming is granted, the hotel will soon have to shutter its doors. They are asking authorities in Almafuerte for assistance.
The Howard Johnson hotel in Córdoba faces possible closure due to financial stress unless it wins approval to operate slot machines on its premises. Francesca Saraco/Unsplash
A battle to stay afloat at Howard Johnson
The Howard Johnson Piedras Moras de Córdoba, which can be found just between the Argentine towns of Río Tercero and Almafuerte in the Córdoba province, has found itself in an unfortunate situation. If the hotel is not given approval from the local council to install slot machines on its premises within 15 days, its managing partner has said it will certainly close.
As it stands, the hotel has never operated slot machines on its premises before, but it has a space dedicated to such an activity. The four-star hotel in fact has a lounge room built years ago, which would be fit for purpose for slot machine gaming. It is said to be similar to the slot machine lounge at the casino at Howard Johnson’s Alta Gracia hotel location.
Now, managing partner Marcelo Mallo and the rest of his staff must wait for an answer from the Deliberative Council of Almafuerte, a city council that will ultimately make the final call. Mallo’s team has informed the council that the installation of slot machines is its only chance of surviving this financially difficult period, though perhaps the council will respond with other options or recommendations if slot machines are not approved.
Mallo shared more explanation about the hotel’s request. The request was in fact given to the council three months ago. It has been slowed down by concerns within the majority party in charge of the area, though it is largely supported by the opposition party. Part of the issue is a rule made in 2006 regarding the placement of slot machines in relation to urban areas.
Back then, the casino managers were not concerned with the law. At the time Córdoba’s so-called urban area did not expand to the location of the hotel. The managers may be trying to use this explanation as a loophole to gain allowance for the proposed slot machine project. They have also emphasized that 4.5% of hotel earnings are taken by the municipality, which would give a strong incentive to keep the hotel open and make it more commercially viable.
The casino representatives also shared with the council information about its employment. While 40 employees currently work at the hotel, they estimate another 30 positions would be required when slot machines are installed. They added that another 200 employment roles would likely open as an indirect result of the slot machines being installed, though it is unclear how this figure was calculated.
About the urban slot machine ban, Mallo said that he comprehends the reason behind the rule, but doesn’t believe it should apply to the hotel given that it still requires a car to access. He compared it to the Embalse casino in this regard. Furthermore, a previous administration led by Adrián Scorza had approved the idea.
It was stalled back then because of lack of support from the principal gaming machine operator in Córdoba. Now, machines and support are available. However, if they are not snapped up by the Howard Johnson hotel project, they will be allocated instead to a new casino called Unquillo. Mallo stressed how important it is, therefore, to receive the authorization now.
Casino closures in the area
In the Argentine city, Godoy Cruz, a casino recently faced closure due to a controversy around its slot machines. The Mendoza Casino was forced to shutter for two weeks because the previous slot machine operator refused to remove its machines in an allocated time period. The previous operator argued that it needed more time to conduct the removal efficiently, and that the incoming operator would not be able to fulfill its promises to the casino
In neighboring Paraguay, another casino had to close its doors due to lack of payment on its owed tax to the municipality. Slots Viena Casino, located in Asunción, was forcibly closed down by local police in early June of this year and will only reopen if it manages to pay its debts.
