Ecuador’s capital city in the high Andes, Quito has seen the recent opening of three new casinos during the course of this year, to add to the five casinos already operating in this boom gaming South American city. Aston Lowndes, president of the Casino and Bingo Association of Ecuador said: “The increase in casino numbers is incredible, and the market is getting stronger than ever.”
At the Hotel Dann Carlton, regional leaders Cirsa opened its Jockers Casino with an investment of US $3 million. Although the property only has eight gaming tables and 24 slots machines, it will increase this number to 100 during the course of this month. Meanwhile, one of the hottest spots in town is Montecarlo Casino at Hotel Mercure, owned by International Casinos Entertainment Corporation, which operates more than 40 properties worldwide.
Gonzalo Moreno, marketing chief at Montecarlo casino, said: “The investment in the casino has been around US $10 million. This is a good investment with sound returns. On Tuesdays we organize weekly ruffles and give away up to US $10,000, and for the grand finale there is a big draw for a Mercedes Benz”. Gaming Manager, Pedro Sanchez says that the casino has 170 video games, and 14 table games: “Today there has been gaming at some US $32 million in the gaming tables”.
Another popular spot is the casino at the Hotel Quito, which opened in November last year and has room for 1,500 people, and a monthly footfall of between 15 and 25 thousand people. The property has 180 video games producing around “US $2,800 each, while 9 gaming tables has great demand and produce some US $300,000 monthly”.
Hotel Quito marketing chief Xavier Bustillo said: “Ever since we opened, the casino has been a major success, and apart from the slot machines and table games, the star of the property is the VIP room, with unlimited betting, representing 30% of the casino production.” However, according to Bustillo, the electronic roulette produces between US $12-15 thousand per day.
The other side of the coin, however, is the smaller casinos, like the one at Chalet Suisse hotel, which celebrated 30 years a few months ago, but had to shut owing to losses during the last six months. According casino owner Victor Lema, who also owns Casino Auca: “We cannot compete with the luxury casinos. Since last year they have taken 50% of our clientele, and now Casino Auca produce US $400 on a good day”. Further down the city, casino Tambo Real has also seen its revenue halved from US $15,000 to US $8,000 daily.
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