Chile: Rinconada Pursues CLP 2 Billion Debt Claim Against Enjoy Santiago
Chile.- 21 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Juan Galdames Carmona, Mayor of Rinconada, has met with Jorge Trujillo, Director of Chile’s Internal Revenue Service (SII), to address a substantial debt that the municipality claims is owed in connection with Enjoy Santiago casino.
The meeting took place on 19 October 2026 in Santiago, with Senator Camila Flores also attending.
According to municipal authorities, the outstanding amount totals CLP 1.998 billion, equivalent to approximately US$2.04 million, representing gambling tax revenues that have not been transferred to the municipality.
Nearly CLP 2 Billion in Outstanding Funds
The dispute concerns Casino de Juegos La Rinconada, the operator of Enjoy Santiago.
According to the municipality, the outstanding payments relate to:
- September and October 2025.
- February to August 2026.
- Total amount claimed: CLP 1,998,109,480.
These funds form part of the gambling tax revenue legally allocated to the municipality.
The absence of these transfers has raised concerns over local government finances and the planning of community programmes.
Authorities Escalate the Complaint
The meeting with the SII forms part of a series of actions undertaken by Mayor Galdames and Senator Camila Flores to clarify the situation and recover the funds.
The two representatives had previously met with Hernán Nobizelli, Chile’s Treasurer General, to discuss the same issue.
Flores criticised the lack of progress by the institutions responsible and argued that the municipality was simply seeking compliance with existing legal obligations.
The senator also questioned why the casino continued operating and promoting entertainment events while, according to the municipality, nearly CLP 2 billion remained outstanding.
Previous Legal Proceedings Involving Enjoy Santiago
The dispute follows other legal proceedings involving the operator.
In June 2026, the Third Chamber of Chile’s Supreme Court declared inadmissible an appeal filed by Enjoy Santiago.
The appeal challenged a ruling by the Valparaíso Court of Appeal that upheld fines imposed by the Superintendence of Gaming Casinos (SCJ).
The Supreme Court concluded that the appeal failed to meet the necessary legal requirements.
This earlier case concerned a separate regulatory sanctions procedure and should not be confused with the current dispute over gambling tax transfers.
Next Steps and Industry Impact
The Municipality of Rinconada will continue engaging with national authorities to clarify the outstanding obligations and seek the recovery of the funds.
The dispute highlights the importance of gambling-specific taxes as a source of funding for communities hosting casino operations.
For Chile’s gaming industry, the case also underscores the importance of tax transparency, regulatory compliance and the timely distribution of revenue allocated to local authorities.
Editó: @fonta
